Dear MTUESD Community,
Sometimes being a superintendent is really hard. I was woken up by a phone call on Wednesday morning at 4:30 a.m., from a fire chief in my past district in Mendocino County, I think in the stress of the moment he dialed me instead of the new superintendent to tell me that one of my students was dead, and another one was being booked for drunk driving.
This was not in my current district thank goodness, but it was from a district where I had known and loved these children for three years. My heart is sick because of this loss. One was the kindest kid ever who had a brother that was impacted by significant special needs, and the other one was the most gifted soccer player I’ve ever seen in my life that could’ve gotten a full ride scholarship if he’d had some mentorship to show him the way.
The reason I tell you about this burden is because I hope you know how special Calaveras County is. I came out of a Mendocino culture that was super progressive about drugs and alcohol that I found completely demoralizing from an achievement standpoint as a superintendent. Every day, I am grateful that I am in a county where we have abundant police and sheriff support. Our mental health structures have a lot to be desired in this county, but I am super grateful for law-enforcement partnership and also the parent and guardian culture that does not believe that substance or alcohol abuse in students is normal or cool or a rite of passage. We are coming upon the season of graduation and summer break. I ask you to reiterate with your students and your extended family members, the deadly effects that can happen. I’ll be attending a funeral for a 17-year-old next week or two. I am so grateful that it’s not a student in this county, and I ask for your help in ensuring that no other family feels the pain that is beyond enduring.
What can you do? Hold expectation. Know what your kid is doing. Look at their cell phone. Have open conversations about drinking and driving. Most of all let them know, it’s not cool to drink and drive and if they’re going to do it, it to give you a call. My heart is broken for these two boys. I don’t want to have any more heart space taken for more mistakes. Talk to your kid.
I extend again, my appreciation to Calaveras County Sherrif personnel and Angels P.D. for their partnership.
We look forward to seeing all students next Tuesday.
Sincerely yours,
Louise Simson
Superintendent
Cell: 650-996-3290
Every Student. Every Day. Every Possibility.