Well Diana’s job is safe. It turned out to be less in limbo than we thought. The details are unimportant but it would have been a truly crazy situation because tonight (Wed.) I just returned from a yearly gala evening downtown honoring various employees of Denver Public Schools.
Paul and Julie had nominated Diana for the Learning Lamp Award, DPS’ highest honor for any of their employees and saved for last. This year 160 people were nominated. Diana won it. The ceremony was wonderful, and so deserved by Diana. She didn’t know she was there to be so honored and so it was a surprise, and doubly so when her children and I were kept in a green room where we came out onto the stage just when she was given the award by DPS Superintendent Tom Boasberg.
It was a fabulous night, perfect weather (in Denver that is saying something!), an indoor/outdoor venue on the 14th floor of a big building downtown so that we all felt like we were outside, with well over 500 people in attendance. Paul and Julie gave perfect speeches, and Diana’s was just a beautiful little speech of a quality that I will never forget. The superintendent got an earful about our work. Clear points were made by Paul and Julie highlighting the reform Diana has brought to the district over the years and each one received hundreds of knowing nods from audience members. It was huge. And the flowers Carol sent were great. Annick Chen stayed around for the post celebration festivities even though she had a 6:00 a.m. flight for Taiwan this morning!
I hope to have some videotape of the award presentation and the speeches by tomorrow evening for you. It was a perfect night to award Diana’s more than forty years of service to the district, the kind of award ceremony that happen rarely, in honor of someone who truly merits it.