"The gift of family is incomparable."

Dear WKHS Family,

“The gift of family is incomparable.”  

As I sat down to write my final Worthington Kilbourne High School newsletter, these six simple yet powerful words kept running through my head -“The gift of family is incomparable.”   I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to serve as your building principal….six years as your principal and six simple, yet powerful words to truly describe what it takes to help our students experience success in school and in life.  As a community, you are the source of strength and sustenance for our entire school family.  Thank you for your devotion, moral support and loyalty to our entire school system.   

While this professional move for me was not an easy decision due to the fact that I love the work I “get” to do every day, I was also presented with an opportunity to stay in the district and continue to serve our students and families in the Worthington City Schools.  As many of you already know, I have accepted the position as Chief Academic Officer and I am grateful to have the opportunity to now work with our amazing Academic Achievement and Professional Development team at our Worthington Education Center.  

I would be remiss if I did not give a “Shout-Out” to our entire staff and student body.  From that first day in August of 2011, I was welcomed with open arms and it took very little time to build those trusting relationships that are necessary for any organization to be successful.  We have great kids in Worthington and while I’ve said this before, I’ll say it again, “Teacher quality is the single most important school-based factor in student achievement, followed closely by school leadership quality.”  Again, thanks for all that you do to support our work with our students and your children.  

With that being said, I’d like to informally introduce you to your new WKHS leader, Mr. Aric Thomas.  Aric is currently the principal at Groveport Madison High School.  He has served as their principal for 7 years with a total of 11 years in that district.  He has already had the opportunity to meet and speak casually with our staff and take part in a WKHS News interview.  Aric will also be making a transition this summer and begin to make himself available for introductions.  Please welcome Aric to our school family...you are going to appreciate what he has to offer our school and our school district. I am excited that I get to work with and learn from him.

The best part about this sign-off is that it’s not final.  I look forward to continuing our work together, just from a different “seat” in the district.  Much love and appreciation to all of you. Continue to “take care of each other,” that’s what make our school so very special.

Kilbourne Proud,

Principal Adrean

A message to our WKHS Family...Be Present!

Good Morning WKHS,

As I work to catch up on email; answering questions and adding dates to my calendar to make sure I am where I am suppose to be at all times, I opened an email with the following blog: https://onbeing.org/blog/the-disease-of-being-busy/?utm_content=bufferdcd01&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

(Thanks to Omid Safi @OSTADJAAN for giving me perspective today.)

Of course, I became distracted and opened the email, took the time to read it and am now sharing it with all of you because the message needs to be shared.  This means I have stopped answering email and completing my "to-do" list.  LOL!

It's definitely a busy time of the year and like myself, I need reminders to stay focused and keep people as the focus of our work.  Our students, our parents, our colleagues and our family members must be our focus.  Certainly, email is a means of communication for all of us and there is no doubt it works.  However, nothing is more important than "Being Present" with people, face to face and with emotion.  

In this busy time of the school year, avoid the "busy disease" by taking time with each other to laugh, reflect and appreciate what we have.

I am forever grateful for what I "get" to do everyday at WKHS.

Have a great day, Kilbourne!

-Principal Adrean