I’m coming off a 3+ weeks binge of meeting with Abre customers and running a lot of school startup trainings. I’ve been in front of teachers, parents, admin teams, and superintendents. I’ve driven through corn fields, Appalachian hollers, and more or less traveled the Ohio River from start to finish. I’ve been introduced to local customs, politics, and facilities. I’ve hugged and high-fived more folk than a politician.
I’ve loved every single minute of it.
For every single educator out there, I want to say you are awesome. Your ability to adapt, care, and love on kids the past few years has been the glue to our society (and our future). I truly believe that. And I see that with all my interactions with our customers.
Negativity draws attention, attention drives engagement, and engagement leads to advertisement dollars on all the other platforms that rely on that business model. It needs to be ignored. Or understood in the context of “the big picture.”
What is that big picture? It’s a picture of teachers and administrators who live in their communities, love their students, and want to help them have beautiful futures.
And they’re doing it. Day by day. Decision by decision. Showing up and caring.
I’m so humbled. I’m so grateful.
I will always be a teacher at heart. Working with teachers and administrators is pure joy. I want to make their lives easier. I want to lift them up. That’s a big reason why me and my team keep working hard at Abre. We care. We see how we can grow students, staff, and families.
Our customers get that we’re here to help and grow. I hear that from them every day. It’s amazing. And I think it’s because our values are entirely aligned. That’s part of the joy of forming an education company.
Anyway, I’m home (finally) tonight and catching up with family life. While I’m tired and exhausted, I’m so filled with joy and gratitude. So many amazing people.
I hope everyone has a wonderful year.
