What Are You Planning to Do? 9 of 31 #sol16

I found the question that I've been looking for. It's so funny that I wrote yesterday about wondering what inspiring words to say to students and then today I found those words. At lunch today we had the opportunity for a Sack Lunch with the Sup , I mean, Bag it with the Boss. I think I like my name for it better. Cute name or not, it was an opportunity for a small group of directors and specialists to meet with our Superintendent. She is a very powerful (I mean that in an inspired and very best way) and busy woman. She definitely leans in and speaks up and truly is a voice for students in my district. She takes time to send notes of appreciation to teachers and staff.

I digress.

During this informal lunch meeting of about twenty people or so, the Superintendent answered questions and asked others to share what's been going on in our district from their own perspective. It was this open ended format that brought forth a conversation around community partnerships. Our Sup (pronounced soup) shared of a nearby school district that has a large initiative thanks to community partners surrounding their district. This initiative has basically asked all community members, staff, and families to ask students of all ages one question. This is the question I was looking for.

What are you planning to do after you graduate?

Isn't it beautiful and amazing!? Isn't it empowering and assuming of positive intent? How much unspoken belief is in this statement? For some of you this question probably seems natural or no big deal, but in our school district where our graduation rate is around 70%, it's a big f'ing deal (excuse my language). The graduation rate has already been gradually increasing over the last few years and I know we can do more. Right now, in my district, 30% of kids each year are not increasing their chances of success in life. This is a very scary and real problem. Even as a Kindergarten teacher, this matters to me. It's not the high school teachers problem or the middle school teachers problem. It's not the problem of the upper elementary teachers either. It's all of our problems. It's the principals problem, the specialists and directors problem, the teachers from PreK to 12th grade. It's the chef and the cashier's problem, the office managers problem, the custodian's problem. It's the neighbors problem and the church groups problem. It's the problem of the local business owners. This is our problem. Every. Single. One. of. us! If you are someone who interacts with a student of any age in my district and builds a relationship of any kind with them, I want you to join me in asking this question.

What are you planning to do after you graduate?

Not every day or even every time you interact with them, but at least once. Maybe even annually. It certainly is what I was needing to say to my former students yesterday. I want to know how they answer this question in kindergarten, in first grade, in second, all the way up to their senior year if I see them. What are you planning to do after you graduate? What are you planning to do after you graduate? What are you planning to do after you graduate? Feeling like a broken record yet? Good. What are you planning to do after you graduate? What are you planning to do after you graduate? Starting to get the picture? The more we ask, the more they believe. What are you planning to do after you graduate? What are you planning to do after you graduate? By now you, the reader, are probably already considering going back to school to answer that question. What are you planning to do after you graduate? Sing it. Rap it. Speak it. Whisper it. Shout it. It doesn't matter how. Just believe it and repeat it. They deserve it. We all deserve it.