“Adversity Can Make Us Stronger”
“I am honored and humbled by the trust you have placed in me, and I am grateful for your best wishes” Galsner wrote.
Dr. David Glasner, substitute principal and superintendent-select, submitted this letter to the editorial board May 23 in response to the ‘Rite Idea published in the Vol. 89, Issue II edition of The Shakerite.
Dear Shakerite Editorial Board,
Thank you for your thoughtful and reflective letter. I will certainly take your ideas and input into account as I plan for my transition to the superintendency.
I agree with you that Shaker is an unusually diverse community that strives to embrace its differences. That characteristic, along with the district’s long legacy of academic excellence, is a big part of what attracted my family to this community. We have found a home here, and we believe now more than ever that we made a very good choice.
I also agree that we as a district have faced a number of challenges this year and that adversity can make us stronger. In some ways, I think it already has. For example, as you pointed out, we are well on our way to rebuilding Fernway, and I am confident the result will be a school that will make the community proud. My time serving as principal of the high school has also given me the opportunity to begin to mend the relationships you mentioned, not only with teachers but also with students and parents. Our school is now well-positioned to welcome a new principal, Mr. Eric Juli, and usher in a much-needed era of continuity, stability and forward progress.
This coming summer, I want to make sure we are 100 percent ready for the 2019-2020 school year. That includes a renewed focus on teaching and learning in the classroom. Longer term, I am prioritizing our focus on equity and closing achievement and opportunity gaps between and among groups of students. We will also be working on a long-term facilities plan to ensure that we have a sustainable vision for the future of our school district.
I am honored and humbled by the trust you have placed in me, and I am grateful for your best wishes. Together, let’s work to ensure a very bright tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Dr. David Glasner
