Superintendent Eric Webb Leads Orcas Schools

— by Margie Doyle —

Orcas School District Superintendent Eric Webb, flanked by his son McCabe and his wife Jana

“The greatest contributing factor in education is not the superintendent or principals, not the facility nor the fund balance,” Eric Webb told the assembled Orcas Island School staff last Friday. “A child’s future and educational success is determined by all of you working to give self-esteem, healthy meals, attendance, a secure climate, parental involvement and acceptance.”

New Orcas Island School Superintendent Eric Webb comes to the community after an education career in teaching at K-12 levels, and administration positions as assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent in Oklahoma, where his family has lived for generations, and in Texas.

Eric Webb’s Dad was a welder, but “a teacher at heart and a coach.” And a natural educator. He often expressed his wish that he’d become a teacher. That lesson wasn’t lost on  Superintendent Webb, who’s been on the job since July 1.

At college, Webb studied history (the American Revolution is his favorite area of study) and upon graduation, began his career in education, starting as a substitute teacher.

But he may be more of a coach and friend than we expect.

He has participated in “countless workshops, book studies, research and philosophical debate ” to prepare for this position. But  perhaps it is the story of one of his greatest challenges that gives us a glimpse into what makes the new school superintendent tick.

“When I first started teaching [in an elementary classroom], it was very tough to watch the students leave at the end of the year. You’re together in a self-contained classroom all day long and work on growing together and get very attached. It’s tough to watch them leave at the end of the year. You feel like they’re yours. I’d find I didn’t know what to do with myself the first weeks after school’s out for the summer.”

And though he says all educators, at some point, question ‘what am I doing here?’  he knows without a doubt , “I wouldn’t  want to do anything else.” In a letter to Orcas Island School District employees, he wrote: “I am a child advocate first and foremost. I know how difficult and challenging your jobs can be, and that there are days that are more difficult than they are rewarding.

“You can be very proud of what you have achieved … in our classrooms, in our offices, on our playing fields, and on our stages — these achievements are not due to complacency and satisfaction with the status quo. OISD is what it is because a staff of dedicated, aspiring men and women have a common goal:

Do what is best for students and always look for ways to creatively achieve that goal,”

He and his family– wife Jana, daughter Mesa (now enrolled at Western Washington University) and son McCabe, who will be a freshman at Orcas High School —  love the natural surroundings of the Pacific Northwest and Orcas Island. His son has spent much of the summer sailing and is deciding on a project to work on towards an Eagle Scout award. The family loves to garden, travel and kayak together. “We enjoy being outside,” Eric says.”But what really drew us here was meeting the people, staff and community, and seeing how deeply they were involved in the process of selecting a superintendent.”

One of the most positive changes he’s seen in his teaching and superintendent years is the flexibility in schedules. He also values the initiatives in early childhood education and full-day kindergartens. Oklahoma has been in the forefront of that effort nationally; and Webb adds that preschool and full-day kindergarten solutions are “unique to each community.” Because of the quality of pre-school here, he expects differences from what he experienced in Oklahoma.

Like all modern educators, he admits to the difficulties brought by the internet and constant electronic connection. “But social media is here to stay, whether on twitter or facebook or instagram. It’s a whole new area that can translate into education. We need to learn how to make use of it.”

He believes that ongoing assessment is the best way to evaluate a student’s progress. Oral or written benchmarks, and checklists are useful tools to improve a student’s status. “For me, I’d like to see the state going more with ‘portfolios’ of students’ work throughout the high school years, like their Senior Project. It’s a better way than one test at the end of the year — we all have our off-days.”

Webb is a firm believer in reading professional books to grow. “That kind of reading is vital to continue to grow. I like to have book studies, debates and discussion. We often have the tendency to get busy with other things, and forget we need to read.”

Webb’s vision for the Orcas Island School District includes involving members of the community who may not have children in school. “Many islanders are at the top of their field; it would be great to have activities to attract them.

“The transitions of the upcoming year are positive and exciting. I really want the school district to be a focal point in the community and to work together. That’s what it takes to benefit our children.The more we can do that, the more everybody wins.”

His words to the school staff last Friday captured the excitement and anticipation ahead of him and the Orcas Island School District. “Half of our office is sitting down the hill,” he said, referring to the modular building that came off the ferry last Thursday. “Change is inevitable. We can let it overwhelm us, or we can deal with it. We are not in this alone; our strength is in each other.”

Superintendent Webb’s words were met with a standing, prolonged ovation.