Focus counts! As a founder of a corporation, I am aware that focus is necessary to keep the original plan on track. As time passes and things change, it is necessary to take an inventory of just where we are in terms of “the original plan.” No one can predict what changes will affect that “plan,” but being aware that monitoring is necessary from time to time can help us to modify if needed.
As new people are added to the corporation, new ideas abound. To keep the corporation well and functioning, “flexibility” must become the focus. A rigid plan often becomes a “dead” entity. Just as planet Earth is a living system in which changes affect many parts of the world, so it is with any system. We must remember that the only sure thing in life is “change” itself! No one, myself included, ever dreamed we could face such an obstacle as a global pandemic. (Well, I have to confess that my chemistry teacher husband has been saying for fifteen or more years that viruses were lying dormant, awaiting a time to reappear…that we only think we’ve conquered those dreaded diseases of the past.) I even heard a report on one of the news channels that someone was found to have a virus from the 1918 Spanish flu. My paternal grandmother died from that particular flu outbreak!
Now, what does that have to do with focus? Just this: history repeats itself…and being aware of how particular problems were solved in the past can help us solve new phases of it in the future. There is truly nothing new under the sun. The problems are the same, the methods for overcoming them have just morphed into robotics, etc. So, flexibility becomes the key again for attaining success.
Mrs. Smith has managed to stay focused upon the CDC findings and guidelines during this pandemic. Many people offer advice, criticism, and thanks…but Mrs. Smith has remained consistent in following as closely as possible the CDC research findings. Her heart has been broken as has most of ours with the death of our Spanish teacher, Mr. Clark, from COVID. His exposure came from going to his home in Guatemala during the summer, as was his custom. But this loss makes us all more determined than ever to keep our focus keenly on guidelines and recommended practices for our LAAS staff, students and families.
No one on our staff desired a shut down time…it demands a 3 to 1 ratio of time for our teachers. However, I am so proud of everyone’s willingness to put aside personal preferences and comfort so they could help us protect our LAAS families from virus spread. It took great courage to take this stand when others in the community weren’t so willing to do likewise. Some have openly disagreed with Mrs. Smith’s call, but most have been appreciative. So, we all focus now on doing as much teaching and learning as we can virtually, so that we may come back together having weathered the storm.
Kay