Mark Wilcheck, director of personnel for Mansfield City Schools, greets the district’s newly hired employees during orientation at Springmill STEM Elementary. Superintendent Brian Garverick welcomed Mansfield City Schools’ new employees Wednesday morning, urging them to “focus on developing relationships, relationships, relationships.”
“Our priority is Every Student, Every Day. Our students deserve it. Our parents expect it,” Garverick told an assembly of principals, teachers, administrators and support staff in the conference room of Springmill STEM Elementary.
A Mansfield
native who was appointed superintendent in 2013, Garverick has spent his entire
career in education in the district.
“I come to work every day to serve this district, but I can’t do it alone. None of us can. We must work together for Every Student, Every Day,” he said.
“Students come to us with varied backgrounds. We are a high poverty district. We also have middle class families. There are no clear lines. Our student body seems to mesh. Backgrounds don’t matter.”
What does
matter, Garverick said, is making every student feel important, whether in the
classroom, in the food service line or on a school bus.
“Students must have a sense of belonging. We all do,” Garverick said. “Think of a teacher you had with whom you made a connection. Focus on kids and relationships; (test) scores will take care of themselves.
“It’s a great opportunity to work in Mansfield City Schools. My door is always open. Your principal’s door is always open. Don’t hesitate to ask for help.”
Mark Wilcheck, who took over as the district’s personnel director in July, moderated the welcoming program. Personnel executive assistants Teresa James and Cynthia Gilbert made the arrangements.
Wilcheck
offered his own words of encouragement to those joining the district.
“If there’s anything I want to tell you, it’s this: Be genuine, be real, be authentic,” he said. “We believe in you because we hired you. You’re here because you believe in yourselves and you believe in kids.
“Do your best every day.”
Board of
Education president Judy Forney and district administrators participated in the
program.
Mansfield
City Schools will welcome students to class on Aug. 23.