School Matters Week of 3/07/2022

Each year we take a fishing trip in the fall to upstate New York to a little town called Pulaski. The salmon make a run from the Great Lakes to spawn in the spot when they were born. This is an incredible process and the salmon will travel hundreds of miles to lay eggs in the exact area of the river where they were born. This process is called imprinting and involves the salmon’s acute sense of smell. When a salmon is born, they tend to stay in an isolated area because they are hiding from all of the larger fish who prey on the smaller fry or babies. During this time, they constantly draw water through their gills and they register this smell through a process called imprinting.

The fry turn into larger salmon who become very aggressive and eat other fish. The salmon spend some time in the river as they grow bigger and stronger. Eventually the fish move down the river and travel to the Great Lakes. The salmon live in the Great Lakes for several years until they grow huge. Many of the salmon will weight over 30 pounds while in the lakes. At this point, something magical happens and there an instinct is activated among the salmon to return to the river. The salmon recalls that natural smell when they were a fry and they begin the journey back to the place of their birth.

There will be thousands of salmon running throughout the river during the months of September and October. This also brings thousands of fishermen to the area to try their luck. We love fishing in Pulaski at this time of year. The river is absolutely beautiful and the leaves are bursting with a full range of colors. I have spent a number of early mornings in the river with the mist rising from the water and engrossed with the beauty of my surroundings. Being able to hook a 30 pound salmon and fight with it for 20 minutes is an added bonus.

Sometimes you must engage in what is called “combat fishing.” This is where several anglers are standing shoulder to shoulder and they are fishing the primary pathways of the salmon. This is not much fun because there are constant tangled lines and frustration. A few years ago, I was tired of the crowds and moved upriver away from everyone. To my surprise, I found a spot where there was no one fishing but literally hundreds of fish pooled in one area. I caught fish after fish with no competition. It was one of the best days of fishing I have experienced in my life. As I was fishing, I small a young boy on the bank with a fishing pole. I encouraged him to come on over but it was clear that he was not coming to this pool until I left.

I took in the setting sun, the colors of the trees, the crispness of the air, the purity of the water, and the sight of so many salmon no more than a few yards away from me. It was an incredible experience but I knew it was time to leave. I had my opportunity and had absolutely enjoyed the entire experience. I took in one more view, stored it in my mind where only the most special memories are placed, and turned for the bank. The young boy was smiling as he entered the water because he knew what was coming. As I climbed the bank, I heard him shout as he hooked his first fish and it brought a smile to my face. I didn’t have to leave but I knew it was time.

To some degree, this experience is very similar to what I have encountered in Hamblen County. My tenure here as superintendent has been incredible and I have only fond memories of this school district and community. We were forced to make some extremely difficult decisions during some of the most challenging times but they were still good experineces. I have been blessed to work with some of the highest quality educators this state has. I am a better person because I had the privilege of working with the teachers and staff of this school system.

Earlier this week, I was named to be the next superintendent of schools in Rogers, Arkansas. This is a thriving community and provides a high quality of life in the Ozarks. Amy and I are excited about this new chapter in our life. However, as I knew it was time to leave the river – my heart will be a little heavy when I leave Hamblen County. I feel I was placed here for a reason and it is my hope that I have provided solid leadership during my tenure. I fully understand that I made a number of decisions that frustrated some elements of the community but I believe all decisions were based on what I thought was best for students and staff. I will not be leaving until June 30 and it is my intent to remain fully engaged in this school system until I leave. When we eventually point the truck west for Arkansas, we will leave with great memories of this community and a little piece of my soul will remain here.

Please review the following information and contact us if you have any questions or concerns. Also, please remember to email Mrs. Webb (webbk@hcboe.net) if you have other questions you would like us to address in future articles.

1. We have an early dismissal planned for March 16 at 1:00 p.m. Schools will be closed for spring break from March 28 – April 1.

3. We will conduct a teacher fair on March 22 at East High School from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. We are prepared to offer contracts to high quality candidates during this job fair. Please encourage friends and family members to attend this job fair if they will be licensed to teach by this August.

4. Mr. Chuck Carter, our CTE supervisor, has taken a job at the state department. We interviewed for that position and chose Mr. Daniel Aldridge to be the next CTE supervisor. Mr. Aldridge was the assistant to Mr. Carter and we are confident he will do an excellent job.

5. Typically the current superintendent will not be a part of the superintendent search process for many different reasons. I have intentionally remained unconnected to ensure my actions are not seen as advancing or inhibiting the cause of any candidate and I have little knowledge of the search process. At our last meeting, the board produced the following schedule for the search.

a. The board will post a public survey for stakeholder input on March 11. Community members, staff, students, etc., can access the survey and provided feedback on what they want to see in the next superintendent. The survey can be found on our website.

b. The board will complete the vetting process and identify the finalists (probably 3 or 4 individuals) by March 18.

c. The board will conduct interviews during the week of April 4 – 9. They will determine a specific date once all details are known.

d. Prior to the interviews, all finalists will be invited to meet with select community groups and will be accompanied by a board member. A public reception will also be held and all finalists will be required to attend.

e. The board will make the final decision after these public events and the final interviews. It is my understanding the board hopes to have a candidate named by at mid-April.

6. The Project Graduation Committee has made the decision not to host an After-Graduation party this year due to potential health concerns.

I would suspect that much of life is about the end of some experience and the beginning of another one. Life is not a stagnant process and we are required to say goodbye to a certain group of friends and move on to the next adventure. I have moved a number of times in my life and have been required to say goodbye to a number of dear friends and colleagues. As I reflect back on those experiences, I remember all of those who have meant so much to me and the various ways they have made me a better person. I seldom linger on any of the negative experiences because it is simply a waste of time. I attempt to learn from those negative encounters but I don’t dwell on them. Instead my memories continue to float back to the positives and my experience in Hamblen County has been exceptional. The time is quickly approaching for me to leave the stream and allow the next angler to take my place. However, that time is not yet and we still have much to accomplish in these next three months. I will remain as superintendent until June 30 and the new person will take over on July 1. I still have some casts left to make. We will continue to be relentless in our efforts to finish the school year strong and leave the district in good shape for the next leader. It has been an honor and privilege to have served. Thanks for your attention to this article and remember, School Matters!