Today embarks a new journey for a true friend, and I can't be prouder of her path. I couldn't sleep and was driven to share our story. Many times the people that touch our lives, both professionally and personally, come by the grace of God. That's our story; connections over wisdom.
I started as a shoe salesman at Elder-Beerman and I remember Vicki and her family shopping for shoes. We had a casual conversation about teaching at RCS and that was my first encounter with the Saynes. Jump forward 12 years and you can find me in my office, as a first year principal, on the floor in total dismay. No one prepares you for what you don't know in a new position. I had recently had Stone, lost my dad, started my admin license and earned the position of building leader. My anxiety took over and God decided he was going to insert a few people that would guide me, teach me, and model true passion for living a life of Wisdom.
The wisdom Vicki shared was full circle. She shared clarity with me over several things that had been her role over the past 20-some years. I listened, followed, reflected, challenged, and above all else connected with a beautiful soul. A gift of a friend, at just the right time, that shared many ups and downs over the past 7 years. Wisdom comes in many forms but hers was love.
Vicki loved her job, she had a passion to serve the most challenging behaviors I have seen, and her reflection, research, resources, and true grit to dive down to the meaning of the communication is what I admired. Her willingness to try, over and over again, to connect with a student met my urgency of how to serve. It's not a popular opinion, let me tell you, but it's how I knew I was going to lead. Every voice needed to be heard, every obstacle had a solution, when it didn't work-modify, and above all else; look at each kid as your own. We shared a core value that brought us together; our faith.
I could go on forever about how we collectively tackled hard conversations with parents, students and teachers. We shared many bus rides, CPI holds, restorative conversations, and brought Yoga and mindfulness to school before SEL was even a term. She taught me the importance of organizing ISTEP manuals, understanding my role in an IEP meeting, writing behavior plans and measurable goals, being proactive instead of reactive, but most importantly; how to accept help.
You don't know, what you don't know, until it hits you in the face. Vicki wrapped her arms around me, many times, when life dealt the hardest blows. When anxiety took hold, she would sit on the phone with me, all hours of the night, to bring rational decisions to the forefront. We shared vulnerability and how faith will restore. We grieved in that office. We laughed in that office. We loved in that office. We created a life-long friendship in that office on Reeveston.
To say I'm proud is an understatement. When I was making the decision to leave RCS, Vicki shared every step of the way. It's scary to leave people, like Vicki, that molded my leadership. We vowed to keep in touch and to stay in each others lives no matter where life took us. Vicki has touched not only my life but many admins, students, parents and teachers over that past 3 decades. There were countless times that parents thanked her for the work she did in advocating for student needs. The work that was behind the scenes and not always celebrated. That is Vicki; a humble human that would do anything for anyone at anytime.
So today, she clocks in and out one last time. Retirement is finally here! She has a beautiful grandchild to fill her soul after so many children shared that space. Now she will share her wisdom in different ways and her void will be very difficult to fill. I am blessed to have met and worked with Vicki. I look forward to continuing our journey from a new perspective.
Vicki- cheers to all the laughs, tears, struggles, victories, successes and love that we have shared! Go out and share that smile with the ones you love. I am so proud of your accomplishments and today is just the beginning. Today may be emotional but there will be joy in the morning! Congratulations on a job well done! He is smiling from above as your work has touched so many. Love you sista!
A song that keeps me going and would love to share with all those that serve His wisdom and love:
A moment to always remember; just listen to the laughs we share!
No comments:
Post a Comment