This semester has been filled with countless incredible singular moments shared by our staff and students. These individual moments are captured when teaching and learning ignite that spark and open doors to endless possibilities. From reading the words on a page for the first time to solving advanced Calculus equations to a stellar performance on stage/court, these small moments can sometimes go unnoticed, but they are collectively what it looks like to help students grow and achieve their maximum potential everyday.
As a district, we are always looking for ways to tell our story and highlight these amazing moments across the district which is why we are launching our “Behind the Tweet” podcast. Social media is a great tool to get information out quickly and to a large audience, but sometimes it is inadequate to truly capture the full essence or significance of a single moment. This new podcast will be used to provide more context and detail behind some of our special moments so that listeners can connect with the district in a different way. Below you can listen to our introduction episode and the very first full episode centered around a post that I made about looking at the world through a student's eyes. We hope to release a new episode every couple of weeks and future episodes will touch on what makes Temple ISD such a special place and feature some very special student and staff stories. Stay tuned!
As the holiday season approaches I want to make sure to express my gratitude to the Temple ISD family. Our staff, students, families and community have redefined what it means to be “Wildcat Strong” in recent years and I personally cannot thank you enough for your continued support. I am truly thankful to be part of this extraordinary Wildcat network.
Back in November of 2020, I shared a quote with you that I stumbled upon; and it holds special meaning to me this time of year. American publisher and author Fred De Witt Van Amburgh circ. 1930: “Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy.” In other words, if we choose to be grateful, we will have it in endless supply. In our world today there are very few circumstances that yield unlimited resources and guaranteed results, which is perhaps why this resonates with me so much.
Sometimes we find ourselves in the middle of circumstances that are far beyond our control - both good and bad. How we choose to respond to those circumstances; however, is always in our control. I challenge each one of you to choose gratitude in a very deliberate way this year with your friends, family and neighbors.
I am grateful for each of you, and blessed to serve the most committed staff and beautiful children in the entire world – right here in Temple, Texas.
Sincerely,
Bobby Ott
