Once again, we find that change is a constant, and that the things that we grow to depend upon might one day be gone.

Parents, students, and teachers alike have come to rely on the inspiration and fun generated by Mr. Tommy Reddicks. As many of you have become recently aware of, Tommy's tenure at Flagstaff is coming to an end. Tommy will be sorely missed by us all.

The stage is set for Tommy to try new things. He is becoming a National Core Knowledge consultant this fall, and will complete his administrative licensure over the summer. In many arenas, his skills will be sought after for years to come.

I want to acknowledge the great thanks Flagstaff has for the heart and soul Tommy has infused into our school community. A tireless worker, Tommy has logged nearly as many hours at school as Fuego, the Flagstaff Dragon. Whether fine tuning his original musical scores, tweaking a song for the Dragon Pops, or teaching before or afterschool enrichment classes, Tommy is always around, working for the betterment of our school.

But, where will he go? Will he blast off to the moon, or better yet - another galaxy? We only know that we wish him well, and trust that the students of his future will be able to learn as much about the Arts, Core Knowledge, and life as our students have.

We will be able to find another great music teacher (in fact, it is going to take two teachers to fill his shoes in the new building), but we will never be able to replace Tommy Reddicks. Please follow his growth and progress, whether to the moon or otherwise, at his personal webpage: http://www.tommyreddicks.com/.

Thank you, and please continue to visit our homepage, as we announce our candidate selections for music and other positions later this spring.

Our interview process is quickly producing great candidates. By tomorrow we will have finished our first round of interviews, and scheduled mock teaching lessons for our top candidates. Our interview team is representing our staff and community with great intergrity. We all recognize the importance of this selection process.

From my desk, it feels as though our team of teachers is stronger than ever, and we are all eagerly awaiting the final selection of new staff members to welcome into our Flagstaff family. Please stay tuned, as we will announce our new teachers on our website as the process unfolds.

Imagination Takes Flight

On Friday, I was lucky enough to be able to lead new and returning families around the new facility. I was immediately struck by the grandeur and beauty of the interior design. The Science and Technology Labs are huge. Green technology and recycled products are prominent, such as the dozen or so solar tubes that help light up the hallways.

I have been over to the buiding three or four times, and each time the progress towards fruition reminds me just how amazing our school is. It is really incredible to see the looks of awe and wonder on the faces of the visiting families. The only thing more exciting, I think, will be the electricity generated by the enthusiasm of our students as they walk the halls for the first time later this year.