ACSA-Region 5 Awards/Installation Event
Superintendent Gemma’s Acceptance
of the Superintendent of the Year Award

April 27, 2009

Thank you for that warm introduction.  It may be trite, but I’ll say it anyway:  I am honored and humbled to receive this award.  After nearly four decades in education, I appreciate this recognition by my peers.

As leaders in public education in California, all of us in this room face unprecedented challenges – be they the state budget crisis and national economy; changing student demographics; unfunded state mandates; unrealistic, questionable testing requirements; or the initiatives advanced by those who blindly believe competition of any sort is a panacea for all that ails us.

There is nothing simple or trivial about problem-solving to meet the challenges we face.  I know you, like me, will not give up trying.  We know this generation – and the ones that will follow – are counting on us, and none of us want to let them down.

In my view, there’s no greater calling than serving our youth and providing them with a high-quality education.  Some of the most exciting and wonderful moments in a child’s life take place in classrooms across all of our districts . . . every day.  Could there be a greater calling than this?

That’s why I know you’re like me, undaunted by the challenges and unwavering in a deeply-rooted commitment to our young people.  I know that we will all continue to promote excellence in our schools by harnessing the incredible energy, commitment and passion demonstrated year-round by our teachers and professional support staffs. 

We are undeterred because we know that what’s at stake – public education – goes to the very heart of our democracy.  I am privileged to serve in public education in our great state, and I am honored to receive this award this evening.  Thank you very much.