WATCH: West Hartford School's 2023-24 Convocation

WEST HARTFORD, CT —The first day of school is Wednesday for West Hartford pupils, but the local school system kicked off the new year with an emotional convocation Monday at Conard High School.

The two-hour event featured an assemblage of all school officials and employees and featured several speakers amid a veritable pep rally (only sans the students) for staffers.

Amid cheers and applause, speakers spoke optimistically about the new school year and their hopes for the future as the keynote speaker urged educators to never lower their standards.

Chad Ellis, principal of Bristow Middle School, kicked off the program with enthusiasm as he began the event's proceedings.

"Good morning West Hartford. Happy new year. That was OK. Let's do that again. Good morning West Hartford, Happy new year," he shouted amid rising applause.

He, even, let out a loud "wooooo."

Ellis then discussed the difficult story of a working class parent and step-parent in the early 1980s through the eyes of a young boy who started school.

That child back then was Ellis himself and he brought out a vintage, metal lunchbox from the era — it was "He Man" — as the crowd cheered.

Ellis said he was so inspired by his first school experiences, he never left in 42 years, making a career in education and culminating in a school administrative role.

Attendees were also entertained by the musical offerings of the Bristow Bows, a string instrument band, and the Voices of Bristow, the school's chorus.

Both performed for the school system Monday.

Other speakers also offered up words of widsom for 2023-24.

Anne McKernan, assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and assessment, dealt out some inspiration.

"For me, seeing all of our faculty and staff together as one 'Team WHPS' makes me feel that there is so much strength and power in this room and its amazing to me and I thank you all for what you are about to do," she said, also welcoming the district's 65 new teachers this year at the district's 16 schools.

West Hartford Board of Education Chairman Lorna Thomas-Farquharson also spoke.

"I have to say, what is so very special, is to be among your company," she told educators.

Also on hand were the discrict's teacher of the year, Emily McMurray, a pre-K teacher at Charter Oak International Academy in town.

West Hartford Superintentdent of School Paul Vicinus Jr., in his first convocation as school chief, expressed "gratitude and pride" for school staffers.

"As I look out at the room at the sheer number of colleagues and friends ... I'm in awe of the power and potential of this group to change lives, to inspire passion, to realize dreams, to bring hope and to strengthen and better our world," Vicinus said. "That is our business and that is our charged to do so for every child for every day."

The highlight of the event was Kenneth C. William, the keynote speaker who works as a consultant, motivational speaker and is head of "Unfold the Soul."

With humor, power and emotion, Williams discussed the power of leadership and the necessity for good leadership in education today.

He said good leaders can overcome difficulties inherent for children in society.

"We can either lean more into the talent in the room or we can lean into the labels and the factors outside of our control," Williams said.

He spoke for nearly an hour in an inspirational, interactive segment that drew applause from attendees.

Williams urged educators to not lower their educational standards.

"The problem with it is it tastes like cotton candy and smells like love. But it is not love. You do kids no favors," he said.

Williams criticized educational statistics based on demographics along racial lines. He said that doesn't matter. All students should be treated equally and to the same standards.

"From this day forward, don't lead with your demographic," he said, criticizing educators who divide pupils up by race and ethnicities, saying that creates an imbalanced set of expectations. "I don't base achievement on students. I base achievement on staff."

For more information on the West Hartford School System, click on this link.

For more information on Kenneth C. Williams, click on this link.