Transcript

It starts with something small, a thank you, a smile, a quiet moment of appreciation. But those moments add up, shaping how we learn, how we lead, and how we show up for each other. I am grateful for my teachers, my coaches, my friends, and all my family I have here, and all the support I have here as well. It shows up in everyday moments, a kind word, a helping hand, a simple act that makes someone feel seen. Aside from being a IDEA employee, I'm actually an IDEA parent too, so I get to see my kiddos go through school and then going to college. I already had one of my children graduate from IDEA Ingram Hills, so that's a very proud moment for myself as an employee and a parent. Appreciation connects every part of our IDEA family, from classroom to cafeterias, from our buses to our playgrounds. I don't think of this as school, I think of it more as a home, because I was able to reflect on myself a lot, and especially teachers were able to open me up to a lot of different perspectives on myself. Because when we take time to appreciate one another, we don't just build relationships, we build a culture of kindness and care. We do this thing in the mornings where I'll have them all share out maybe two things that they're grateful for or that they did that really helped somebody else out. So all I can do is continue to help shape them and help them grow in that way by spreading a smile, spreading kindness, and just being positive. That's the power of gratitude. It multiplies, turning small amounts into something lasting. The gratitude effect isn't just something we feel, it's something we live, every day, at IDEA. I'm thankful for the people that make IDEA feel like home. I am thankful for the people who lift others up. I am thankful for the people who believe in me. And together, we are IDEA.