By Dr. Scott Van Der Aa, Superintendent, Bloomfield School District
Public education is often discussed through numbers.
Test scores. Graduation rates. Budget percentages. State rankings. Funding formulas.
Those things matter. Schools should be accountable, responsible, and transparent. But when public conversation about education becomes centered almost entirely on data points and spreadsheets, we risk overlooking the work that matters most — the work happening every single day inside our schools that cannot always be measured on a standardized test or highlighted in a financial report.
As both a superintendent of Bloomfield School District in Greene County, and a board member of Our Public Schools Work, I have the privilege of seeing firsthand the incredible commitment educators bring to students every day.
I see teachers arriving early and staying late to help struggling students gain confidence. I see school counselors helping students navigate anxiety, grief, and family challenges. I see administrators balancing safety, discipline, academics, and parent communication while still finding time to encourage a student having a difficult day.
I see coaches teaching perseverance, teamwork, and character long after the final score is forgotten.
I see cafeteria workers who know students by name. Bus drivers who greet children each morning with consistency and care. Custodians who quietly create clean, safe environments where students can learn. School nurses who comfort worried children. Instructional aides who celebrate small victories others may never notice.
Much of the most important work in education happens in moments that never appear on a state report card.
A student deciding not to give up.
A child learning to believe in themselves.
A teenager finding a trusted adult who listens.
A struggling reader finally experiencing success.
A family receiving support during a difficult season.
Those moments may never raise a school’s test average by several percentage points, but they can change the direction of a child’s life forever.
Schools today are asked to do more than ever before. In addition to academics, schools now provide mental health support, food programs, career preparation, social-emotional learning opportunities, safety initiatives, and partnerships with community organizations to meet growing student needs. Educators continue to adapt because they care deeply about students and communities.
The core mission of public schools is to prepare young people for life — to help students grow academically, socially, emotionally, and ethically into productive citizens and compassionate human beings. That work is complex. It is deeply human. And much of it cannot be captured by a single assessment or score.
This is not an argument against accountability or high expectations. Indiana educators want students to achieve at high levels, and we should continue striving for academic excellence. But we should also recognize that the value of a school cannot be fully measured by a narrow snapshot of performance.
Communities should absolutely pay attention to achievement outcomes. Public schools matter tremendously. But as we engage in those conversations, I hope we also remember to recognize the extraordinary work happening inside schools every day — work driven not by headlines or statistics, but by the tremendous dedication by school employees to children.
Our educators continue to show up daily with patience, compassion, professionalism, and hope. That work deserves to be seen and valued.