After spending a considerable amount of time in LAX, students had a lot of time to think and reflect, and spend a little more time together.

Absolutely wiped, we all arrived to LAX glazed over, and anxious to get home. Soon it became apparent that this wasn’t going to happen quickly or how we anticipated. We stood behind our staff for several hours in a baggage check terminal at LAX while they worked tirelessly to formulate a plan to get us home. We were reminded of how fortunate we are to have an incredible staff. We watched as Ms. Tedoldi and our staff work tirelessly to make five flying groups, one with each chaperone.

We saw Mr. Glynn make several phone calls, and we saw he and Mr. Bush wander off to deal with who even knows what. We were constantly being comforted by Mr. Raymond who let us know everything would be okay and affirmed we would get home. We watched Ms. Sylvia pick up the phone and update administration while Ms. Tedoldi was constantly talking with all different people from the airlines. This of course all after we were sent to the wrong terminal and trekked backwards in the heat of LA with all our equipment.

This is a story of true leadership. Seemingly left helpless in LAX our staff solved the problem to get us all home alone with five people. I cannot even begin to imagine the stress, and aggravation they had in that moment. Of course the problem has been solved, and we are all getting home by the end of today, so why the post? After crashing in the Hotel last night I knew I needed to post something.

I felt compelled to thank our staff for their incredible efforts that went into this trip. I felt compelled to attempt to provide an adequate thanks to those who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes. We are taught in Foxborough Music as leaders to not seek out recognition, that true leaders “do what has to be done”. But I cannot let the incredible feat which I witnessed yesterday go unnoticed. H. Jackson Brown once wrote: “Don’t work for recognition, but do work worthy of recognition.” and our staff has certainly done that, and will continue to do that. Why? Because their motivation isn’t self improvement or even themselves at all, it is the love they have for us, their students. We owe them so much. I know you all are already so appreciative of the staff we have. But I also know that because of their incredible modesty, and passion for their work, this great story would never have been told because the problem was solved and in their eyes it doesn’t need to be.

I just know it’s proof that they are among the finest educators and people, period.

They have earned my trust unequivocally and I simply owe them a sincerest thank you for this incredible opportunity.

Paul