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With the first day of school less than a week away, the Llano ISD held a combination "Welcome Back" ceremony (or "Welcome" for a couple of dozen new staff members), pep rally and celebration last Thursday at the high school auditorium. More than 300 ISD staff members listened and cheered as they were addressed by Board President Ronnie Rudd, Superintendent Dennis Hill, Assistant Superintendent Tim Glover and motivational speaker Jim Bob Solsbery. Half way through the proceedings, the crowd lined up in the gymnasium bleachers to celebrate their "Exemplary" rating with a group picture. (on page 2)

In preparation for today’s school opening, each of the speakers emphasized a different point to the audience (made up not only of teachers, but all the school staff from all four campuses). Board President Ronnie Rudd told new teachers that they had "better hit the ground running" to keep up with the exceptional returning staff. He said that it was clear from past accomplishments that "LISD can compete with the very best." He then told a fascinating story of his family’s friendship with George and Mildred ("Babe" Didrikson, considered by many to be the all-time greatest woman athlete) Zaharias, and how she had told him to "Always try to be the very best." Superintendent Dennis Hill said "It’s great to be a winner," and praised the staff for achieving double-digit increases on the state assessment tests for some previously under-achieving sub-groups. "My hat’s off to you," he said, adding that students are the ultimate beneficiaries of the staff’s hard work.

Superintendent Hill added that, despite uncertain times, "we are very, very strong financially." He told the assembled educators that the board had approved 3 percent raises across the board, calling it "virtually unheard of this year." He told them that the next years will present challenges, but said the one certainty is that "staff will continue to provide exceptional educations for our students."

Assistant Superintendent Tim Glover told the enthusiastic crowd that the school district’s mission is to "improve the academic performance of all students," and that the mission had been successfully accomplished during the past year. He pointed out that Llano has a huge percentage of "economically disadvantaged students," but is doing better than some districts with a low percentage. He told them that it takes "everybody in the system to make this happen," and explained that a group picture of all the staff would be taken in the gym "to commemorate this outstanding achievement."

After an orderly pose, the staff members lining the center of the bleachers were given handfuls of confetti and choreographed by Celieta Leifeste for a celebratory photo in a cloud of confetti. The crowd then returned to the auditorium for the keynote address, by motivational speaker Jim Bob Solsbery.

Solsbery involved the audience in his humorous presentation, backing up his points with good-humored illustrations (some true, some allegorical) and telling how teachers had affected his own growing-up years. He told his appreciative audience that "there is no more patriotic way to serve your country or to serve the Lord, than teaching kids," and urged everyone present to be a support network for each other in their stressful jobs. He told them he’d like to produce "a reality show for politicians, called Teacher for a Week." He said that if there was a winner, and he wasn’t sure there would be, the prize should be just one week’s salary for an average teacher. He urged them to use modern technology to attract the interest of modern students, and told them that "It’s always about the kids." For some students, who may not have a good family situation, "Y’all are their chance in life," Solsbery said. "Every one else may give up on them, but you never do. Every kid that walks through your door gets a chance at a good education." The high ideals will be put to the test, beginning today, but Llano ISD seems ready for a good school year.