Dearborn's Whiston: 'Great Partnerships Mean Great Schools'

Brian Whiston, named the state school superintendent earlier this year, writes a farewell column to Dearborn Public Schools:

“OK, so I may not get to meet all 100,000 residents of Dearborn but since starting here in July (2008) as your new Superintendent I have had a terrific time learning about this wonderful city and getting to know all of the great people who call Dearborn home.”

The above text is from the first column I shared with our community almost eight years ago. Although I may not have reached the 100,000 mark, I have been able to meet hundreds, if not thousands, of friendly and welcoming people during my time here in Dearborn.

Fun community events, a friendly hello at the local pool, and the way people pull together to help out a neighbor in need are just a few of the many reasons Dearborn is a big city with a small town feel. This is also why leaving the community is going to be difficult. My family and I will miss Dearborn! Dearborn is a great place to LIVE, WORK, PLAY, and LEARN!

A great school district is the result of great partnerships between staff, students, and parents. The parents in Dearborn are the best! I appreciate the value they place on education and how they have made it a priority in their life and in the life of their children. Our parents have supported this district financially by approving the SMART Bond and Hold Harmless Renewal. More importantly, they support the district through their actions. They attend parent meetings, volunteer their time in the classroom, and provide their children with the support they need at home. Thank you parents for all you do for your children’s education and for supporting the work in our classrooms.

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Of course, I have to thank our students. During my many visits to schools I’ve always been impressed and never disappointed by their effort and achievement. Their stories are inspiring and their accomplishments worth celebrating. I look forward to continuing to hear the positive stories about Dearborn students.

The success of any leader is the direct result of the work of those he or she leads. This statement rings true for me when I look at all we have accomplished. I have been very fortunate to work with hundreds of talented and educated people. They have taken on a great deal of work to improve instruction, help children be academically successful, create new methods of learning, and build the school district we have today. I know the knowledge I have gained through the interactions with so many talented people here in Dearborn will benefit me as I take on the new challenges as State Superintendent.

It’s also important to recognize the strong union leadership we are very fortunate to have here in Dearborn. In other cities and states, unions have taken a bit of a beating. I’m very proud of the work our unions have done in Dearborn and honored to call them a partner in education. Our union leadership has worked with the district to save money, maintain jobs, and provide the very best education to the students in our schools. I applaud their efforts and hope other organizations can learn from the partnership we have formed with our unions here in Dearborn.

The leadership of our Board of Education is a key component in the progress of our district. Over the years they have supported our work, made difficult decision, and given many hours to ensure the children in our schools are provided a quality education. My most sincere thanks to our Board of Education for the passion they have shown for the students in our schools and their commitment to district wide accountability.

To all the Board members I have worked with, to all the staff members who continually strive for excellence, I appreciate everything you have done and all you continue to do for the children in our District. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the Dearborn Public Schools.

Ernest Hemingway once said, “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”

As my family and I begin a new journey in our lives I will always hold this experience, this journey, as a special place in my heart. Although some of our friends and favorite pastimes will no longer be a part of our everyday lives we will take comfort in knowing this journey has allowed us to forge bonds that will last a lifetime. Thank you all for providing me with an experience I will never forget. An experience that has helped me to grow, learn, and build memories my family and I will cherish for a lifetime.

Never goodbye rather look forward to seeing you again.

– Brian Whiston, superintendent, Dearborn Public Schools