Dear Canutillo Community,
As a community, we want to create environments where students not only feel welcomed and embraced, we want them to also feel empowered. Parents send us their kids so that we can provide them with a world class education. In that regard, I feel our teachers are doing a great job.
However, I want to make sure that our kids walk away from our school system with much more than just book knowledge. I want them to go into the world having found their voice. It’s our duty as educators and children’s advocates to guarantee that each and every student has an opportunity to be heard and considered.
This topic came up this week when news of potential student walkouts began to emerge around schools in El Paso. The walkouts were a sign of protest against school violence and in support for legislation aimed at making schools safer.
While I don’t condone any interruption to the instructional day, I do praise those students who are finding ways to make their voices heard. So many times we dismiss young people for being disengaged or uninterested in the world around them, when in reality they are keenly aware of what’s important. I urge all adults, especially those in a position of authority, to start paying attention to our students … they have so much to teach us.
I also want to send a shout out this week to a great group of educators that often go unheralded. This is National Assistant Principal Week and we have a great group of APs here in Canutillo. Thank you for your work, dedication and commitment to the children of our community.
Pedro Galaviz
Superintendent of Schools