‘Tis the season of showing appreciation? Most people equate gratitude with Thanksgiving, but Dr. Hutchinson, the superintendent of Concord Community Schools, had another idea. This year, she decided that instead of doing the past practice of having staff gather around a tree to receive a gift card, she would create a 12 Days of Christmas extravaganza for the staff. She intended to create moments of joy and gratitude for all the staff. What mattered most to Hutchinson in that moment was to ensure that no effort went unnoticed and no role felt insignificant: “I wanted staff to know they are seen, valued, and deeply appreciated. That their effort, patience, and commitment to our students do not go unnoticed. Most importantly, I wanted them to feel supported and reminded that they are an essential part of our school community- during the holidays and every day.”
This attempt to make each staff member feel a little extra appreciation had a bit of fun intertwined. Each day included small, yet thoughtful celebrations/treats. Staff were grateful for being thought of and appreciated the sentiment. During one of the twelve days, Mrs. Sigman, the health and fitness teacher in the high school, was one of the few to win a gift card. On top of that, she participated in the Christmas photo challenge. With all that being said, she loved the thoughtful gesture and also felt, “It was really nice to have a little something each day of school leading up to break. This time of year can be stressful, so it was nice to feel cared for.”
Concord Community is grateful for every one of our staff members. Your efforts and passion for helping each one of us grow do not go unnoticed. Happy Holidays!
