Looking Ahead
March 11, 2024
During the Christmas holiday season, our daughter posed the following questions to our family:
What is your favorite memory or best event of 2023? And what are you most looking forward to in 2024?
Great reflective questions that each of us took our turn at answering.
My best event - successfully passing the torch of superintendent/CEO to my then assistant superintendent on August 1, 2023. After 34 years serving public education in Ohio, my husband and I decided that we were ready for me to retire, slow down a bit, and most importantly, return to Greater Cincinnati to be near our daughter, family, and close friends. And seven months later, I am so glad that we made that decision. It has truly been a joy to return to home, to the community where we raised our children and have established great friendships.
However, my answer to the second question surprised me a bit (though not my son who said he saw it coming). I am most looking forward to going back to work. Yes, I need to get back to work. Serving in and leading in schools and districts has not only been my vocation, it has been my passion, my purpose…my mission. I have been blessed to work in a career and with colleagues that I love, and I need to be part of that world again on a more regular basis.
Therefore, I am officially launching a new chapter of my educational career with Pietsch Miller Consulting. I have always believed that our schools work for many students, families, and educators, but that is not always the case.
I hear some students talk about disliking a course or say that school is boring.
I hear some parents lament that their child is not thriving in school.
I hear some educators counting down the days to breaks or retirement because they are unhappy in their work.
When I hear those types of sentiments, I know that schools don’t always work even though the people in them want them to. I also know that there are steps we can take to better engage students, families, communities, and educators. I know that we can make schools work for today’s educators and families.
So I invite you to follow me at https://www.pietschmiller.com/ or on social media. I would love to hear from you about how I might be able to help you and what you have found that is working well in your schools. Together we can make a positive difference for students, families, and educators!
