Superintendent's Office
April 2026
As I visit classrooms throughout our district, I often see teachers begin the day or the hour by having students check in with them. At the elementary level, students often gather on the carpet at the front of the class to share what happened last night or what things they are going to do over the weekend. At the secondary level, the teacher often casually leads a conversation asking if students went to the game last night or how marching band practice went or how play practice is going.
You might wonder why teachers would take valuable time in class to ensure that students know about each other and know what is going on in the lives of those in their classes. "Just teach the content." some might say. "No one cares if students know each other."
I would disagree.
We have learned in the Rockford Public Schools that building relationships and teaching content go hand in hand. Teaching content is much easier and more successful if students have built a relationship with the teacher and with other students.
Learning is hard. When we are learning we make mistakes. When we are learning we try to fit new knowledge in with our old knowledge and sometimes it just doesn't seem to fit. We need people around us who will support us and who will understand what we are going through.
In the Rockford Public Schools, we understand that learning is about more than just memorizing facts or reading a book. Learning is about wrestling with ideas, seeing where they fit with what we already know, and taking risks to try and figure things out.
To learn- to struggle to figure things out- we need people we trust to help us. But things can get in the way. Sometimes it is as simple as feeling out of place in a classroom because seemingly no one knows your name or seemingly no one does the same things that you do. So, we take time to learn names, to hear about things that are of interest to our students, and to listen and learn about their lives.
Learning is complex. At times, background, customs, previous experiences, and perspectives all can get in the way. They don't have to get in the way of learning, but they can. That is why in our district we work with our staff to help them reflect on who our students are, how we can connect with them, and how we can use their background, customs, experiences and perspectives to help them learn.
That requires that we intentionally create opportunities. We create opportunities for our students to hear from each other, to learn about each other, to begin to trust each other.
So, we take time in class to hear from our students. To make sure that our students know who is sitting beside them.
Every student in our district is important. We do not all look, think, speak, or see the world in the same way. And that is OK. Regardless of who walks through our school doors each and every day, we want our staff to find ways to connect with each student so that each student can learn.
Dr. Steve, Matthews, Superintendent
