One week and counting until our students take the accountability tests for this year. I believe they are ready because I see confidence in them as I visit our classrooms. Our teachers have prepared them well and are expecting great results.

I attended the LSBA, the Louisiana School Boards Association Conference this past week in Shreveport, LA. along with our school board. The most important words I heard were from a middle school principal from Philadelphia, PA. who said that students will rise to the expectations that their teachers have of them. He said we must be humble and kind and treat all students with respect and dignity. We do not know how a child comes to school each day. Whether he or she is rich, poor, white or black, when they come into your classroom they are all the same. How we as educators treat each other is an indication of what kind of teacher we will be. We in the Zachary School District, whether we teach in the classroom, mow the grass or sit in the superintendents office, are teachers of our students. What I expect of our employees reminds me of a William Penn quote which goes like this. "I expect to pass through life but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again. If we remember this, we will not fail our students or our community.

Warren Drake