Dr. Gary Nine for Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction

Foundational Values:

Foundational values are just that - six statements that all in the organization agree to adhere to every day to the very best of their ability.  The better we represent these values daily with action, the better we will teach our children.

1. Treat all children as though they were your own - This makes it personal and gives all educators a constant check on themselves.  If what is planned isn’t good enough for your own child, then it isn’t good enough.
2. All kids can learn and learn well - If you don’t truly believe this then it is really impossible to have high expectations of all children.  All students, from our most gifted to our most challenged, have potential and if we think we know the limits of their potential, we’re wrong and therefore,  have no chance to teach them to their individual potential.  Great teachers stretch every child educationally.
3. Success breeds success - When any child feels success, they strive for more.  When an educator experiences a child awakening to their ability, becoming aware that their effort translates to success, evidencing true self-confidence when before there was only doubt, they can take joy in a job well done.
4. We, as educators, control conditions necessary for student success - This is the NO EXCUSES clause.  If we are great at what we do, we will prove to the child we care about them personally.  We will find out what they know educationally, and, more importantly, what they don’t know.  We will motivate them, cajole them, challenge them and teach them what they need to know to be successful and productive citizens of Arizona.
5. Strive to teach all students each day at a level challenging to them individually - This is tough, but if we are to teach to the potential of all kids, it is a must.  We must move beyond traditional teaching methods. Just as when you and I were in school, the vast majority of teachers teach to the middle.  Our slower students are frustrated and our brighter students are bored. Today, data is available to let us know regularly exactly what each child doesn’t know. We have an obligation to teach differently; we must learn to differentiate so that children have the opportunity to be challenged daily.  It is being done and done well, and as a state, we must move boldly forward in this area.
6. Realize that true self-esteem emanates from achievement - Kids gain confidence the same way adults do.  When we accomplish difficult tasks successfully, we gain confidence.  Someone can tell you that you’re cool or smart, but you really don’t believe it until you prove it to yourself.  We all know that is true.  Arizona’s students must be challenged in order for them to become confident.  Our drop-out rates in high school, vocational school, and college are high for two reasons; students haven’t been challenged educationally and they have little true confidence that they can accomplish difficult tasks.