Jim asked teachers and staff to think about "what grounds us to our work" and described what grounds him, namely: gratitude; relationships with students and colleagues; possibilities, that is, a spirit of willingness; responsibility to the community; a sense of belonging. Jim explained that to him "belonging is not simply an idea – it’s an active pursuit. We have to engage with it, intellectually and emotionally, every day."

Before inviting Educational Author Jay McTighe to the Martin Theater stage to begin his thoughtful and well-received talk and workshop on Schooling by Design, Jim concluded: "As we head into a challenging, exciting year, let’s do our best to discover and celebrate the ways in which, during our time together, from a place of grounding, we can support one another, we can lift each other up, and maybe – we can even soar."