I am fortunate to work at
a school that financed a trip for our founding team to go to New Orleans to
tour and soak in the talent at two KIPP Elementary Schools. Our founding team
spent the weekend gaining immense growth and development, insight, as well as
team bonding. I am so thankful and blessed to work amongst some of the most
ambitious and hard-working individuals in the industry. I am not sure I know of
any other team that could spend a weekend together in a house and come back
strengthened and refreshed.
The two KIPP schools in
New Orleans were surrounded by the still-existing Hurricane Katrina damage;
however, you wouldn’t have had a clue based on the way the kids were smiling
and full of inquiry. Several scholars came up to greet us and gave us hugs
before even asking for our names. You could tell they were incredibly invested
in their learning and they were genuinely happy to be at school. It was so
inspiring to see the familiar KIPP language up on the walls of schools in a
completely different state and to see the KIPP traditions flourish and come
alive.
The school leader told us
all about his experience opening three KIPP schools and being apart of
different founding teams. It gave me both strength and faith to hear about
similar struggles that were faced at previous founding schools and how the team
persisted beyond these challenges to achieve the present success I witnessed. I
returned from the trip with a new energy, inspired to do more for my scholars
and to expect even more from them. I am beyond thrilled to see what changes
will come about from my campus and within my classroom.
