Barrow valedictorian: "I was never meant to be here and I refused to accept that."
Teachers, if you wonder why you do it -- here's the reason.
Listen to this moving speech by Paul Serrato, the 2015 Apalachee High School valedictorian. Congratulations to Paul, who will attend Stanford University , one of the most prestigious colleges in the country. (And one of the most difficult to gain admission.)
As Barrow Superintendent Chris McMichael said:
Anyone who believes that the schools and teachers in our state and this great nation are not providing the opportunities for our children to receive a strong education need to listen to Paul and perhaps reflect a bit on what actually matters. It is not about the test scores and statistical minutia. It is about the relationships and connections that are facilitated on day-to-day basis in our schools and classrooms that make this kind of impact on a person's life and future.
While I was listening to Paul speak I could not have been prouder to be a public educator in this community and in this state."
About the Author
Maureen Downey has written editorials and opinion pieces about local, state and federal education policy since the 1990s.
