Earlier this month, I received this email from Superintendent Mike Morris:
“Hi Farah. Just a quick note: I happened to be at Crocker Farm this morning, and your daughter greeted me to show me her artwork. We had a nice conversation, and then she proceeded to offer me her art because I liked it so much. So kind!”
Superintendent Morris interacts with hundreds of kids every day. My child’s is just another brown face in a sea of diverse students at Crocker Farm. He didn’t have to take the time to chat with her, but he did — and made her day.
Growing up in India, I didn’t have the kind of relationships with my school teachers and administrators as my daughter does with hers. I doubt my principal even knew me by name!
So, when I go to Crocker Farm and the principal tells me something about my child (usually positive), or the amazing staff at the front office know who I mean if I call to say, “I’m Sofia’s mom … could you please ask her to take the bus today,” I feel fortunate.
I believe this caring culture we have in Amherst schools starts with caring leadership. In my experience, Superintendent Morris has led by example as have our dedicated principals, staff and educators.
There has been much vilification of Superintendent Morris over the last month, including use of the term “racist” in regard to his actions. While I believe the Amherst Regional Public Schools needs to get its house in order in terms of heeding state requirements, I strongly do not believe Superintendent Morris has discriminated against candidates based on race.
It’s his prerogative as the superintendent to make the ultimate decision —that’s the trust the district put in him when he was appointed. To second-guess all his actions and stoop to ad hominem attacks show bad faith and is a waste of time.
As a person of color, I have never doubted Superintendent Morris’ ethics. In fact, “ethical,” “honest,” “upstanding,” “inclusive” and “sense of humor” are the words that come to mind when I hear the superintendent’s name. I have had many interactions with him over the last couple of years and he has always displayed these qualities — during the school project fiasco last year as well as with the recent deliberations on the Amherst Regional Middle School principal’s hiring. Throughout, he has owned his mistakes.
My husband and I moved to Amherst to raise our child partly because we heard Amherst has great schools. But there has been much instability in our school system the last few years. Now, we have Superintendent Morris and Assistant Superintendent Doreen Cunningham who work very well together.
We finally have some semblance of stability in our school system. Can we not focus on what’s important: maintaining this stability for our community, our teachers and staff, and — most importantly — our children?
We have positions to fill, buildings to build and children to educate. We need Superintendent Mike Morris to help us at this crucial time.
Farah Ameen is a writer and editor who moved to Amherst eight years ago.