As District Teacher of the Year, I was asked to speak to the entire faculty and staff at our opening session. I never say no to an opportunity to reflect on why I do what I do. What follows is the text of my welcome back to school speech.
Welcome back to the 2023 – 2024 school year!
It’s a great day to be a Lafayette Commodore!
My name is Virge Cornelius. I teach math at the high school. This is my 24th year at Lafayette and my 34th year teaching. The days are long but the years are short. And don’t blink, because you will miss entire decades.
I’ve got a few more cliches for you, because sometimes a short, overused nugget is just what you need to make it through a tough day (remember, the days are long).
“Teachers are not in it for the income, they’re in it for the outcome.” There is a lot of truth to both sides of this statement. But I want to focus on the positive – the outcome.
Teaching is the only profession that creates all of the other professions. When I teach high school math students, I don’t see teenagers. I see 25, 35, 45 year olds. I see people who will be making a difference in their communities. I reflected recently on the diverse career paths of Lafayette students over the past 20+ years and it did not take me long to knock out a partial list.
Accountants
Elementary School Teachers
Middle School Teachers
High School Teachers
Community College Instructors
University Professors
Doctors
Mechanical Engineers
Chemical Engineers
Electrical Engineers
Software Engineers
Pharmacists
Vet Techs
Veterinarians
Principals
Nurses – all kinds
Nurse Practitioners
Firefighters
Police Officers
Sheriff’s Deputies
Entrepreneurs
Linemen
Cooks
Ministers
Youth Pastors
Social Workers
Speech Language Pathologists
Occupational Therapists
Physical Therapists
Music Therapists
Cosmetologists
Estheticians
Bankers
Bakers
EMTs
Seamstresses
Community Activists
Pilots
Truck Drivers
Bis Drivers
Computer Scientists
Financial Planners
Librarians
Project Managers
IT Specialists
Artists
Musicians
Enlisted Personnel and Officers in many of our Armed Forces
Mechanics
Coaches
Psychologists
Band Directors
Receptionists
Professional Athletes
Data Analysts
Journalists
Dental Hygienists
Small Business Owners
Large Business Owners
Only 1 Lawyer that I know of… and 1 Architect LOL
No Dentists – not yet!
I know there are many professions I missed.
In any case, WOW. Give yourselves a round of applause.
Mr. Jay Foster talks about the Commodore Family.
Family. Sometimes people don’t feel comfortable with their family. Sometimes families are dysfunctional.
Being a functional family takes work. Communication. Honor. Respect. Mr. Eric Robertson talked about this at our high school meeting yesterday.
Do the faculty, staff and students in our Commodore family feel like they belong? When you feel like you belong, that’s when you begin to take ownership of your learning. It’s when you can start finding your path to make a difference in this world.
If someone feels left out, how do we bring them into our Commodore family? Will you promise me to look out for each other this year, to lift each other up on those tough days? Look to your neighbor right now and promise them you will lift them up on tough days!
Many of you who know me know that I am a huge Star Wars fan. But to finish out this cliche-ridden back-to-school welcome, I have one final thought to leave you with from a different movie series – The Karate Kid.
No such thing as bad student. Only bad teacher.
If you understand what Mr. Miagi was saying to Daniel-Son, it will help you to find ways to reach and serve our most challenging students.
Thank you. And may this year be THE BEST EVER!
Math, Teaching, and Teaching Math 