District reputations are earned; not given.  In the court of public opinion, when the Governing Board's reputation takes a hit, we are all losers. 

The democratic process is inherently confrontational and slow moving.  In our honest moments away from public scrutiny, surrounded by trusted intimacy, I believe each Governing Board member battles the human elements of mistrust and paranoia.  

Each Board Member must maintain vigilance to strengthen the character and wisdom that respects all points of view that come attached with an emotional attachment.  We must respect these emotional attachments with respect and dignity and not succumb to the temptations of attacking the messenger. 

We must remember ourselves as good people doing our best to manage super-hyper growth and raise educational standards and expectations at the same time.  Either task, by itself, is daunting and filled with land mines of mistake making opportunities.

I will continue to distance myself from leadership that plays the "gotcha" game of conspiracy theories and paranoia claims.  Rhetoric, not based on reasoning and facts, but on unfettered impulses, leads to heightened drama, heightened language, and extreme thinking.  These irrational thoughts hinder the building of teamwork and collaboration and deny good leadership practices and modeling.

On April 9, 2008 the Governing Board adopted an Ambassadorship Proclamation authored and submitted by me.  This Proclamation is a mirror for us to look into; now it is up to every board member to look at that person in the mirror and make change to strengthen that which binds us together - service to our fellow man. 

Go to the following link:  Ambassador Proclamation PowerPoint created By Mr. Otterman For Board Study Session

Go to the following Link: Ambassadors: A Proclamation - Authored and submitted by Mr. Otterman.   Adopted by the Governing Board on April 9, 2008