My personal mission for 2015-2016 is to utilize and develop my knowledge, skill sets, and abilities as a servant leader throughout all facets of my life (faith, family, friends, community, and work) through reflection, interaction with others, and continuous learning.

Goal: I will work collaboratively with district and school colleagues, parents, students, and community stakeholders in order to prepare, create and establish a state-of-the-art learning environment which welcomes and cultivates a sense of community pride and educational excellence as well as promotes a mantra that all learners will achieve and be successful.

Goal: I will find effective ways in which to "sharpen my saw" by eating right, self-reflecting, and exercising.

One Word of the Week: Communication

*SCES New Personnel: I spent a lot of my time throughout this week on the phone calling references/principals, on email making recommendations to hire (by the way..."Thank you, Dr. Mercer, for the timeliness of your approvals!), and then on the phone again talking with the individuals that I offered positions to...just to learn more about them!

Just a bit about the 5 that I recommended this week:

- one is leaving Ninety-Six, where she was born and raised to marry a gentleman from this area (whose children go to Mayo & Chesnee Middle) - small world;

- one is relocating to this area due to her husband taking a position at Cannon's Campground Methodist Church (she is relation to Kathy McKinney);

- one is leaving Greenville County Schools so she can teach here in the community that she lives;

- one is a new graduate; and

- one is coming from CFG (computer lab) to classroom teacher.

*SCES Personnel: Many questions continue to come in from SCES staff members about a plethora of items, so I try to be quick in communicating a response if I can answer or quick to go to someone that can help me get an answer in order to respond. (Examples: "Can I take my ipad?"; "Can I have afternoon duty?"; "Will we order shirts for Convocation?"; and it goes on and on...it's all good!)

*SCES Positions: At 2:30 this afternoon I communicated with current staff their grade level placement, as well as communicated with teaching assistants the teacher they would be working with for next year.

*Exceptional Children Awards Night: I enjoyed this event once again this year!

*Purchases: Mrs. Ashby, JoAnn and I met to go over what has been quoted and is ready for ordering, what is still "in the works", and what have we not thought of....so we can all be "on the same page".

Next Week:

*Fill last 4th grade position - Interviews on Monday morning

*Cooley-Springs - attend faculty meeting - Dr. Hinton's Presentation

*Punch List Items (Update Teacher Handbook, Student Handbook, Supply List, Welcome Back letter for registration packet, etc.)