While 45 summer school graduates left Fairfax County Public Schools on Aug. 12, Jack Dale, the new superintendent, made quite the entrance. In his first public appearance since his official welcome by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Dale had a chance to meet students who, now after the completion of summer school, were able to graduate.
“[The graduation] was my first time to talk to graduates,” said Dale. “It was not easy [for the students] to come to summer school and finish their diploma.” Later Dale commended the graduates saying, “You [graduates] needed to be applauded more than most graduates, because of your perseverance.”
Dale said he supported both the summer school program and the class of 2004 graduates. “In today’s times [summer school classes] are very important,” said Dale. “When you complete your graduation requirements you have earned your diploma.”
Offering the same opportunity of ‘summer school graduation’ in Fredrick County Public schools, Dale’s former jurisdiction, he complemented the program and supports the continuation. “[The key] is having principals work with their student bodies to have the right summer school classes,” Dale said.
In his speech to the graduates, Dale talked of how the county has given graduates the tools they need and how now it is time for them to use these tools. “In school you think of what you have been successful at,” said Dale. “Now think of how you want to use these talents for the rest of your life.”
Dale’s attendance was not unnoted, “[Superintendent Dale’s presence] was awesome,” said Mark Ausbrooks a summer school guidance councilor. “It shows commitment to young people [and]… it made a great first impression.” Although Dale was not in tenure when these graduates when to high school, they still knew who he was and his importance. “It was a pretty big honor [having Dale present],” said Ben Haney, a summer school graduate from Chantilly. “He did not have to come.”
It was the graduates who did not have to come — to summer school. Due solely to their perseverance and tireless efforts, they were able to graduate, leaving them with Superintendent Dale’s final words, “The most important thing you can do now is to find out who you are, what you love, and do it.”