To the Editor,
This is not a letter on policy or politics. This is congratulation from one friend to another. Recently, Aaron Greene was voted in to be the next superintendent of the Polk County School System. It came as no shock to me that the vote was unanimous. I can think of no one who deserves the job more, or has the knowledge and the skills to carry it out more effectively than Mr. Greene.
I would like to think I am a product of the Polk County School System myself. I went to elementary school at Saluda Elementary; from there we were the first class to have a choice to go to Flat Rock Middle, or the new Polk County Middle School. As you may I have guessed, I chose Polk County, and I know I made the right decision. I spent three years with the most amazing teachers I could ask for that prepared me to go to Polk County High School. Once I got to the high school, this is where I would first meet Mr. Greene. He was the principal and we were all terrified freshman stepping in to the big high school world without knowing what to expect. From the first time that Mr. Greene spoke to us, I don’t think there was a doubt in any of our minds that we were some of the luckiest students in the state, to have someone like him who was so dedicated to not only education, but the future of every student in Polk County. Mr. Greene was my principal for three of the four years at the high school and there were two words that I heard the most when students and teachers were asked about him, caring and fair. I cannot think of two words that could better characterize what we need in a superintendent. If there was ever an issue in the classroom or in a student’s life, Mr. Greene was always there for that student. He didn’t do it for the credit or for the resume; he did it because he cared. Even the students that had to be disciplined and got sent to his office (admittedly I visited a couple times myself) always had the same response, that he was fair, and we all respected him for that.
I believe we are fortunate in this county to have someone like Aaron Greene, someone to show us all that no matter your title or where you come from; if you want respect from others then you have to show others respect. To remind us all that you do not know what is going on behind the scenes with someone you meet, so be quick to show compassion, not pass judgement. Thank you for what you have done for our county. I cannot wait for the day my kids come home from school smiling because of the work you have done.
Congratulations from your student and friend.
–Jake Johnson, Saluda