Wednesday night, in the second of a three-part series of community conversations, the Board of Education, Superintendent Kevin Case, teachers, staff and members of the Norfolk community explored the four key values—empathy, respect, growth and positivity—that inform the operation of the school and invited feedback from listeners.
Participants were separated into four groups, each discussing one of the values, how effectively it is demonstrated and how it can affect both adults and children at Botelle.
During Wednesday’s session, leadership coach and facilitator Deena Morris emphasized that “values are the true north” for any organization. “They are your lighthouse in a storm … and they must be aggressively authentic to each organization.”
“What we want to come up with is what are the values of the community,” Case said. “This is a core document that guides us as we hire new employees. Is there anything to change or add?”
He further queried what the curriculum should look like when educating children to live and work in the 21st century when the future of employment is so unclear. Feedback from the group reflected ambivalence about the advent of AI and what it will mean for future generations.The first session, held April 1, looked at how the school functions today, what participants hoped for the students educated there, and how the community can support those goals.
The final session will be held Wednesday, May 20, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.