members speak
by Deann Lee, assistant superintendent, Millsap ISD
atpe.org
|
31 spring 2016
PHOTO
BY
JOHN
KILPPER
Your Dreams Are Waiting
I
'm not big on New Year's resolutions, but I feel
strongly about goal-setting. In 2014, as I was
ending my eight years of ATPE state leadership
on the board and as an ofcer, I sought new
goals. Knowing I would always be involved in
ATPE but also realizing I would have time for fresh
endeavors, I assessed where I was on life's journey
of accomplishing my dreams. Age, experience, and
(hopefully) maturity do strange things.
Those of you who know me won't be surprised to
hear that years ago I planned a timeline including the
steps needed to get where I wanted to go. But, as I
entered the last phase of my education career, I looked
beyond my timeline and inventoried what truly fulflled
me. Public education is about service and, repeating
Robert Shaw's quote I used in my ATPE presidential
speech nearly four years ago, "I WANT TO BE
THOROUGHLY USED UP WHEN I DIE." My quest was
to contribute in a district where kids are truly a priority
and politics don't drive decisions.
I left my home of 23 years to move across the state
to a rural area where the pay is well below state average
and the population of the district is triple that of the
town in which it lies. As difcult as the transition was,
I found the place where I could serve others with the
knowledge gained in my 26 years of education. A year
and a half later, I am even more convinced that it is only
through the pursuit of our passions that we build up
others and thus fnd our own fulfllment.
So, what are your goals? To run for ATPE state ofce,
earn another endorsement, or become an administrator?
Follow your heart. Your dreams are waiting.
Deann Lee is assistant superintendent for Millsap ISD.
She was the 2012-13 ATPE state president and has
been an ATPE member for 26 years.
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Send your Members Speak
submissions to comm@atpe.org.