The cheers were loud and the lights were bright at the Lafon Performing Arts Center last week as St. Charles Parish teachers officially made their return from summer vacation.
St. Charles Parish Public Schools hosted its annual New Year Employee Kickoff event, where district leadership welcomes school employees for their first day back to work, addresses upcoming goals and shows appreciation for what these educators do to prepare students for the future – all alongside a bit of pep rally-like hyping up for the year to come.
Elected officials, business and industry representatives were in attendance as invited guests of the school district.
The day’s event was split into two sessions, a morning and an afternoon. Each of the two crowds was treated to a talk by guest motivational speaker Dr. Jim Mahoney, who gave an energetic presentation to hype the educators up for the school year.
St. Charles Parish Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ken Oertling welcomed teachers back – and credited everyone on hand for their part in some notable recent accomplishments. Oertling highlighted several high marks set by the school district, including a top rank in K-3 literacy (St. Charles Parish ranked 1st out of 69 districts), and very high ranks in growth and mastery among the state’s school districts.
He also recognized several individual educators who earned major recognitions or awards over the past year. Each and every person who comprises a part of the school system plays a role in all of this success, Oertling stressed.
“We are so blessed to be part of this world class team,” Oertling said. “We have tremendous accomplishments in part because of the work of the people in this theatre, and indirectly because of the commitment of those outside of it.”
Mahoney’s speech was informed by more than 40 years at various levels of education, including time as a superintendent, principal and teacher. As the executive director of Battelle for Kids for 15 years, he led a non-profit organization that partners with school districts, state departments of education, business, and philanthropic organizations across the globe to advance educational equity and opportunity for all students.
He currently serves as Assistant Professor of Practice for Ohio University, Voinovich School and educator in residence for Buckeye Association of School Administrators.
“I met Rodney Lafon over 20 years ago and we became friends. I’ve been to St. Charles several times. The pride in which he spoke about the community and the school system was absolutely unmistakable … it is a real honor for me to be here,” said Mahoney.
Mahoney spoke of connecting with students and the power of helping that “light” go on when a lesson clicks.
“If you want kids to have confidence and a greater sense of self-esteem, there’s no magic dust – you have to give them something hard to do and help them to do it,” Mahoney said. “Support them through it. Because when they do it, that creates that system of ‘I can, through your help.’ That’s flourishing. That’s exactly what you want.
“You are, through your work, what makes all others possible. Your expectations matter. You get what you give. How you communicate matters a great deal … the most important gift you’ll ever give anyone is you. They’re going to remember you.”
Mahoney also spoke of the importance of gratitude, both upon reflection on what others have done for us, and for being that person who inspires it in others.
He recalled a special exercise where baseballs were given out to class members with an instruction.
“The last day of class, you’re gonna bring these baseballs back,” Mahoney recalled. “I want three to five signatures from people who made a difference in your life … none of you got to where you are by yourself. And make sure when they sign your baseball, you tell them why … they’re gonna talk about teachers and coaches who made a big difference in their lives.
“They’re gonna tell stories about how someone hung in with them when they didn’t think they should. People who they may have been afraid of, but they came to respect … you people are the baseball signers.”
Every teacher at the back-to-school event got a special “baseball” to commemorate the day – which doubles as a stress ball, something Mahoney noted can always come in handy over the course of a school year.
