Waynesboro Schools‘ slogan for the 2025-2026 school year is: “Hustle and heart sets us apart.”
At the school system’s annual convocation ceremony, which welcomes new teachers and celebrates returning teachers, in late July, Superintendent Dr. Jeff Cassell said that students look to teachers and staff for kindness throughout the school year.
He asked Waynesboro teachers to think about their reason for teaching. He said sometimes he feels frustrated with the day-to-day of running a school system, but all he has to do is visit a Waynesboro school to be reinspired about what he does every day.
“We know the work’s not easy. There will be challenges but, what I’ve seen with this team over and over and over, are resilience, creativity and an unshakeable commitment to doing what’s right for kids,” Cassell said.
However, “it all matters, it all adds up to the overall experience” at the end of each day because of the potential impact a teacher may have on a child. Students need to feel supported and inspired.
“I truly think this may be the best year yet for Waynesboro Public Schools,” Cassell said. “So let’s leave here with hearts and hustle, and have a great year.”
Waynesboro School Vice Chair Nigel Stewart grew up in Waynesboro Schools and graduated from Waynesboro High School in 2019.
“I hope this was the one and only option for you,” he said to new teachers. “We are very fortunate to have you here with us.”
Stewart was inspired by his teachers and said the energy and dedication of teachers and staff is inspiring to him now as a school board member. He acknowledged that several teachers in the audience have been with the school system for more than 25 years.
“Welcome to the WPS family. We are thrilled to have you,” Stewart said for new teachers. “And, we are looking forward to the new perspectives and the insights you are going to bring as you work alongside some of the most veteran educators.”
ICYMI: Nigel Stewart
Waynesboro Schools Assistant Superintendent Dr. Ryan Barber said that he hopes all teachers and staff feel a sense of pride about working for the school system.
“We often talk about schools being a place of learning, and they are, but also places of safety, care, belonging and growth, and it takes all of us to make it happen,” Barber said.
Barber acknowledged different staff and teachers, such as bus drivers, therapists and teacher aids, and said that each one can make a difference because they may be the first smile a student sees on any given day.
“The one that makes them feel safe. The one that makes them believe in themselves. And that is powerful. You can make a difference if you choose to,” Barber said.
He thanked teachers and staff for the work ahead of them and encouraged them to make the 2025-2026 school year “one of growth, joy, hustle and heart.”
The guest speaker for convocation was Ron Clark Academy Executive Director and Co-Founder Kim Bearden, a 39-year veteran of the classroom who has also been a middle school principal and authored four books. The mother of four lives in Atlanta where she helped co-found the Ron Clark Academy 19 years ago.
Bearden, a National Teachers Hall of Fame inductee, said that educators are leaving the industry because of others, such as parents or colleagues. She encourages educators to follow four principles in the classroom: consideration, motivation, appreciation and validation.
“And I think they are part of the reason we [at Ron Clark Academy] are able to create this environment in which everyone looks forward to being,” Bearden said.
Bearden’s four principles help pull everything together and enable educators to help others and help themselves.
“Consideration is a mindset. It is the understanding that there could always be more to the story and you won’t ever fully understand what it is to walk in someone else’s shoes,” Bearden said of the principle.
Consideration does not mean allowing others to bully you, but you consider what the other individual may be going through. Bearden said that what is right is not always what is easy.
Motivation is the principle that a teacher can approach a situation or conversation with negative or positive energy, and focus on the other person, not themself to achieve the best outcome.
Bearden said that audience members were probably thinking that she felt obliged to have appreciation as one of her principles.
“There’s a reason why we hear so much about appreciation. You know why it is? Because it works,” Bearden said.
Research shows that individuals with appreciative spirits live happier, healthier lives. She encouraged teachers to show appreciation to students and fellow teachers with compliments and praise.
Appreciation goes a long way when individuals take problems to the source instead of talking to others about what is wrong. Bearden encouraged teachers that if they become upset about something they should ask the individual involved, not others.
“I am appreciative if you come to me. I’m approachable. It solves a lot of drama,” Bearden said.
The final principle is validation, which is similar to appreciation but goes deeper. Noticing the details of a colleague’s life goes a long way toward making them feel validated as a human. She encouraged teachers to make notes in the phone to remind themselves to ask a colleague or student about a detail they shared in a previous conversation. Validating others makes them feel seen and heard.
“Sometimes it’s just the little things.”
Names are important and Bearden encouraged teachers to find ways to remember the names of their students and how to correctly pronounce them.
“You’ve got to make sure it’s the right name. Names matter,” Bearden said. “So that’s the way people feel seen is I know your name. Your name matters to me.”
According to Bearden, making a positive influence on one child matters because that influence will extend to others in that child’s life.
“And you’re thinking does it really matter, the answer is yes. The answer is always yes,” she said. “You have tremendous purpose.”
After Bearden inspired the school system’s staff, teachers broke into learning session groups.
Support AFP
Share
Rebecca Barnabi
