At the June 26 Beaumont Independent School District (BISD) board meeting, Superintendent Sandi Massey emphasized the importance of district leaders, teachers and staff understanding and possessing “stewardship” for the growth and improvement of students’ education.
Massey’s definition of stewardship as “the disciplined responsibility to leave every person, resource, system and opportunity better than we found it so that the future generations benefit from our decisions today,” encompasses every way that the district should be contributing to students’ education, she explained. Stewardship, according to Massey, requires the district to protect instructional time, invest financial resources responsibly, develop staff and students, build systems that resist regression, make decisions based on students, preserve trust and think beyond today.
“A steward is always thinking about the future. It’s not just about what’s happening now,” Massey said. “Everything we do now is about the future of Beaumont. Every decision that we make, a steward looks at it as not for the now, but how does it impact the future?”
Massey noted that, with stewardship comes humility, which leads to integrity and reflection. The overall district average of student achievement and school progress displays C, D and F ratings. BISD is facing serious performance issues. Massey emphasized that reflection and change is necessary to improve BISD and make a lasting difference, which cannot be done without the understanding and cooperation of everyone in the district.
“If you cannot be self-aware, if you can’t reflect on your actions, you’ll never get to the point of change,” she said. “This is a critical part – humility starts with reflection, and all of us need to reflect.”
Massey further urged district leaders, teachers and staff to exhibit healthy ownership, emphasizing the importance of everyone taking new instructional changes and critiques and fostering them into a safe, healthy educational environment that will change BISD for the better. She urged everyone to be selfless, faithfully care for what has been entrusted to them, and make the right decisions for students, rather than for self-benefit.
“I think that everyone needs to act like an owner, but there’s a way to act like an owner. There’s a healthy way and an unhealthy way,” she said. “We have to stay on the healthy side of ownership, and that is called stewardship.”
Massey emphasized that the new rules aren’t meant to be a control strategy but, rather, a vital way to restore the failing schools and get students back on track. It’s making the best decisions for the students to see improvement in education that will have a lasting impact on them, she said, and leaves room for opportunity, accountability and urgency.
“I respect those who have been fighting for these children long before I got here. I know you have not given up,” Massey said. “I know, no matter the circumstance, even if you’re not excited about me being the superintendent, you want BISD to be successful. You care about this city and the students, and you want them to be successful. Thank you, community, for caring and entrusting me to steward this city.”
Superintendent Massey presents slideshow about stewardship at the BISD board meeting