As our staff and students enjoy a well-deserved fall break and celebrate Halloween, I’ve been reflecting on our first marking period of the school year and thinking about what we’ve learned and how we can continue to grow.
I recently ordered a new sign for my office. It simply reads: “Fall Forward.” To me, those two words capture what education and learning are all about. While we all strive for perfection, it rarely happens.
Anyone who has ever succeeded at anything knows that success rarely follows a straight path. More often than not, it’s a squiggly line that winds through challenges and obstacles. True success comes through persistence and the willingness to keep trying after things don’t go as planned. Every challenge, every setback, every unexpected turn gives us an opportunity to learn and improve.
That mindset isn’t just for students, it applies to all of us. Parents, “falling forward” means giving our children and ourselves permission to see mistakes as stepping stones, not stop signs. It’s about keeping our eyes on growth, not perfection. In fact, we often learn more from our mistakes than our successes. Fighting through adversity is one of the most important lessons for our kids as we prepare them for the twists and turns they’ll experience throughout their lives.
As we head into the second marking period, I encourage all of us to remember: it’s okay to fail, as long as we fall forward. Each misstep brings us closer to who we are becoming — as learners, as educators, and as a stronger Kearsley community.
Sincerely,
Paul Gaudard
Superintendent