Skretta's Scintillating Salutations

January 29, 2013 Good afternoon, Senators: My name is John Skretta and I am the Superintendent of the Norris   school district. I first want to thank you for your service here on  the Education committee and your service to the state of Nebraska. Today, I would like to encourage your consideration and hear the case  for our affirmation of LB 47 . We inhabit southern Lancaster County as  well as the northern part of Gage County and a sliver of Otoe. I  provided you with copy of our Annual Report so that you have a quick  contextual overview of our school district – I am here today  speaking on behalf of LB47. Norris has been a charter member of the Southeast Nebraska Career  Academy Program . As such, we have had dozens of students over the last  several years participate in intensive career academy experiences on  our own campus outside of Firth and in Lincoln on the SCC campus as  well as out in various local businesses...

If you're just (insanely?) dedicated to distance running or you're already training for the local favorite Lincoln marathon , then odds are you have encountered the abysmal reality that cold weather running is a necessary precondition for putting the required training time in for those spring marathons and summer road races.  Here's a short list of some of the things I find to be persistently pestering about cold weather training - those December - March Nebraska runs that require you braving bitterly cold conditions: 1. Frozen eyelashes.   Betsy Barent pointed this one out the other day.  So true.  The eyebrows freeze and the moisture from your eyes eventually seals your eyelids shut...making it oh so much harder to, well, see.  Not to sound like a running snob, but, well, seeing is one of those things that really helps to facilitate the running experience. This many pairs of gloves and I still can't feel my fingers? 2. First, when your fingers go numb....

As a final hurrah to 2012, I invite you to reflect with me on some of the most substantial accomplishments of your Norris School District that occurred from January through December, 2012.  These are things that may have escaped your attention but are clearly worthy of notice and the acclamation of our team members and constituents. I believe that these are the sort of things that help to foster an environment where teachers can continue to teach masterfully and students' opportunities to learn are maximized.  Norris has an excellent achievement profile  and a faculty recognized for its excellence. In the annotated list below, I am focusing on district-level operational and infrastructure or policy and organizational-level changes I believe help to sustain such a culture. Some Top 2012 Norris District Accomplishments - Gratitude to others for a job well done!  It all starts with an incredible Board of Education that steers and guides all policy matters and prov...

...he also happens to be the Obamas' Assistant Chef, and a very eloquent one!  Check out these inspiring session notes and quotes from Sam Kass , a Policy Advisor at The White House.  And, oh yeah, Asistant Chef for The Obamas! He made these comments at the GenYouth summit yesterday, talking about the importance of, anong other things, school-based initiatives to promote student health,  and I was fortunate enough to hear him in person.  I found him articulate, passionate, and inspiring:  The right information is actionable; it can be translated into real life.  We change course or we prepare to live with devastating numbers that indicate poor quality lives: 1/3 of our kids today could become diabetics.  We must change now because over 20% of health costs already are preventable obesity-related ones. We change now because every General tells us that it's already our biggest national security risk because poor health due to obes...

To me, more than anything, this day symbolizes the power of partnership and the importance of providing a relevant and engaging learning experience for our students.   We could not achieve this without the support of the reps who are here tonight and without the vision of our Board of Education and the FFA Alumni group and Farm Committee to make all this happen.   The Norris FFA Learning Lab is one of a kind.  It is unique.  It puts property that belongs to our growing district for future development into good use as an active farm operation from which our students learn practical lessons in agronomy and the real life economics of farm management.  So, our students are the immediate beneficiaries of this project.  But more than that, the partnership serves a higher purpose.  The FFA Alum, the parents who volunteer time and resources to make this project happen, exemplify servant leadership.  The revenue goes from the FFA Farm Committee oversee...

Welcome, teachers! Norris is a special place, and today marks the formal start of your employment with our school district.   The Jedi-mind trick you have to master, though, is the realization that this district will only remain special if you endeavor to make it so.  You have to perpetuate a legacy of great instruction because we have brought you in to replace people who established and sustained that over many years – or we brought you in to meet the growth needs of a burgeoning student population.   We need you at your best. We don't want you to settle in and settle for average outcomes from yourself or mere proficiency from your students.  Strive for more.   It is the commitment of classroom teachers and the combination of compassionate care for every learner coupled with rigorous academic expectations you uphold that helps us realize our mission. You should realize – you must realize - that the process starts with selection and you are not here by a...

I have been rolling up miles at a substantial rate of 40+ a week for  over four years now.  I have run a dozen marathons and battled through  some truly treacherous training conditions and some fairly adverse  race day scenarios. In the process, I've conquered Heartbreak Hill, Hospital Hill, the  ultra-distance Bohemian Alps outside of Brainard, and battled a gritty  wind in the starkly sublime Sandhills.  But it occurred  to me when  the alarm went off this morning signaling me to get up for another  early morning workout that it never changes.  What never changes is  the fear, the doubt, and the nagging voice of negativity I hear in the  back of my mind.  And if you run, every day you hear that and you  choose to refute it. You renounce fear and uncertainty to embrace  commitment and the courage to keep after it. I think runners are a superstitious lot and, let's face it, mustering  the will to go 26....