by Paul Olson, NDVS/SB Superintendent
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
This quote is widely attributed to Teddy Roosevelt, but he actually borrowed it from a previous author and restated it in one of his many speeches. Whatever its origin, I would contend that it is one of the wisest pieces of advice for living I have ever heard. It might even be said that it applies well to any organization striving for success. It has become my mantra when I am frequently thinking about how to manage the many complex demands of a small but very important agency serving our citizens. I do not believe I am exaggerating when I say that the quality of our service is crucial to people’s lives. Real outcomes leading to people living independently, success in school, and ultimately their employability, really does depend on expert-level service from NDVS/SB, as well as our schools and our partner organizations.
We very much attempt to be proactive in the management of our resources, staff, and expertise, but by nature we are somewhat reactionary. The number of children and adults needing support and instruction ebbs and flows. Having highly trained teachers and other staff in the right places at the right times to serve our wonderful citizens well is an ongoing, challenging endeavor. So, we look ahead, gauge changing societal needs, attempt to recruit and train the best staff possible and then….do what we can, with what we have, where we are at. Thanks for the advice, Teddy.
Here are few of the exciting activities and announcements as we enter another school year:
- We have hired three new, wonderful staff members that are going to bring great value to our team.
- I am participating in a six-city, three-day tour of the state to meet legislators and school board members along with several other partner agencies to inform them of our work and set the stage for the upcoming legislative session beginning in January 2027.
- We continue to partner and work cooperatively with the North Dakota Association of the Blind (NDAB). By the time you all read this, NDAB will have held another amazing week at Camp Grassick. This literally is the blind leading the blind – to success.
- On October 23, NDVS/SB will host a picnic on-site for the North Dakota Lions Convention which is being held at the Alerus Center.
To close, I will leave you with another quote from Teddy Roosevelt, one that will hopefully inspire you as we embark on a new school year: “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” Happy fall, and welcome back!