Mrs. Connolly Accepts Teacher Award

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – San Mateo County Celebration – January 16, 2012

I am very happy to join with you today in honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I am grateful to accept this award on behalf of Beechwood School.

Since 1979, I have had rich rewards and interesting challenges serving and working with children and families in Menlo Park's BelleHaven community and East Palo Alto. It is a great privilege to learn, grow, endure setbacks and enjoy victories alongside such wonderful people.

Beechwood School, the independent non-profit educational community in which I have resided for the past 20 years, was founded on the premise that all children deserve an excellent and equal education. Dr. King believed that "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." He called all of us to offer the finest of educations to students of all ethnicities, religions, and economic backgrounds. At our school, we believe we are doing just that through challenging academics, broad and deep experiences in the arts, athletics, environmental education, community service, parent education and relevant lifeskills programs.

A rare offering that Beechwood's board provides is an alumni program which I am excited to be a part of. In-depth support is provided for high school transition, monitoring progress in 9th through 12th grades and well into adulthood. Presently we have over 250 alumni, the oldest being 31. Many of our students have come from oppressive circumstances, with great obstacles to overcome. Their perseverance and resilience is inspirational. First generation high school grads, Ivy League students, clerks, nurses, UC scholars, mechanics, parents, community workers, teachers, young adults and teens striving to find their ways – we love them all.

I am speaking about Beechwood School because I believe our educational setting is proof positive that when children and communities are given equal access to outstanding education in a supportive atmosphere, great things are possible. Dr. King advises, "Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of true education." Until we can offer that to all of our children, our work is not done. We have made great progress, but there is more to do.

Dr. King asks us, "Life's most persistent and urgent question, What are you doing for others?" Working together, we can provide equal and integrated education for all children.

- Kathy Connolly, 8th Grade Advisor and Alumni Director