001[Music] [Applause] It is my pleasure, my pleasure and honor to announce that you are the leader of the year for the entire school system for 2025. that he is a champion of students. He is a champion of education and that word that a lot of folk don't like to hear diversity, equity, and inclusion is important because we live in that kind of world and uh we need to be inclusive of everybody and I am so proud that people appreciate uh his commitment to a cause that's greater than he is. life. It's an honor having worked closely with you and your passion, your support, your dedication to making this school system the school system that it needs to be for all kids, no matter who they are, where they come from, feel loved, feel seen, feel
002heard, and you have made that your mission. He often uses the phrase accept all criticism and deflect all praise and, you know, makes people laugh and makes everybody feel welcome all the time. Um, he's just a gift. I'm the lucky one because I get to have that in my personal life, too. And if it's possible, he's even more amazing there. So, when I come to work, I don't feel like I'm coming to work with with colleagues as much as I am working with family. So, as I serve in this role for the year, it's it's about the team and what every leader does to bring the best out of each individual that works on that team because none of us is as effective as all of us. And when I think about um leadership and
003at the division level systemic change uh I do think so many of your actions um have have made the difference there. So congratulations. Arlington is an exceptional place to work and learn and and I hope that leaders uh aspire to be here and move up the chain so that someday that they can serve in a similar capacity. I am proud to work for Arlington Public Schools and lead alongside that work with you because it is something that we're not going to give up on. We're going to continue to fight. I do have some video of him dancing. He He likes to dance when he's sleepy. I'm not the best dancer in the world, but I'm very enthusiastic about it. So, if there's music playing, I'm going to find an opportunity and some space to do
004some dancing. On behalf of the board, thank you. We appreciate you and congratulations. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. As I look around this room, I see so many people who have been so impactful on me and and really this is not an award that you wanted as an indivi individual. I have an amazing amazing team. Couldn't have given us a better team, a better leader for us to do this work together. We're like a true family. It's about the work, you know, and that's what really won this award for us cuz it's not a me award. We won this as a collective. the DI coordinators in the buildings. They're amazing, amazing professionals who know their children intensely and they work on behalf of every kid in each space. Our equity influencers at the
005elementary schools support students in their individual identities so that they feel seen and heard in their spaces. So, it's the work that has really earned this recognition. Being a Cowboys fan is after the strain on the relation. That's pretty embarrassing. Yeah, he does like the Cowboys. That's his one flaw.