6

We're beginning the semester with a new vision.

We're going to conduct strategic planning and, for the first time, we're going to involve everyone in the school.

So we've already started, making changes, identifying problems, finding solutions. Getting limbered up.

In my talks with parents and students and faculty, I've talked about the idea of how we are beginning the process of reinventing ourselves, reimagining ourselves, rethinking what is possible. We have an opportunity to discover what this will be. We want to be the best we can be.

So, in the initial efforts to do this, the first organizational efforts, I find that I am pretty much doing this myself.

After the first 3 major orientations, and my first half year, it suddenly strikes me: duh!

I hear plenty of voices suggest that they do not have a voice about other issues. But they are too quiet here.

I am not complaining, just thinking this through. Here, at this historic moment, when we have new students entering, and I have challenged them to join us to help us reinvent us--and make no mistake, we need them!--we really have to work together, trust each other, and push forward.

You cannot do any of this without adding your voice to the vision.