 It all starts with “good morning.” A good morning to oneself. A good morning to a significant other, a parent, colleague, a sibling. When you arrive to work in the Milpitas Unified School district that good morning will extend to a coworker, and when the first day of school starts that good morning will extend to our students.
When I wake up in the morning, on most days, I greet myself with a good morning. Now sometimes I don’t respond, but more often than not, I respond in 3rd person: “Good morning, Chris Norwood.” That first greeting has meaning. I am hopeful we are all are greeting each other with positivity to start our days. Every employee, child, and adult learner of MUSD is a part of our multicultural village, our fabric – our diverse tapestry. . Over the past several months, several of our colleagues lost loved ones. We see you. Our hearts and prayers are always with you. Over this past summer we had some amazing summer school programs across the district. We even had a program at the West Valley Campus in Saratoga. For all those who were able to give and share time with our children over the summer. We see you. We thank you. We’ve had shifts in leadership at the District office, our school sites, leading our associations, and new leaders from other spaces and places join us. We see you. We thank you. In case you didn’t know it, last school year, MUSD had several ACSA Award winners and the ACSA Superintendent of the Year. We see you. Now I need everyone to look around, make eye contact with someone you don’t know and tell them - I see you. Tell them I’m here for you. Tell them I appreciate you. Those are the words our children and their families will need to hear whenever and wherever possible. I am a firm believer of the saying - Can’t know where you’re going until you know where you have been. Where have we been? The city of Milpitas was incorporated in 1954. Its relationship with public education began 51 years earlier in 1903 with Airpoint School in 1903. After Airpoint School there was:
When I moved to Milpitas in 1973 as a 3rd grader, the population of the city was approx 27,000. As of the 2020 US census- the population of Milpitas has reached 80,000. In 2016, we began a new era of growth in the city.
Now Where Are We Going? We are going to serve. We are going to struggle. We are going to have good days and not so good days. We are going to work together. We are going to cry together. We are going to solve problems together. The future of the Milpitas Unified School District is in our hands. And when I say our hands, I mean the Milpitas School District Governing Board, Superintendent, each executive cabinet member, classified management and employees (part-time and full time), certificated management and employees, contractors, volunteers, regionally elected officials, community leaders, residents and Milpitas families. Did you know the current Mayor, Police Chief and School Board President are all graduates of Milpitas High School? Our Milpitas Unified School District forefathers and mothers continued to invest in expanding and improving the quality of education in Milpitas. We will build upon their legacy. They built schools in local communities to create more equity and opportunity. We will continue to build upon that legacy. The DNA of Milpitas represents integration, inclusion, acceptance, creativity, leadership, compassion, responsibility, integrity, accountability and respect. And we, the Milpitas Unified School District represents that DNA through our 5 strategic goals - led by our #1 Strategic Goal - “Build A Culture of We”. We are committed to building a culture that recognizes our neuro-diverse students as students with unique gifts and abilities. A culture that positively greets one another each day and solves challenging problems together. A culture that recognizes everyone has a vital role to play. Our custodians, secretaries, MOT, student nutrition, teachers and administrators are part of that fabric that makes us the strongest. We will always be stronger together. Team work - makes the dream work Team work - makes the dream work. Team work - makes the dream work Team work - makes the dream work. As the current President of The Milpitas Unified School District Governing Board of Trustees, I am honored to represent the work of each and everyone of you in the local supermarket, Sacramento, Washington DC, and everywhere in between. We understand that your success means success for our children and their families. And each of my colleagues, Vice President Ha Minh Ngo, Board Clerk Kelly YipChuan, Trustee Anu Nakka, Trustee Robert Jung ALL feel the same way. Welcome Back MUSD and thank you for your commitment. The Milpitas community appreciates you! Chris Norwood 2020 State Board Member of the Year, Current MUSD Board President  In my senior year of high school, I ran for ASB President. I don’t recall why I ran. I do recall that I was not elected. It didn’t feel good at the time.
In my sophomore and junior years in high school, I tried out for the high school basketball team. I did it because my dad liked basketball and all of my friends played. I did not make the team either year. I was asked to join the basketball team in my junior year after 3 people quit. As a freshman in high school, I joined NJROTC. I loved it. My social group didn’t like NJROTC and they teased me every time I wore the uniform. My dad was in the military and it made him proud. He taught me how to shine shoes with a rag, spit, some water and a little bit of black shoe cream. It’s something I do to this day in remembrance of him. He left this life on July 11, 2011, seven days after his birthday. He made it around the sun 70 times. I didn’t really date in high school - even though I tried. I was super shy, a nice guy, and some would say very book smart when I put in the effort. I was a small, skinny kid whose facial features and physical characteristics were somewhat large for my size in high school. And for that I was teased also. I had several teachers from the district and school leaders whom I connected with; Carol Feige, Susan Bigelow, Henry Robinson, Laura Foegal, Steve Cain, Jeff Lamb, Carol Insell, Beverly James, Susan Cadd, Mr. Hammer, Jack Weinstein, Don Close, Bob Kellogg, Mr Hand, Frank Gory, Bob Denton, Jim Ferguson, Steve Cain, and Chuck Perotti. I believe they saw my potential and did all they could to support me as a learner and a person. Mrs. Marie Longero was the MHS office administrator and my neighbor. She always gave me a pass to class when I was late to school because she knew my mom and dad were going through a divorce. She saw the optimism in my eyes diminish and always gave me a hug when she could. Her husband Big John was one of the neighborhood dads and he looked out for me too. The weekend and night custodians were also like dads to me. They would give me snacks, let me work with them and teach me how to repair things with my hands. They open the gym to let me practice basketball by myself. They would tell me stories of their families, friends and hopes for their children. They encouraged me to never quit or give up on myself. Send me your story. I’d love to hear it. In community, Chris Norwood MUSD Board President 2020 CSBA State Board Member of the Year  Each year Milpitas Unified School District experiences movements. Movements caused by life happenings, economics, circumstances and growth opportunities. As I enter into my 9th year on the Board, I am always curious to what movements will occur for the following year. I am always hopeful the movements will ultimately benefit the children and families we serve for years to come. Continuity is something school systems always pursue. Equally as important, I am hopeful where the movements occur, new leaders from within are inspired to emerge and build upon previous good work.
There are tens of thousands of parents in the Milpitas community that appreciate good work and observe our movements. Each day they see our classrooms; the cleanliness of the grounds; the busses traveling around town; they hear about the nutrition; witness some of our challenges; they notice the friendliness and the knowledge level of the administrators and staff. Last weekend at the Science Olympiad at Milpitas High School, I was deeply moved by the MUSD team and its volunteers. Not only did the high school team earn a trip to the state competition, many of their parents helped to host simultaneously. I learned that MHS volunteered to host the tournament because the planned venue fell through. Kudos to Letta (Meyer) and her team! The way we deal with movements directly affects our ability to serve. And the way we serve directly affects our ability to deal with movements. In community, Chris Norwood 2020 CSBA State Board Member of the Year 2023 MUSD Board President  Each person past or present, employed, affiliated, attended or attending the Milpitas Unified School District is part of its unique cultural history. It’s Black, LatinX, Asian, Indian, Pacific Islander, European, and Indigenous People’s history, which have been the guiding light for our city’s brightest future.
We share generational bonds, struggles and stories that will endure. We share an opportunity and common bond to rise above the fears of our physical, economic, societal, political, and ancestral histories. We also share hopes for ourselves and the Milpitas children who moved to our community, or were born and raised, or arrived by unintentional means. In November 2022, Milpitas voters made electoral and cultural history again that reflect these hopes and values. We elected our first LatinX woman mayor - Carmen Montano. Carmen is a 50+ year resident, product of the Milpitas Unified School District, and former Milpitas school board member. In addition to Carmen, Milpitas voters elected Hon Lien, a 25+ year resident and our first Vietnamese woman to the Milpitas City Council. The voters also elected Anu Nakka, a 20-year resident, our first Indian woman to the governing school board of trustees. Milpitas will always be the City on the Hill and a beacon for All. We will wrap ourselves around our children and implore them through our actions to take their seats at the Table, in whatever life pathway they choose -- governance, tech, arts, education, athletics, music, business, medical, service, entrepreneurship, religion and more. In community, Chris Norwood MUSD Board President 2020 CSBA State Board Member of the Year  As 2022 comes to close, my eyes fill with tears for the children, parents, friends and families that will not see 2023 due to COVID19 and socioeconomic factors that drove them out of the region. The sorrow fuels my hope that the greatest good is service to others. I search for answers on how to serve in my weakest moments. There are plenty of weak moments. Our news headlines have been filled with war, inflation, hate crimes, homelessness and divisive politics. Social media algorithms and Artificial Intelligence are working overtime feeding our fears with more fears. We are all hurting. We are all struggling. We search for the happiness we once knew. Will it ever end? Who will put an end to it? I am grateful for the outpouring of community support and re-election to the Milpitas School District Governing Board of Trustees for my 3rd term. I am grateful my mom saw her 81st birthday this past June and attended the MHS graduation of her only grandson. I am grateful that I was on stage at the MHS graduation when my son walked across and my family was just a few feet away. At that moment, I saw a 17 year old Chris Norwood walking across that stage many years ago. The new leaders of our associations have huge shoes to fill. Diana Orlando and Machelle Kessinger had 35+ years of experience in their MTA and CSEA leadership roles, respectively. They pushed me to learn about the policies, historical practices and people employed by MUSD. I am confident the doors of effective and transparent communication will remain open and continue to serve us all well. I will do my part to build stronger bridges. Teamwork makes the dream work. Every employee within MUSD matters. Each contributes something unique and needed for us to work, live, learn, thrive and serve. Grateful for everyone who chooses to call MUSD home and these next few weeks of rest. Take good care of yourselves and those around you. 2023 will be what we make it.....  In community,
Chris Norwood 2020 CSBA State Board Member of the Year  We have learned what our government and community expect from our public education systems and their governing boards during a lockdown global health crisis.
We are expected to be extra extraordinary in our knowledge, health, commitment to work, family, internet teaching, and usability skills. We are expected to immediately shift the focus of our mindset from education to the societal need and common good of all; health and well-being. Over the course of the two-year span, our Milpitas schools became more than places of work, education, teaching, adult camaraderie, exercise, socialization and student nutrition. They also became hubs of safety, internet access points, food distribution centers, testing and vaccination sites for tens of thousands. Our educators (teachers, managers and classified employees) inside the classroom and out had to find new ways to work, think, and reinvent themselves to be more safe, efficient and effective. Our district leaders and board had to navigate the unknown. And we did it together. Thank you! To our families, community and staff, please do all that you can to protect yourselves, others, loved ones and our elderly this winter and holiday season. There are more opportunities and challenges on the horizon. Happy Thanksgiving. I appreciate you. Chris Norwood 2020 CSBA State Board Member of the Year  If you’ve never heard me talk to the community about Milpitas Unified, here are snippets:
In 2018, the voters of Milpitas aligned with the vision of the school district and governing board to finish Mabel Mattos Elementary School; build new track and fields at our middle schools; add a new performing arts theater at Milpitas High School; improve safety and security from intruders; and complete the new MUSD Innovation Campus for high school students, adult learners and professionals.
At the beginning of August, I drove from school to school taking pictures of the new and colorful digital marquees at each school site. My heart smiled. Thank you Milpitas PTAs/PTOs for partnering with our schools and community to make this happen. This effort aligns with MUSD Strategic Goal #2, Improve Communications for better outreach to staff, students and families. Each school year challenges me in new ways and reminds me that human life is short, precious and that Father Time is undefeated. Many of the familiar faces that helped me to grow as the senior governing board member in the district now have new roles in the district or have changed industries. The last of the teachers and other staff members who taught me have retired. Some have transitioned from this human life to the next. This past summer I attended "Celebration of Life" events for several MUSD employees and past retirees. At some of the celebrations, MUSD employees outnumbered the family members or close friends. We sat together, held hands, cried and reflected, exemplifying MUSD Strategic Goal #1, Build a Culture of WE. On the first day of school, I felt a true sense of optimism across our district and Milpitas community. I listened to the hope of parents and students for a school year that is not disrupted by a global or regional health crisis. I listened to teachers, staff and district leadership reflect on the challenges of the past two years, lessons learned and best practices to take forward in order to best serve ALL of the children who attend our schools. It demonstrated that we are following through with MUSD Strategic Goal #4, Focus on services and support systems to ensure all students are engaged in their learning and Strategic Goal #5, Identify creative, student focused strategies... to ensure healthy learning environments. Exemplifying “what we say IS what we do” is hard work, good work, and fun. Where do the Board strategic goals align with your leadership? In Service, Chris Norwood, MUSD Board Vice President 2020 CSBA State Board Member of the Year  What are you going to do with your life today? You've survived what appears to be the brunt of the COVID19 Pandemic. You've survived becoming a healthcare professional at school and in your home. You've survived working from home under challenging circumstances to working at a school site under even more challenging circumstances. You've survived disagreements and struggles with colleagues and family members.
I believe life will always include "surviving something" and to counteract survival mode only, we must commit to finding new ways of thriving at the same time. You've thrived in new ways to effectively communicate with each other, families, friends and students. You've thrived in becoming more resourceful in your day to day lives. You've thrived in recognizing the value of your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health. What are you going to do with your life today? What about tomorrow? As you prepare for summer, I hope a part of your life includes peaceful rest. I hope it includes the opportunity to dance like nobody's watching. I hope it includes time with the most important people. Congratulations MUSD for a stellar year of surviving and thriving. #ForeverGrateful #CultureOfWe #MUSD4Life In community, Chris Norwood 2020 State Board Member of the Year  On Thursday March 17, 2022, the Santa Clara County School Board Association Legislative Action Special Education Subcommittee; MUSD Superintendent Cheryl Jordan; South East Special Education Local Plan Area Director Shelly Ota; SCCOE Government Relations Amanda Dickey, Esq; Senator Dave Cortese; CSBA Legislative Analyst Ericka Hoffman; and CSBA Chief Legal Counsel Bob Tuerck hosted an Inclusive Conversation about Special Education for Santa Clara County School Board members and other community leaders.
A video recording of the special session is available for viewing here. Over the years, "Special Services" in public education for students with different learning requirements has become known as "Special Education," and is commonly viewed as a separate education system. There are many reasons for this perception, some of which were discussed briefly during our conversation, which is why the move toward inclusion will provide a dynamic and responsive system for all learners. Here is a link to presentation: Inclusive Special Education Conversation Here are the videos: MUSD Superintendent Jordan and I provided each panelist the opportunity to share valuable insights for each of us to consider and learn more about including Significant Disproportionality; LEA Billing Option Program, SB 692, AB 2034, and other legislation identified by the speakers. Attendees gained context on how key legal cases impact our district funding and the direction of future services Emma C., et al v. Thurmond, et. al. (1996); Morgan Hill Concerned Parents Association, et. al. v. California Department of Education, et. al. (2011); and E.E., et. al., v. State of California, et. al. (2021). As the SCCSBA LAC Special Education Committee Chair, I encourage board members to stay connected to the Special Education conversation with the Santa Clara County School Board Association Legislative Action Committee, please register here.  As this month ends, I have to be mindful that this may be my last Black History Month as a school board member. I am not promised today, tomorrow, next week or next year. I am even more mindful of the fact, I could not have been a part of Black History without all of the different ethnicities and races that live in Milpitas — a true “Culture of We” in spirit. Thank you ALL of MUSD for being a part of my Black History and the village that educated me to recognize it.
In 2014, I was elected to the MUSD Board of Trustees. When I informed my mom, she said to me, "You have made Black History." I paused for a moment, smiled at her and said, "And you made me." Shortly after the 2014 election, in January 2015, I asked the Superintendent to share with the teachers and principals I would be willing to support their efforts for Black History Month by reading, volunteering, participating in assemblies, etc. It would be one of my many ways of thanking the community that raised me, preserving its Black History, and embracing the evolving demographics. The several who took me up on the offer watched me tell a little bit about growing up in Milpitas. The feedback I received was that I was fun; interactive and inspiring to their students and, in return, I learned even more about the curiosity, concerns and hopes of kids from different age groups. Lillian Katz, an international leader in early childhood education wrote, "Each of us must come to care about everyone else's children. We must recognize the well-being of our children and grandchildren is ultimately linked to the well-being of all other people's children. After all, when one of our children needs life-saving surgery, someone else's child will perform it. If one of our children is threatened or harmed by violence, someone else's child will be responsible for the violent act. A good life for our own children can be secured only if a good life is secured for all other people's children." Growing up in the diversity of Milpitas, it is easy to believe the words of Lillian Katz. WE are ALL the keepers, protectors, encouragers, and role models for our own and others’ children in our community. Thank you MUSD staff of African descent, past and present including; Chuck Gary, Mr. Travelers, Mrs. Simpson, Henry Robinson, Annie Handy, Cheryl Rivera, Herman Wilson, Damon James, Sean Anglon, James Carter Jr., Diallo Sims, Champ Wrencher, Deanna Sainten, Dr. Latisha Roberts, Hanna Asrat, Jonathan Payne, Kenneth Lewis, Stacy Lillard, Naomi Agraz, Grashan Austin, Marcus Boone, Raymond Dillard, Coral Dunn-Morley, Reynard Elzey, Mitslal Gebregiorgis, Marvel Guglielmelli, Richard Hart, Margaret Jackson, David Lewis Jr., Kimberly Marion, Cyd Mathias, Kevin Muhammad, Ndeye Ndiaye, Tiberius Nyantika, Paul Okoye, Derrick Orr, Tana Rainer, Randle Redic, Tamara Robertson, Stacey Ryan, Alfrieda Scott, Nicole Stewart, and Carmen Thrower. You are part of the Black History in Milpitas. Your presence and perspective has tremendous value. Special thanks to The “Sunnyhills Soul Fathers”. These Black men helped raise me, supported my friends, and provided 30+ years of service and leadership to the African American community of Milpitas and beyond. Mr. Kennon, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Eiland, Mr. McGee, Mr. Watts, Mr. Brown, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Wyatt, Mr. Tony Thompson, Mr. Henry, Mr. Gray, Mr. Shelton, Mr. Goode, Mr. Ward, Mr. Smith, Mr. Benjamin, Mr. Levine, Mr Peco, Mr. Norwood, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Scott, Mr. Levine, Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. Dunbar, Mr. Crane, Mr. Davis, Mr. Augustine, Mr. Goode, Mr. Davis, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Mcgee, Mr. Shelton, Mr. Nichols and their friends. In community, Chris Norwood 2020 CSBA State Board Member of Year |
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