Getting involved in schools is a cinch

 

Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger did not land his plane on the Hudson solely through courage and leadership.

His public education may have played a bigger role than you might think. And you can be an integral part of it all!

Sullenberger attended public schools for his primary, secondary, undergraduate and graduate education. He also received his initial flight training in the military -- at taxpayer expense.

Today, flight training sufficient for a commercial airline pilot costs some $80,000. In other words, the flight training for Captain Sully and his co-pilot would cost approximately $160,000.

For slightly less, the Worthington City Schools educate each child from kindergarten through high school graduation, at a level the state of Ohio honors as "excellent with distinction." The point is that an investment in high-quality public education is worth every dollar we spend on it -- not just for the individual who receives it, but also for those whose welfare that individual holds in his or her hands.

But there is far more to it than money.

The longstanding success of Worthington schools is built with many layers of support. Some are obvious. Rich learning environments provided by staff and community; attentive, engaged students; actively involved families and a focused district leadership are critical. Some elements get less attention, but are no less important, like a supportive set of community leaders who have diverse interests, talents and backgrounds.

There is a wealth of citizen-led support groups with direct impact on student learning and development, and I'd like to recognize just a few: Circle of Grandparents (circleofgrandparents.com), Leadership Worthington (leadershipworthington.org), Partners for Citizenship and Character (citizenshipandcharacter.org), the Rotary Club of Dublin-Worthington (www.dublinworthingtonrotary.org), various parent-teacher organizations, Worthington Alliance of African American Parents (waaap.org), Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce (worthingtonchamber.org) and Worthington Educational Foundation (worthedfoundation.org).

The list goes on. While many of these groups aren't unique to Worthington, it is amazing how so many organizations and active participants are involved and invested in our schools.

These networks provide strong support, high levels of accountability, and cadres of informed and interested citizens. They are the unspoken heroes of the Worthington schools. They are the community members who see the value of the school district on a regular basis. They understand where the money goes and have built relationships with our staff and district leadership.

If you were thinking, "I don't have school-aged children. There is no way for me to be involved in the schools," think again. It's as simple as finding a group that shares your interests and talents. Get to know the school system and the value it brings to the community. Meet some great people -- young and old -- along the way. Celebrate the great public education system that has earned high marks from the state, its elected officials and countless local families, past and present.

Be part of the success, part of the improvement process, and part of sustaining excellence in the future.

Pete Scully is a high school chemistry teacher and current president of the Worthington Education Association.