EPEL Partners,
Ron would say, "Keep showing up!"
These are the words Tena, wife of Ron Raglin, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Supports for U-46 students, shared at Ron's funeral service on Monday. Ron was a friend and leader to all through his gentle ways. Tony Sanders, U-46 CEO, said that Ron's goal for the end of this current school year was for every child to feel like someone cared about him/her. This is how Ron lived his life because he was a show-up kind of a guy!
I had the pleasure of sitting on a board with Ron the past couple of years where he listened intently, loved kids and families hard, and made sure to ask important questions for everyone to think with an equity lens while discussing the future for our children and community. What did Ron mean by keep showing up? We have to show up for the children and families in our community. Every child deserves this commitment!
It is hard to believe that summer break is over, and children are back to school. The new year brings trepidation of change but also the opportunity for us to show up for a child. My own girl's, one finishing her Masters this year and the other starting college are both out of state. If you see me walking around in a stupor, I am settling in as an empty nester. I remember dropping them both off for kindergarten with a huge lump in my throat, even though I knew they were ready to take on life. It is hard to believe that over 20 years ago, I was preparing my children to be ready for kindergarten, and little did I know that I was preparing them for life. With one child finishing school, our discussions have changed from summer jobs to how she will leave an impact on the community/world. As we know, every child doesn't have someone at home to prepare them for kindergarten or life so let's keep showing up.
This newsletter is dedicated to Ron Raglin and all of the community partners who showed up with EPEL this summer for children.
Be a champion for a child and keep showing up!
Together We Can,
