Dear Tuckahoe Schools Families:

This weekend, we commemorate the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In both actions and words, Dr. King dedicated himself to advancing civil rights and creating a better future for all our children. 

This year, in reflecting on Dr. King’s legacy, I turned to his remarks for students. He did not often speak at schools (I can only imagine how hard it would be to book a speaker like Dr. King!), but when he spoke to students, he left them with messages that affirmed their value and worth. Students in their schooling years, Dr. King said, are setting the blueprint by which they will live the rest of their lives. Baked into this blueprint, Dr. King encouraged students to have a “deep belief in your own dignity, your own worth, and your own ‘somebodyness.’ … Always feel that your life has ultimate significance.” These are messages we try to impart on our students here at Tuckahoe Union Free School District. 

I see Dr. King’s commitment to service exemplified in our students’ response to the local tragedy. Student leaders in the middle school and high school collected donations for residents affected by the building fire in the Bronx. Community service led by the Middle School GO, the High School GO, the National Honor Society, the Habitat for Humanity Club, and others is an inspiring testament to the community building work of Dr. King. 

At Tuckahoe, our students’ “sombodyness” is a critical element in our district’s blueprint for success. We affirm Dr. King’s messages of unity, love, and equity, while understanding “the arc of the moral universe is long.” In the coming weeks, we will continue to speak at Board meetings about the great work happening in our schools and present a budget that helps propel our strategic plan forward. I encourage each of us to find time to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy during this long weekend, and look forward to our continued partnership. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Amy Goodman
Superintendent of Schools