September 21, 2026
Monday Motivation: Stand Out
TCUSD Family,
Yesterday, I watched Standout: The Ben Kjar Story, and I found myself thinking about it long after it was over. Ben was born different. Because of that, people stared. People made assumptions. People had their own ideas about what his life would look like and what he would be capable of doing. But his story isn't really about being different. To me, it's about refusing to let someone else write your story for you. And that made me think about education.
We see our kiddos at one moment in their story. We see the test score. We see the missing assignment. We see the behavior. We see the attendance. We see the student who isn't reading at grade level yet. We see the teenager who is behind on credits. Those things are real, and we absolutely have to address them. But they are a snapshot. They are not the ending.
I think sometimes in education we have to be really careful that today's struggle doesn't become tomorrow's label. Because none of us know exactly who that young person sitting in front of us is going to become. That's what stuck with me about Ben's story. Imagine if he had accepted everyone else's expectations for his life. Instead, he kept showing up. He kept working. He kept getting knocked down and getting back up. Eventually, the very thing that made him stand out became part of his strength.
There is something powerful in that for us. Our job isn't to make every kid fit into the same box. Our job is to help them discover what they are capable of. So, as we start another Monday, maybe there is a kiddo who needs us to look beyond what we see right now. Maybe the student who is struggling isn't incapable. They're just not there yet. Maybe the student who is different doesn't need to fit in. Maybe they need someone to help them understand that they have something special to offer. And maybe one of the greatest things we can give to a young person is the belief that their story is still being written.
The scoreboard doesn't determine the game when there is still time on the clock. And where our kiddos are today does not determine where they can finish. Keep showing up. Keep believing. Keep pushing. And most importantly, keep seeing the possibility in our kiddos.
Let's have a great week, TCUSD. One Team. Stronger Together.
Scott Nedrow
Superintendent
Tuba City Unified School District #15
#KidsComeFirst
