The GREAT Kindness Challenge!

This past week, our district participated in The Great Kindness Challenge.  I do have some mixed feelings about this week-long event.  It is a bit sad to think that we have to explicitly challenge people to be kind.  Then again, how awesome is it that for one whole week people are focused on completing random acts of kindness!  Some students sent me some letters this week as one of their challenges.  Most people don't fully understand the job of the superintendent.  Heck, half the time I struggle with understanding the job! :-)

Nevertheless, I received letters from students thanking me for being an awesome superintendent.  Here is one of my favorites, "Dear Kris Corey, I love you as a friend!  Even though we have never met, we still love you.  You are the a great superintendent, the most greatest superintendent of all!  Nothing will change my mind that you are awesome!  No superintendent is better than you are.  You shine on every one in the school.  You are bright like a shooting start.  You are as beautiful as a rose.  You are very cool.  Nothing will bring me down unless you leave us. If you leave us, I will say thank you for everything."  So...I am thinking I will bring this to my next evaluation meeting! This random letter from a student who doesn't even know me certainly brightened my day and brought a smile to my face.

This week, I attended the ACSA Superintendents' Symposium.  I sat next to someone wearing a "Kindness Matters" button.  Wes Smith, Executive Director of ACSA, spoke about school districts that were documenting their one million random acts of kindness.  Many resources regarding kindness are available on the internet.  Please take some time and check out www.kidsforpeaceglobal.org or www.kindness-matters.org or www.greatkindnesschallenge.org.  Let's keep this kindness challenge going strong!  #Kindness365  I like the following Tedx Talk.  "Listening is a great act of kindness!"  

Why Kindness Matters with John Sweeney

How can I make you smile today?

Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District has been working on improving our customer service over the past few years.  We believe our number one customers are our students and their families.  Often times, customer service is tied to businesses that sell something.  If the customer service isn't extraordinary, the consumer may go elsewhere for the product and/or service.  Thanks to compulsory attendance, for the most part, our customers are compelled to attend our schools.  Should these compelled customers get less quality service just because they have to go to school?  I think not!  This week in our discussions around customer service, a colleague told the story of calling a company and being greeted with the following:  "Hello!  You have reach X company.  How can I make you smile today?"  To which my colleague responded, "Well, you just did!"  A first impression is so important.  But, it only goes so far.  Quality customer service must be consistent over time.

For years, my family has frequented a little "hole in the wall" restaurant that serves the best Mexican food.  We go there for the food but also because of the customer service we receive.  Their food is consistently great.  The waiters or waitresses are always friendly and wanting to please.  Over the years, they have learned our drink orders and sometimes have the drinks delivered as we are sitting down to a table.  Every so often, this restaurant is off their A game.  The meal isn't as good, and the coffee isn't as fresh as it usually is.  Guess what?! We forgive them and come back anyway.  You see, that is what providing quality customer service does.  It allows loyal customers to forgive more readily when mistakes occur.

FSUSD will continue to work on its quality customer service because we want to make everyone smile every day.  Next week, FSUSD will participate in The Great Kindness Challenge.  Please visit www.thegreatkindnesschallenge.org to download your Acts of Kindness Checklist and Toolkit.  We believe that being kind is a necessary component of providing quality customer service.

Here is how one of our schools,  Fairview Elementary, has started their challenge.  ENJOY!
Fairview Elementary--Kindness 365!

Be patient! I am a new to blogging!

About ten years ago, I was part of a group project.  We met occasionally, but most of the work was supposed to be done in wiki.  I was paralyzed, and I believe I found a way out of the project.  I also recall when I went back to school to get my Master's Degree.  The first meeting had a demonstration on how to access the internet.  I remember thinking that I would have to quit the program because I knew nothing about this strange thing called the internet.

Fast forward a number of years....I am now fairly proficient on using Twitter and Facebook.  I definitely know how to text and email!  (Unfortunately, I think that too many people know this skill too well and forget to have face to face conversations!)  With the vast changes in social media, it is difficult to keep up.  Nevertheless, I am willing to try!

One of my New Year's Resolutions is that I would begin a blog post.  This is my first published post.  I am anxious and excited as I enter the whole new world of blogging.  I can empathize with the learners in our district as I beg people to be kind, patient, and encouraging. I am just learning!