Good morning, Viking Family,
In the short time that I have been in the district, it has truly been my pleasure getting to know many of you. Shaking hands, laughing, smiling, and having genuine conversations, I’ve felt a sense of energy reactivated by many of you. Some of you even shared with me your life stories and I’ve felt a personal connection. To that end, I thought, “hmmm, wouldn’t it be great if I shared my story?”
So just who is your superintendent? To know who I am and why I do what I do, we must take a short trip down memory lane.
I was born the fourth of seven children, raised by a financially struggling single mother in East St. Louis, a community not much different from Normandy and many of the surrounding communities. I was the epitome of what many called “youth at risk.” Fortunately, with guidance from my mother, grandmother, siblings, family, and friends, I overcame many obstacles. My community truly kept me from being lost to the streets.
Growing up in East St Louis, in neighborhoods like those surrounding NSC, witnessing similar traumatic experiences and having a socioeconomic status like many of the students NSC supports, I understand first-hand about schools being a safe haven for students who are witnessing or who have witnessed financial hardships and other traumatic experiences. I was a student who went to school every day and tried to camouflage my home situation so that no one knew what I was going through.
I understand the pressures that some of our students are under, being expected to perform at high levels while going through these unfortunate home experiences resulting in what many view as inappropriate or negative behaviors. That’s why I know wrap-around services are imperative to the success of our students, our staff, and our district. Our students thrive when our community thrives.
I had both Caucasian and African American, male and female teachers who did not understand me at times. Having the same skin tone and race does not mean that our babies are the same. The makeup of their socio-emotional anatomy stems from their home, their neighborhoods, their friends, etc. This is what makes being Culturally Responsive important.
Get to know the students you are teaching. More importantly, allow them to get to know you. Our babies need to see us as humans, not only as educators they only see at school. I am so very committed to improving the culture and climate of the NSC and we must actively work together to make that happen.
I need your help. This week I challenge you to take inventory of your unique skills and abilities and use them to help build The New Normandy.
Together We Can, Together We Will Be Game Changers.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Triplett
