November
Inspiring Greatness
“The Nine Core Values of John Adams Academy”
November 2, 2012
The following comments are from the audience who wanted to
share their experiences with The Nine Core Values.
Mr. Turner - Upper Grade Science Teacher
Certainly, welcome. For many of you, I do know, I teach your children, and for that I’m truly grateful. For those of you I don’t know, my name is Jason Turner, I’m your middle school and high school science teacher, so welcome.
The Nine Core Values to me, as a teacher, I have to start with the most basic one, which is, Modeling What We Teach. You see, as a teacher, whatever I can do inside the classroom to reinforce whatever you are doing at home, that is absolutely one of my most fundamental goals. For me, it’s not enough to just stand there at the front of the classroom with a book in one hand and maybe the daily worksheet in the other, pass it around, get a return and I grade it and you get a score that you get to see on Aeries. As long as your child is getting a “B” or an “A” in my classroom, everybody is happy and that’s kind of the extent of my obligation to your child. And my response to that is, that is not enough.
I obviously can’t love your children the way that you do, but I do in fact love them. What am I willing to do for them? I am willing to give them all of me. When they get here in the morning, and they say, “Well I’m tired because I’ve had seminary.” Once a week I show up at 1:30 in the morning, I prep for 4 1/2 hours and that’s when I see some of your children for the first time. I get one prep period every other day, and I don’t say that with anything other than pride, the love that I have for your children.
For me, standing there in front of them, being a role model, it’s starts not with them, but for me. It means me, being a science teacher, I need to know my discipline inside and out, know all the variations, know both sides of the argument. Especially when I’m standing there with my Biology class or my Life Science class, talking about things like evolution, which we still debate today. To carry it further through, getting them to think critically. Especially when it comes to things like motion, light, energy, we have the great conversation by introducing things like Sir Isaac Newton, where we read his epitaph, where it says, God created heaven and earth, but Isaac Newton brought it all to light. Having that great conversation, having it fundamentally known that their science teacher, a man of faith, can also be a man of science. That is what awakens the minds of your children, and that is what all of us teachers here at John Adams are willing to do.
You know, our first seminar we had talked about getting all of us out of the cave. I would argue that we are all kind of perpetually in the cave. We’re halfway to the light, but we always know where the darkness is. But as the teacher, I also by virtue have to represent the light. The light has to shine through the darkness of ignorance so that your children get the best education they can while they’re here. I cannot thank you enough for the honor and the gratitude I have for sharing my classroom with all your scholars, thank you.
Calene - Parent
I just want to say, I came late last year, and it was kinda one of those divine intervention moments too. My daughter was struggling really hard at her last school and I brought her over here and Lyndsey said we have one opening--or two openings, because you (points to Amber) must of been the other one--two openings for fifth grade, you need to go home immediately and sign her up. And I signed her up and Lyndsey called me back and said that she was in. I remember the first day I brought her here, I was a nervous wreck, and I thought, “What have I done?” I was nervous and I didn’t know anything about this school. It was brand new. It was completely different than what I was comfortable within the public school system. I picked her up the first day--the whole day I was just panicked--and she was so excited. I asked, “How was your first day of school?” and she said, “I love it!” I love it.” And so now, my son Dillon is here.
But to get to the nine core values. I noticed she was growing up too fast, she was 10 going on 14 and I wasn’t aware of it at the moment, because I was kind of caught up in the whole thing too of the Abercrombie, and the Hollister, and all the brand names and stuff. I brought her here and I thought, oh my gosh, this uniform is going to kill her, she’s going to hate it, she’s not going to like it. Well, she loves it. She’s just like, “Mom, I’m going to look so cute tomorrow. I’m going to wear my tan pants and my red shirt,” and the next day, “I’m going to look so cute, I’m going to wear my blue pants and my white shirt.” She loves it and I can see she’s 11 now, and she’s 11. She laughs, she giggles, she doesn’t get embarrassed with what other people think. She doesn’t worry about her uniform, she doesn’t care about her appearance. She’s getting pimples and she’s, you know, turning into a woman and there’s no teasing and no bullying here.
I love this school and I’ve noticed in her public and private virtue, if we go somewhere now and she sees somebody who’s not dressed appropriately? “Mom, that’s completely inappropriate with what that girl’s wearing,” and I’m like, “You are absolutely right, it is.” Where before, she might have been like, “Oh, can we go get that shirt? You know, that shirt’s so cute, because it says Abercrombie,” and it’s skin tight. So, I’ve really noticed that in her.
Her student empowered learning, she actually comes home and studies independently. She LOVES her teacher. I can’t tell you what a huge impact her teacher has made on my daughter’s life, and just having a teacher that you really connect with and inspires you.
There’s other ways the Nine Core Values have affected her too and I know we are close for time, but I just have to say also, I work here at the school as a yard duty and lunchroom aide and I love working with the John Adams Academy scholars . When people ask me why I like John Adams I cannot put my finger on one thing and say this is what it is, I can’t. You know, if you gave me a half an hour, I could probably, maybe summarize it, but not completely. The kids are so respectful , so polite, “May I go to the bathroom?” “May I play on the playground?” “I picked up trash.” “Do you need help cleaning up?” If someone gets hurt, there’s five kids, “Can I take her to the office?” “Do you need some help?” Everybody is so sweet, the kids are so good, I look around the playground and there are kids reading, they’re just sitting there reading a book. At a public school it’d be like, “Ooo, you’re a nerd. Why are you reading?” But here it’s like, “I read that book. Oh my gosh, did you read this book? Did you read that book?”
It’s just amazing to me and I just love this school, I love working here. I love working with people that are just positive and practice the Nine Core Values and whenever I get stressed out, or something’s going wrong, I remember something Millie’s said to me--I had a problem with a parent--and she just said, “Ask yourself what core value was that parent not doing today and what can they do to work that core value?” She’s absolutely right! And what can I do as a mom and what can I do as an employee to incorporate these Nine Core Values into myself and my student? And that’s it, I just want to say I really like John Adams Academy and I notice a huge difference in my children. Thank you.
But to get to the nine core values. I noticed she was growing up too fast, she was 10 going on 14 and I wasn’t aware of it at the moment, because I was kind of caught up in the whole thing too of the Abercrombie, and the Hollister, and all the brand names and stuff. I brought her here and I thought, oh my gosh, this uniform is going to kill her, she’s going to hate it, she’s not going to like it. Well, she loves it. She’s just like, “Mom, I’m going to look so cute tomorrow. I’m going to wear my tan pants and my red shirt,” and the next day, “I’m going to look so cute, I’m going to wear my blue pants and my white shirt.” She loves it and I can see she’s 11 now, and she’s 11. She laughs, she giggles, she doesn’t get embarrassed with what other people think. She doesn’t worry about her uniform, she doesn’t care about her appearance. She’s getting pimples and she’s, you know, turning into a woman and there’s no teasing and no bullying here.
I love this school and I’ve noticed in her public and private virtue, if we go somewhere now and she sees somebody who’s not dressed appropriately? “Mom, that’s completely inappropriate with what that girl’s wearing,” and I’m like, “You are absolutely right, it is.” Where before, she might have been like, “Oh, can we go get that shirt? You know, that shirt’s so cute, because it says Abercrombie,” and it’s skin tight. So, I’ve really noticed that in her.
Her student empowered learning, she actually comes home and studies independently. She LOVES her teacher. I can’t tell you what a huge impact her teacher has made on my daughter’s life, and just having a teacher that you really connect with and inspires you.
There’s other ways the Nine Core Values have affected her too and I know we are close for time, but I just have to say also, I work here at the school as a yard duty and lunchroom aide and I love working with the John Adams Academy scholars . When people ask me why I like John Adams I cannot put my finger on one thing and say this is what it is, I can’t. You know, if you gave me a half an hour, I could probably, maybe summarize it, but not completely. The kids are so respectful , so polite, “May I go to the bathroom?” “May I play on the playground?” “I picked up trash.” “Do you need help cleaning up?” If someone gets hurt, there’s five kids, “Can I take her to the office?” “Do you need some help?” Everybody is so sweet, the kids are so good, I look around the playground and there are kids reading, they’re just sitting there reading a book. At a public school it’d be like, “Ooo, you’re a nerd. Why are you reading?” But here it’s like, “I read that book. Oh my gosh, did you read this book? Did you read that book?”
It’s just amazing to me and I just love this school, I love working here. I love working with people that are just positive and practice the Nine Core Values and whenever I get stressed out, or something’s going wrong, I remember something Millie’s said to me--I had a problem with a parent--and she just said, “Ask yourself what core value was that parent not doing today and what can they do to work that core value?” She’s absolutely right! And what can I do as a mom and what can I do as an employee to incorporate these Nine Core Values into myself and my student? And that’s it, I just want to say I really like John Adams Academy and I notice a huge difference in my children. Thank you.
Ben Hansen - Parent
Thank you for the opportunity, I really appreciate that. I’m Mr. Karen Hansen, I’m in one of those positions where people know me by my wife, so I’m Ben, actually. I just wanted to stand up first of all, as one of the dads and thank all the men that are here, the fathers. We appreciate that. I know that’s a big, you’re modeling good behavior for your scholars, and we appreciate that and I really appreciate it. One of the key things that’s really sticking out to me, this school, is having an opportunity, an outlet, for adults to start to be what we need to be as well. If we look to the Seven Keys of Great Teaching, one of those, You, Not Them. Our children are learning to be good citizens, good scholars, they’re learning to be Statesmen and now I believe that there is a great opportunity for us as parents to be that as well. There’s a great opportunity to model to our children ,citizenship, to have those important discussions with them about things going on in the world right now, but more importantly to go out and act. I think a lot of that acting has to do with the service that we render here, the service that we render in the community, and I really feel like there is something about this school that is enabling that for me. I’m just really glad to be a part of it and thankful so much for the teachers who are here, because I don’t know benefit wise and I don’t know if it’s comparable with what you had before, but I know that the teachers that are here, are here because they want to be. That this is where you want to be and I’m deeply appreciative of that and the Board members and the Deans, so much, and all the staff. I just wanted to say thank you for that, as one of the dads. Just to let you know that I’m committed to it too and I look forward to seeing everybody here and building a good community and to continue to model those good behaviors for our children. Thank you.
Heather Brophy - Dean of Operations
In closing, when I think of John Adams Academy, as I said in the very beginning,
this is a hero’s adventure and we’re all here in our own way and we’re lucky
that we have lights along our path and that’s what those nine core values are
for us. And as I said earlier, these Nine Core Values are not just for our
scholars, they’re for our staff, they’re for our parents, they are for our
community members, and as I’ve said, when we’ve had community members come in,
contractors, they’ve said, “It’s different here,” and “How do you do it?” And
my response back was, the next place you go, take that with you. Next time you
go to the grocery store, next time you go back to your office, next time you
meet or see someone, if you just use these, you’ll be fine. Not only will you
be fine, but our community will be one person better.
So,
I’m really very fortunate , that in my life I’ve walked into two places that
gave me the feeling of “Ah, ha!” One in Milan and one here. In Milan I have six
generations of architecture, and builders and artisans and painters to thank,
but here we get the Forman’s. So at this point, could you please stand so we
can all give them a round of applause.
*applause*
Thank you so much for being here and I really want to thank the PSO and the staff
members for putting together this wonderful opportunity . I hope you put this
and the lessons and the opportunity and the stories,as funny as they are... but
to take these with you, and when you meet somebody, remember those stories and
remember they may have come from a background not quite like yours, but you
have the opportunity to provide some guiding light that can help you lead
them.
.
There’s more food, there’s more drink and there’s time for mingling and thank
you again so much for being here. Have a good evening.
this is a hero’s adventure and we’re all here in our own way and we’re lucky
that we have lights along our path and that’s what those nine core values are
for us. And as I said earlier, these Nine Core Values are not just for our
scholars, they’re for our staff, they’re for our parents, they are for our
community members, and as I’ve said, when we’ve had community members come in,
contractors, they’ve said, “It’s different here,” and “How do you do it?” And
my response back was, the next place you go, take that with you. Next time you
go to the grocery store, next time you go back to your office, next time you
meet or see someone, if you just use these, you’ll be fine. Not only will you
be fine, but our community will be one person better.
So,
I’m really very fortunate , that in my life I’ve walked into two places that
gave me the feeling of “Ah, ha!” One in Milan and one here. In Milan I have six
generations of architecture, and builders and artisans and painters to thank,
but here we get the Forman’s. So at this point, could you please stand so we
can all give them a round of applause.
*applause*
Thank you so much for being here and I really want to thank the PSO and the staff
members for putting together this wonderful opportunity . I hope you put this
and the lessons and the opportunity and the stories,as funny as they are... but
to take these with you, and when you meet somebody, remember those stories and
remember they may have come from a background not quite like yours, but you
have the opportunity to provide some guiding light that can help you lead
them.
.
There’s more food, there’s more drink and there’s time for mingling and thank
you again so much for being here. Have a good evening.