While attending a summit along with 40 other superintendents from around the country, I had the unique privilege to meet Sir Ken Robinson. Many of you have listened to Sir Ken’s TED talk on creativity. That TED talk has been viewed more than 43 million times.

During a break, Sir Ken and I discussed several issues currently facing public education. As we visited, he shared a fascinating analogy that resonated profoundly with me. He reminded me that mass education is often compared to manufacturing and the industrial revolution. Sir Ken stated that a more proper analogy for education would be industrial agriculture. I’ll have to admit, I wasn’t following him. He continued, “The period of industrialization also brought great changes to farming, including the invention of mechanical ploughs and threshing machines. Additionally, the widespread use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides massively increased yields and productivity. Industrialized farming produced vast efficiencies in planting, harvesting and processing crops.” 

I nodded my head, assuming this achievement was a good thing. But, Sir Ken argued that these advancements had come at a heavy cost. In many parts of the world, that price has been the degradation of the soil to the point where sustainability of these practices is in serious question. “You see,” Sir Ken stressed, “the emphasis was on yields and efficiencies. No one was paying attention to the soil.” He then described the practices of organic farmers, where the emphasis is not primarily on the outputs (crop yield) but on nurturing the soil itself, which differs fundamentally from industrial agriculture.

Then, he drove his point home, “As with industrial farming, the focus in education has been on outputs and yields rather than nurturing the children.” Now I got it! When we focus predominantly on educational outputs and fail to address the needs of the whole child it’s comparable to neglecting the soil. As we work with young people, we must never become so focused on yields and outputs that we forget about the children themselves and the vital role we play in nurturing their growth and development. It’s precisely what we’ve come to call, “The Weber Way!”

December is an exciting month with all of the holiday activities, the music, and the gatherings with family and friends sharing traditions and the spirit of the season. It is about the relationships we have with those we care about. I feel very fortunate, that on a daily basis I get to work with people that I call my friends. I have the opportunity of collaborating with talented teachers, administrators and support staff who are driven by a desire to help all students. Just as important as our education family are the amazing students we work with every day. I see the strong bonds developed between a caring educator and their students and how it makes all the difference in the world when it comes to teaching and learning.

During our October Professional Learning Day, conversations were centered around Relationships, Rigor and Relevance. You can see that the word relationship is first. As educators we must establish stable, warm, and trusting environments for students. One of our amazing educators, tells of a story when he was a science teacher. He was working with a small group of students and they had been asking him several questions. One of them said he had one more question and then asked, "How do you make every student feel like they are your favorite?" If we want to ensure students learn, communicate and think at high levels, we have to develop positive, trusting relationships with students, all students.

In a TED Talk, Rita Pierson challenges teachers to understand the power of relationships. She believes deeply in forming strong bonds with her students: through simple things like apologizing, laughing and just acknowledging their successes. Rita states, "Strong relationships encourage learner exploration, dialogue, confidence, and mutual respect."

In Weber School District, we have great people doing great things that impact the lives of our children every day. Continue to value caring, professional relationships between students and teachers. Enjoy the month of December and the energy the students bring to the classroom ... even though you are exhausted from all the holiday activities. May you treasure this season and all of its wonder as you surround yourself with family and friends. Happy Holidays!

Jane Ann Kammeyer
Assistant Superintendent

A Message from Reid Newey

Every day for the past 25 years I have gone to work in Weber School District. It has been so much more than a job to me. Working with and knowing all of the wonderful students, families, administrators, staff, and business partners, has made the past twenty-five years of my life as rich and rewarding as I could have ever hoped for! Weber School District is a place where people really, really care for one another, champion each other's successes and support each other in challenging times. It has always been my goal to make the place that means so much to me a better place for students and staff. I have learned so much from all of you and truly value my experience. More than anything, I will miss the great people I have met and been able to work with every day. I consider every student I have ever known a friend, and every educator a valued colleague. Thank you for letting me be part of your lives and for being an unforgettable part of mine!

A Note from Superintendent Stephens

On behalf of the entire school district, we want to congratulate Reid on his appointment as superintendent of the Davis School District. For the past 25 years, Reid has served tirelessly as a teacher, coach, principal, CTE Director, Executive Director of Secondary Education and most recently as Assistant Superintendent and principal of Weber Innovation High. His influence and impact on students, teachers and our community has been tremendous! We are so grateful for his dedicated leadership and wish him the very best as he transitions into his new assignment.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”  This is an oft-asked question that a student hears throughout their school career.  While many have “no idea” what they want to pursue for future employment, for those that do, Weber School District has phenomenal opportunities available.  Over the past nine years, WSD’s Internship program has grown from 40 students to over 140 students per semester. Having an internship has brought a whole new meaning to a young adult’s education as employer/mentors offer experiences as diverse as the workplace itself.  Law enforcement, physical therapy, accounting, multiple health professions, engineering, education, and veterinarians are just some of the occupations that our students are able to experience.  The opportunities encompass the full spectrum of real-world, relevant experience. 

The cooperation and willingness of our business partners is incredible and indicative of the kind of support we receive in Weber School District on behalf of our students. Business Partners are establishing expectations, competencies and benchmarks that they want the interns to reach while out in the workplace.  It’s not enough to just show up anymore, students are expected to develop skills related to their work experiences.  With these higher expectations, the students come away feeling like they have really done something, having been involved in meaningful projects related to advancing the business.  They become, as Dave Harris, engineer from Fresenius, put it, “Value added.”

Mr. Jeff Meyer, our CTE Work-Based Learning Coordinator organizes, initiates and manages Weber District’s Internship program and is a fantastic ambassador for this outstanding opportunity.  With each quarter’s experience students submit a reflection sheet about their experiences to Mr. Meyer.  When asked about some of the things that are related by the students, Mr. Meyer said that the most common phrase he sees is “…this was the best experience of my Senior/Junior Year,” and that feeling is echoed by our employers/mentors.  Even though the internship is not meant to be a paid experience last spring alone more than 20 of our student interns had been hired in one capacity or another at their internship site.  That number is especially high when many of our business partners are limited due to the post-secondary degree and certification requirements of their employees.  

It would be difficult for our schools to replicate the type of learning that students receive through their internships.  Many students realize these are the jobs that they want to pursue for their career and use it as a springboard as they continue on to post-secondary education.  Some find out that the occupation is not for them and are able to pursue other careers.  Regardless of the situation, each one of our students has developed soft skills pertaining to work-place etiquette and protocols that they will be able to utilize in whatever their pursuits may be.  Student Internships….another part of “The Weber Way”!