South San Francisco Unified School District (SSFUSD) Superintendent Dr. Shawnterra Moore welcomed teachers and staff back to school on August 7, 2023, with her first in-person address since 2019.
Taking inspiration from Disney's recent Little Mermaid live-action remake, Dr. Moore primed her audience with the the first few bars of the chorus from the well-known song "Part of Your World".
She then went on to encourage the district's teachers and staff to seek out new challenges, stay curious, avoid complacency, and take an active role in building a supportive and inclusive community, while navigating a sea of change.
"So my expectation is that each of us will make a concerted effort this year to remember our calling to this work." said Dr. Moore, "to build positive, productive, healthy cultures across campuses and district office; to teach intentionally and foster collaboration with colleagues; to communicate explicitly, regularly, and professionally; to challenge ourselves beyond our comfort zones; to demonstrate great courage, especially in times of fear; and to positively contribute to the culture of compassion, of continuous improvement, and clarity, especially with our students.
"Remember, this work is not about the individual 'me', but it is about the collective 'we'. It is not about perfection, but it is about progress, so let's make progress and move into being a community that is content, highly engaged, inclusive, embracing of one another, united in our commitment to excellence and equity for all."
She concluded the convocation with an original poem to encapsulate the year's themes.
Watch the full address below.
Dr. Moore welcomes SSFUSD teachers and employees to the 2023-24 school year.