Thursday, August 31, 2006
By KEVIN PARKS
ThisWeek Staff Writer
Worthington Board of Education president Gary Tyack graduated from high school more than 40 years ago, so he frankly admitted to having no memory of a single test he took.
But he does have vivid and fond recollections of lots of teachers, administrators, guidance counselors and others who helped educate him as he was growing up.
"I confess that I could not remember the name of a single board of education member," Tyack said to laughter at last week's Convocation ceremony to officially mark the start of the Worthington Schools' 2006-2007 academic year.
Tyack made his remarks to remind district personnel assembled in the auditorium of Thomas Worthington High School of the impact they will have on students long after the last test is taken, the final bus ride is over, when meals served in the cafeteria are but a dim memory.
The theme for the Aug. 23 Convocation was "The Lessons of the Past Inspire Our Vision for the Future," and it was an appropriate one, the board president said.
"The true lessons of the past, present and future are here in this room," Tyack told the instructors and other district employees.
"Thanks for all you do for the students," he added.
The generally upbeat event, designed to rev up staff spirits for the year ahead, got off to a sad note as Superintendent Melissa Conrath referred to a tragic event that occurred late the night before. Some TWHS students were out riding around, she said, when one of them was shot. The young woman, a cheerleader, was in critical condition at the time of the Convocation. Conrath said her family had asked school staff members to keep the wounded student in their prayers.
Much of the morning ceremony was taken up with the launching of a new tradition, the inaugural presentation of Distinguished Alumni Awards to eight past graduates, but time was also set aside for remarks from Superintendent Conrath, Worthington Education Association president Scott DiMauro and Pam Sturiano, president of the Worthington Classified Association.
In addition, the longest-serving teacher was recognized, the Gary Smith Compassionate Teacher Award was presented and a video primarily produced by TWHS 2006 graduates John Gibson and Ryan White was screened.
Worthington Schools have a "long and proud tradition of excellence," WEA president DiMauro said. He pointed to the district having achieved an unprecedented six straight years of meeting every state standard. Test scores are up, DiMauro said, and more families are moving to the community because they want their children to be in the district's schools.
He pointed to the largest incoming kindergarten class in the past decade as proof of this.
"We are by no means free from challenges," DiMauro cautioned.
Too many students still start school unprepared for the experience, he said, the student population is increasingly diverse and more children have special educational needs.
Unfunded state and federal mandates along with what DiMauro referred to as the failure of legislators to "thoroughly and efficiently" fund public education are also challenges that continue for schools.
"We're all in this enterprise together," DiMauro concluded. "Great public schools are a basic right for every child.
"In today's changing world, the worst thing we can do is stop and rest on our laurels."
Worthington Classified Association president Sturiano reminded the audience of some of the turnover the district has experienced over the summer, some from employees moving on and some from personnel cuts.
"We need to take care of each other during this change," Sturiano urged.
The district may not have the resources or the staff or the money as was the case in years past, the WCA official said, but the mission of providing students with a good education remains the same.