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The Chief Learner...
Dec. 19, 2011
The great rollercoaster ride
I hate rollercoasters!
They scare me. But, I love to ride them. Quite the paradox, isn’t it? They frighten the “begeebies” out of me, as they wind and wend their way overhead, and people are screaming, crying, yelling fears, epithets and laughter. But, I still love to ride on them and feel the range of emotions from anticipation and let down, from crawling ever steeper to the first drastic dip, and then that utterly hopeless drop where your stomach is floating in midair, and your feet are almost on the ground, only to do it all over again, and again for five fractal minutes of pain, enjoyment, fear and thrills.
I guess, truth be told, that’s how I viewed my thrill ride as a member of this school district. In 1997, BC took a chance on me as a teacher, and through the never waning prodding and encouragement of Les Loomis, Jon Hunter, Steve Lobban, and Dave Ksanznak they pushed me into this rollercoaster ride of being a school administrator. I was hesitant to do it, and once I got on the “ride” I felt the thrill, fears, and excitement of leading this wonderful school district.
In a few short days I will be retired and gone from BC, Bethlehem and New Scotland, and for some, just a bad memory. For others, hopefully a smile or a laugh, and hopefully, a few with some cherished thoughts. But, for me BC will be a wonderful memory I will cherish in the twilight of my waning years. A thought that we did the best we could in a few challenging years, and it was done openly, honestly and transparently, for the welfare of all the children of this school district.
I came to Bethlehem Central about 14 years ago from the Voorheesville CSD, to become a music teacher and subject supervisor for music education. It’s hard to believe in that span of time I went from teacher, supervisor to building principal, assistant superintendent to superintendent. While at times a journey like a rollercoaster, every bump, turn, dip, and inverted “g-force” experience was worth every minute. From the summer of 1997 I became engaged in an outstanding school district that cared about student achievement, faculty scholarship, and community investment to great degrees of support. This school district encompassed everything I ever read about professional learning organization.
Peter Senge , noted professor from MIT, developed the concept of learning organizations on the assumption that organizations can learn from their mistakes and evolve into better, stronger organizations. Over the past 14 years I have seen this school district evolve into just such a system by committing to learn, re-learn, and evolve through some very difficult financial and emotional times, and NYS Education Department initiatives. We got through it with the community’s support and the commitment of all stake-holders to make a genuine difference for the children of this community, our most prized possession. For, there can be no greater task in life than to shape the minds of younger generations, and this, people of BC have been doing for many years.
I still remember the 5-year-old boy from Glenmont that gave me the thumbs-up sign on my first day as “pretend” elementary principal in 2000, as well as the high school students that would love to eat lunch with me when I was principal just to talk about life as a student, to the wonderful moments of teacher professional development as an assistant superintendent, to the community budget forums- the most compelling conversations I ever had- as superintendent. I remember each and every Board of Education meeting, and the discussions that we had in shaping the future for the children of BC, and I remember sadly the tragic moments of too many funerals for students, faculty and staff members, that left us too early.
BC has been a compelling part of my life for over a decade, and I am leaving it in great hands. On January 1, 2012, I will join the ranks of Les Loomis, Larry Zinn, Hamilton Bookhout and other superintendents that have been the chief learning officers of this great school district.
To the Board of Education, administrators, teachers and support staff, as well parents and community friends…
Dr. Michael Tebbano
Superintendent of Schools,
Retired
Bethlehem CSD