Yes, it's time. My job is complete. I am going to retire from the DeKalb School Watch blog. Although others will continue with a fresh, NEW blog full of announcements, news reports and blog posts that our writers contribute on their own, this blog will now be flying on 'team-pilot' without Cerebration as moderator.
We have spent four years reporting on the waste, fraud and corruption in DeKalb Schools - as well as the good news as it comes our way. We've created over 950 original posts, played host to many divisive but insightful conversations that generated over 50,000 comments, and built a place that has had almost a million and a half page views! All of these postings will stay in perpetuity and can be searched using the search bar.
My biggest hope is that you will all take the time now to simply pray for Dr. Atkinson. Pray for her to have wisdom. Pray for her to have discernment. Pray for her to have clarity. Pray for her to have support. Pray for her to have the power to implement the changes she seeks for the betterment of nearly 100,000 children's futures. And pray for her protection.
And then look to be astonished! This school system has the capacity to garner national attention as an exemplary turnaround. We can show the world that when communities work together, discuss differences, honestly address issues, grapple with challenges and make decisions with the same end-goal in mind, great things can happen. I believe great things do happen and will happen more for the students of DeKalb county. And I hope that we will always remain mindful of the damage that can occur when we take our collective eyes off the prize. We owe it to our children. They cannot easily recover a missed education. Never turn away. When your job is done at your school, carefully pass your torch. Insist on integrity from the top down. Our schools belong to us. They belong to our children. They represent our greatest hope. Love them. Support them. And work together to make a difference.
Au revoir my friends! I've truly loved "meeting" you all - whether live and in-person at a variety of coffee shops around town–or virtually–on the blog or via email. This adventure has surely been one of my most enjoyable and endearing. Putting it away is bittersweet. But DeKalb county is chock-full of wonderful people - true Americans - and like a family, we will continue to work through our differences together with love, commitment and dedication to a mutual cause.
All the best,
"Cere"
* Make sure that you click over to the new blog and set up an ID to continue to participate in our discussions. Although you will have to create a moniker, or blogging name, your identity will continue to remain anonymous.
26 comments:
Thank you, thank you, thank you Cere. You have done so much more than you'll ever realize to bring focus back on our students and teachers, instead of a bloated, dysfunctional administration. You're the best!
I am crying right now. But, I understand. Thank you for opening my eyes and helping me to see through the smoke screen and muck before my child was sucked into the vortex like so many others. I will be eternally grateful. You have done a great thing. I hope the loyal posters and followers will continue to enlighten and enrich each other's perceived realities in respectful and meaningful ways. Debate and discussion is truly a good thing that will lead us to conisder all sides of issues. It is when we consider all the pieces together that we will be truly able to see the "big picture." Children are a precious gift from God and I hope they will grow up to know that even when this system was failing, there were devoted people here that were not willing to give up on them. And I hope they never give up on themselves. Best wishes for your future endeavours.
Sadly, we are doing the same thing as we cannot suffer the personal consequences of trying to lead a fight against injustices among people who are so jaded and hurt that the very fact that we wanted nothing from them is the very reason they believed that we could not be trusted.
Thank you for the tough and sometime humorous and always insightful and compassionate blog posts. You will be missed. And, please ... take on the "Annon" title often as we will surely need you to keep us on the right path from time to time!
-- Erin Brochovich of the ATL
Will be still be able to share what is going on in our schools around Dekalb. The info must be told to the taxpayers. They need to know !
Cere
Thank you for the time and effort you have invested in this community blog. You have brought the focus back to he students of DeKalb County and helped taxpayers and parents to understand what constitutes a high quality education. You have truly been an inspiration to the rest of us.
Atl
Oh yes! The blog will live on in it's all new format! Please participate! Write up posts for the new blog and send them to the new email address --
dekalbschoolwatch@gmail.com
It'll be great!
And this blog, with all of its postings will always remain - so refer back often - there's a lot of info here!
All the best to everyone!!
Keep it going at -
DeKalb School Watch Two
Cere thank you for all of your hard work!
As a DCSS employee who often feels hopeless about the state of the system it's been great to read this blog and have some hope that things will turn around.
The new site looks great. My only concern is that it looks like the new blog doesn't allow anonymous comments. I know some are strongly opposed to anonymous and they are hard for moderators to regulate. Yet, it allows employees to have a voice in this important conversation without fear of retribution.
I hope that the new site will foster lively insightful conversations as this site has done so well.
Cere: In May of 2009, the System leadership was discussing tabling the Cross Keys HS SPLOST III reno. But for your adding CK to the "wall of shame" on this blog, I am 100% sure the reno scope would have been reduced as close to zero as possible and possibly deferred indefinitely. While politically CK remains at the bottom, your efforts have made an immediate and powerful impact in the lives of the 6,500 students of our attendance area. Their health, their self esteem, and their educational environment has been dramatically improved for a generation. Thank you.
OMG, say it ain't so! Thank you so much for all you've done. So many of the things that have been going on would never have been brought to light without you. I truely believe thta this blog (and you, Cere) have been instrumental in the media attention and the sunshine that is slowly working its way through Dekalb County Schools. I know it was a huge job, but we will always be grateful!
Thank you, thank you, Cere! You have earned stars in your crown for your tireless, positive work on the blog. Best to you in the future!
Cere,
It has said that all good things must come to an end. You are in fact a very “good thing”. I too thank you for your diligence and tireless efforts in helping the entire DCSS. You have given a voice to those that had no other venue in which to be heard. I believe that is your diligence has been catalysis for fostering positive changes in the DCSS.
This forum has allowed you to touch so many that you are unaware of. You gave many a gift of hope, whose affects are beyond measure. This is an honor that few ever get to experience. All the best to you in your future endeavors.
Well, now I'm crying!
Thank you all so much for the kind words. It's been a true pleasure to moderate this blog. I have met the most wonderful people -- in real life and 'virtually'. And I know that together, we've made a difference and will continue to do so!
Cere, thanks for the great job and tremendous service you provided for the citizens of DeKalb over the past few years. I for one will definitely be sad to see this site become stabilized. I remember when we started talking about DCSS on GoDeKalb.COM and those conversations dominated that site. I'm sure this 'spin off' exceeded everyone's expectations.
You will be remembered as the one who dared to create a forum dedicated to bringing light to what is going on in this school district, both good and bad. I'm sure your legacy will continue in the community.
All the Best!!!
Thank you, Cere!
Well, Cere, sad to see you go, but be proud of what you have done in the name of the children of DCSS - this is what it's all about - their education and their futures. It's too bad the adults of DCSS have chosen to take a different path.
Thanks Cere, for bringing light to the wrong in DCSS. We now have a Voice! I chime in with the rest of the bloggers, "We appreciate your hard work!"
Thanks for your service to the families of DeKalb over the years. Even though our family left DeKalb in 2010, we continued to keep up with things down there. So, from northern Virginia, a heartfelt thank you!
Everyone, we have a duty to continue posting and commenting on the new blog as much as possible.
Don't let Gene Walker (and his brood working for DCSS), Tom Bowen, Ramona Tyson, etc., etc. off the hook.
Continue to expose. Continue to push for the truth. Continue to demand better.
Thanks the least we can do for all the work Cere has done to bring sunlight to our still troubled school system.
Very true Anon! And even though you have to create some kind of moniker, you will still be anonymous...
Please continue to share what you know with the new bloggers - email your thoughts or finished stories to post to :
dekalbschoolwatch@gmail.com
Carry on!
Are we still able to login as anonymous? There are still people in the Dekalb County School who must be exposed. This has been a eye opener to expose the dirty deeds that are occuring in the schools in Dekalb.
Thank you so much, Cere. We do have a duty to keep on going - we have a new Superintendent that we have the highest hopes for, but we need to keep aware to be the best help we can.
I hope all those DCSS-connected people who post as Anons are able to find a way to keep participating - we absolutely need you. Perhaps using email to the blog from home or the library (they NEVER let their records be revealed) will be a way to stay involved.
Thank you Cere for having the courage to take on this mess. You have given us all a place to say what we really feel, even if it is not particularly nice...
Good luck in the future.
Cere, Thank you for birthing and raising this baby, who now is ready to go out on its own. Have enjoyed your friendship and support all these years.
Cere; Thank you for sticking with it all this time, and for hearing and heeding your next calling.
Cerebration, you have done a tremendous job and I would prefer for you to remain. Althoug there were many who should have tuned in, but there are still some who really never took the time to read DCSW (God Bless Them Anyway. There are many more who need your insight and guidance. You have told is like it is and I wish you would remain. Your dedication has been astounding and we really need for you to help teachers to know they can speak out for truth and go against the evil of society.We appreciate your dedication and hardwork. Will you consider returning or at least reponding. We love you.
Thank you Cere. This blog has done a lot. Au Revoir!
Cerebration, thank you for carrying the torch so high, so far and so long, and for carefully handing it on to others when you grew weary. You're a true pioneer, and you will not be forgotten.
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