Welcoming a new year and its opportunities

Dear Editor:

Another school year is underway! On Thursday, Aug. 22, approximately 2,500 young people reported to class. It's been a great opening. Class-rooms were ready for the students and each of them was met by an enthusiastic faculty and staff.

Every year I'm amazed at what our administrators, teachers, counselors and support staff do every day. They regroup and determine what to repeat and what to revise from the previous year.

It all depends on the students who report to their buildings and classes on a given day. You see, great educators don't just do the same thing over and over again each year. They get to know their students and adjust their protocols, strategies and lessons, depending on the needs and strengths that they discover.

While it would be easier to develop a plan and keep implementing it over and over each year, that is not what's best for kids. Kids today are different in some respects than kids 20 years ago, a reflection of the changes in our culture.

But the basic challenges and struggles are foundationally similar. One thing will always be the same -- they all come to us with a desire to be known and for us to meet them where they are. They want us to lead them to their future. And that's what we strive to do every day.

There is value in reflecting on the past, but the past cannot drive our course to the future. The past does not account for today, which truly is the only thing over which we have a semblance of control.

We aren't perfect by any means. Each of us, at one time or another this year, will go home and reflect on what we should have done differently on that day. But I assure you, the next day, we'll be better.

I'm thankful for my R-5 family -- a team of strong, caring and courageous administrators, counselors, teachers, and support staff that strive to do what's best for kids, every day!

Dr. David Stephens

Superintendent Nevada R-5 School District