leadership. undefined

still whirlwinding through cities....

participated in a discussion from afar on leadership. the talk ranged from what it is, what it can be, how to achieve it, and what it does. well, that's the gist of it. anyways, the boss-boss-boss sent out an end-of-year message to everyone.

As we celebrate the final week of the 2007-2008 school year, on behalf of the Boston School Committee, I want to thank the entire BPS staff for your hard work and dedication to serving and educating the children of this city. Since too often you do not hear frequently enough that you do matter, I do want to pause and let you know that your efforts to make a difference are valued and appreciated in this community.

Every single day, the future of Boston walks through our doors, and every single moment, you listen to their needs. You inspire them to create, achieve, value diversity, be respectful, perform well, and pass tests. You have responded to demands both internally and externally and worked with parents to jointly solve the individual problems that are unique to each student. When materials were in short supply, when an extra set of hands were needed to move tables, set up and take down for the music and arts performances, when a student was homeless or depressed, might have missed the field trip, school pictures or the book fair, you cheerfully stepped forward to fill in the gaps. There are times when you have led, followed, helped build consensus, or been the voice of advocacy for our students. Not everything you have done is measured on MCAS, and yet, you have deeply understood that not some, but all of our children must reach MCAS proficiency and graduate from high school. Some of you have made sure students arrived safe and on time, were well-fed, and received extra help after school. Others have been in the classroom, alongside teachers, providing that extra boost of encouragement and motivation. And still others, working centrally or as partners, have supported those who directly teach our students.

To all, I say many, many thanks for making the difference between mediocrity and excellence, and sometimes, between failure and success. Your work is the most important work in America, and you do matter!!

Truly grateful,
Carol R. Johnson, Superintendent

that is what leadership is, in my opinion. as a matter of fact, she sent handwritten to each of the fourteen students that helped plan the technology conference in May. She even put smiley faces on them. word.

we are the slave and the master

they say way we n-i-double-g-e-r
we are much more
but still, we choose to ignore the obvious
man, this history don't acknowledge us
we were scholars long before colleges
-Nas, "Be A Nigger Too"

greatest minds

she is a great mind
inspired by her mother's eyes
those same eyes that never allowed themselves
to be seen swollen
or welled up with tears

her ears only heard words
of encouragement
from the womb to the pew
beauty salon to school
her black girl pain
comforted with love
she does indeed know her beauty

they are the greatest minds
the drumline of the number 23 bus
marching on from city squares
to college quads
nonchalantly
they trod though snow
and street memorial scenes
and never eva eva eva
let go of their dreams

because i'm a dreamer

i am a great mind
and so are you
albeit far from
the kind to stand in line
and beg for time
until our ears are blind
and eyes become deaf
i am bereft of breath
when there's no hope left
yet, we keeps it moving

hope is my middle name, yo

poise is my sustenance

you can keep on getting by

but we about to make it happen.

word is bond

Lust is a safe haven craving to work its way in

From Rivers Avenue to King Street.

We desired to be the roses that grew from concrete.

We craved attention in the form of acting a little different to distinguish ourselves from the masses.

Lupe would've been amused how we bought into dumbing it down.

We lived in households of poverty that begat households of poverty.

Did the electric slide at crab cracks with our eyes closed - a muted expression of our sovereignty.

Denmark and Jesse and Harvey and Ronald told us we were special; no need for the why's and what for's.

We lived in those locales from whence resilience was a rare summer's douwnpour.

From Liberty Hill to "bakta" Green; the "Hike" to the Forest.

Imaginations so enormous you'd have thought these geechie kids were nonconformists.

We are the spawn of generations of resistance to the machine.

The matrix is real. The horizon is bleak and lean.

The past is but a figment of your imagination.

The future of the Lowcountry rests in your hands - much like this nation.

I've been gentrified like North Park Village and dismissed like the Navy Base.

In our haste, we forget to savor the taste of affection.

My attraction became a distraction; now it's your deflection.

You use it to hold me at arm's length.

You don't love me no more, huh? I don't got the strength to beg for a hug.

You gonna just do me like Piccolo and play me lukewarm; a mere fiddle to your orchestra to which you shrug.

I've longed to see Morris Street dreams become the fruits of a nighttime harvest of fireworks, foreplay, and free will.

We squeezed our way into the upper echelons neither because we asked for permission in advance, nor begged for forgiveness after the fact. Simply planted our faces on the window sills and panes until they gave way.

A demand was made.
An envelope pushed.
A spark ignited.

Charleston barely got spared in the previous great blaze, but the fire this time will come with no notice; no warning; just footsteps, fists, and fury.

I miss home. Shout out to my peoples from Chucktown representing the world over. The EAST Consortium just may have to make a resurrection. Word.