Finding Good in the World, The Wylie Way

On any given week night, I can be found out and about in Wylie ISD celebrating students and teachers at various events. On a recent Tuesday, after finishing dinner with my family, I headed to Wylie East. Their volleyball team was playing that evening, and I wanted to do my part in cheering them on. In true Raider fashion, I donned a blue shirt and entered the venue ready to scream loud alongside the #RFL fans. At the ticket table, I was provided with some pink socks to wear for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For many years, the Raiders have gone all out for this cause and have proudly shown their support as one of their many “Raiders in Service” projects. This year was no exception. With a simple gesture, and an intention to bring awareness to an issue that has affected so many people, the Raiders reminded us that evening that we can come together to make a difference. As I sat in the stands, I felt so incredibly proud to be a part of the Raider family. And once again, I felt so incredibly proud to be a part of this district. 

Across town at Davis Intermediate, the FASE students and teachers were working on a project that they hoped would bring smiles to the faces of those around them. For a specified amount of time, Davis teachers and staff members had the opportunity to order baked potatoes from the FASE students with a predetermined delivery date. When orders closed, the FASE students got to work organizing the orders, sorting supplies, cooking and dressing the potatoes, and delivering them to teachers and staff. These life skills are invaluable in not only providing our FASE students with real-life experiences, but also providing them with the ability to serve others, feel proud of themselves, and make a difference in the world around them. The smiles brought to our Davis family were so appreciated and so very needed. It warms my heart to think about the goodness that was brought to that campus through this project.

Officer Alex Waters, who is assigned to Community Relations, recently reached out to Joley Martin, Wylie ISD Family Liaison, and asked if there was an unmet need in Wylie ISD. Mrs. Martin shared that we have many students who are in need of coats during the colder months. Officer Waters immediately took action and organized a coat drive with the help of Wylie Fire and Rescue. The drive took place this past Saturday morning, and it was a huge success. Mrs. Martin was able to fill up an SUV with gently used coats which she will be bringing to the district tomorrow morning. We hope to make this an annual event, and we look forward to continuing to make a difference for our Wylie families. If you have any questions regarding this cause, please do not hesitate to reach out and let me know.

Shawn Achor, New York Times bestselling author, shares that “Happiness is the joy you feel moving towards your potential.” He has written many books which focus on achievement, happiness, and well-being. Through his work, he has come to find that “Only once we learn to see the world through a more positive lens can we summon all our motivation, emotion, and intelligence to achieve our personal and professional goals.” In Wylie ISD, our ability to look positively at the world around us has allowed us to achieve at a higher level, both personally and professionally. It is our mindset that sets us apart, and it is our ability to find the good that makes us great.

During this nine weeks, the Wylie Way turns its focus on the values of caring and giving to others. We learn these values by practicing them. The Wylie Christian Care Center is the local food bank for our area. Annually, our entire school district focuses on providing much-needed food items to feed our neighbors. Proudly, the Wylie Independent School District is the single biggest provider of food to this wonderful organization. Last year, our kids donated a record-setting 128,600+ cans. The value of the Christian Care Center is that our kids get the chance to directly impact the very students our district serves. By giving to this organization, we are teaching our kids the value of giving to their neighbors.

This coming Monday, Oct. 24, marks the beginning of our Wylie ISD food drive that will continue through Nov. 9. During this time, we encourage you to send canned food with your child to school. We have lots of fun competitions between campuses, but the real winners are the local folks in need to whom we provide assistance. Please take some time and intentionally talk with your kids about hunger, and shop for items that your kids would like to share with other students. Remind them of the value and importance of caring and giving for others.

We are grateful for the role you all play in providing care and support to those in our community who are in need. I would like to thank you, in advance, for all you will do to support our Wylie ISD students and families. YOU make a difference in our district. YOU make a difference in our world. To put it simply, if we look for it, we can always find the good. I cannot walk into a school building in Wylie ISD without at least one child running up to me to give me a hug. Those little acts of kindness mean the world to me, and I know they mean the world to those around me. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for making our district a place where good exists. It is an honor and a privilege to walk alongside you as we model and practice the core values of Wylie ISD. FIND the good, and BE the good. When we focus on the good, the good increases. How lucky we are to be along for the ride.