Over 4,000 Nebo Employees Experience Opening Institute and Benefits Fair

Submitted by lana.hiskey on

Over 4,000 Nebo employees enjoyed the Opening Institute that kicks off the school year. This year’s theme was presented by Superintendent Rick Nielsen “Discover the Power Within.”                                 

Assistant Superintendent Scott Wilson welcomed everyone and recognized the previous PEAK Award winners. Two school board members offered encouraging remarks.

Christine Riley, School Board President, let the audience know that she surprised herself at how passionate she has become of education since she became a board member 11 years ago. She said, “I am not an educator by profession, but I am definitely an educator by heart.” She then thanked each of the various employees including bus drivers, nutrition workers, special education teachers, aides, librarians, janitorial staff, counselors, teachers, and administrators. 

Mrs. Riley mentioned that Tom Brokaw once said, “It’s easy to make a buck. It’s a lot tougher to make a difference.” Then Ms. Riley said, “We so appreciate you making a difference every single day as you interact with kids. What you do is noble and inspiring. Your service truly makes this world a better place.” 

School Board member, Scott Card, gave a message centered on a “Private Hall of Fame.” “It is reserved exclusively for people who have influenced the direction of our lives. There aren’t very many people in our Personal Hall of Fame--it is only for those who meet our personal test of honor,” said Mr. Card. “I am certain that there are many here today who have entered in to many kid’s hall of fame.” 

After giving a few more personal experiences and bringing the crowd to laughter, Mr. Card became serious again and stated, “May I invite you to consider yourselves as Hall of Fame candidates?  No matter your roll or job title, you are embarking on a new year, a clean canvass, and you are about to walk onto the stage of every child’s mind and heart.  May I invite you to give them all a fresh chance, and then another and then another?  These kids don’t need more information, they need more truth.  They don’t need more rules, they need a moral compass.  They need mentors, more leaders, and more Hall of Famers.  They don’t need criticism, but they may need correction.  They need real life, real love and real relationships.  They need real Nebo heroes... May you have the best year ever, but more importantly, may we create a Hall of Fame experience for our kids.”  

A guest speaker, Courtney Clark, centered her remarks around, “It’s not a dead end, it’s a detour.” Courtney focused on how to make the best of the situations that we are dealt with. Through her own experiences, Courtney learned that it is “most important how you deal with it instead of what you are dealt.”

After the inspiring thoughts and wisdom, Nebo employees headed over to the Benefits Fair to win a couple prizes and learn about benefits before heading back to the schools to finish getting ready for Nebo students coming on Monday, August 19. 

#DiscoverPowerWithin #nebohero #NeboSchoolDistrict #studentsuccess #empowerstudents #engagestudents #focusonstudents #loveUTpublicschools #utpol #uted #ThankATeacher #LoveTeaching

Attributions
By Lana Hiskey