R = Rajasi Agarwal

K = Kirk Koennecke

This transcript has been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.

R: Great. Okay, so transitioning more into decision making. We talked about student voice. So I remember I actually covered the superintendent search for the school newspaper, and one thing a lot of people mention is, in addition to student voice: how can a superintendent make sure the district makes the right decisions, even when they’re tough, while keeping that student trust, student voice, community trust? 

K: Honesty, transparency. And I think clarity is kindness. So I think that when you communicate, you should use simple, clear language. And I think, again, you should always assume here that the audience is very savvy and intelligent and is gonna understand. And I think if you present yourself as clear that you’re being kind, even when there are tough things you have to talk about. And having difficult conversations, they’re difficult for a reason.They’re not supposed to be easy. So when you have them, you have to go into them honestly and also show some empathy for that. 

R: What are some of the tough conversations you think you’ll have to have over the next few months or years here? 

K: Great question. You know, I think that you can look at the things you have to do at work as challenges or opportunities. I’m an optimist. I’m relentlessly optimistic. So I look at these things as opportunities, not necessarily tough or challenges. That doesn’t mean they won’t be hard work. I think we have an opportunity here in the future to talk to this community about where we’re headed together in terms of vision and mission and strategic kind of objectives. Like what do we really want for students at Eanes? Which is an exciting conversation. 

Right now we have some themes of ‘unite’ and ‘power’ and ‘inspire,’ and I’m going to be looking for evidence of that. And then I wanna talk about, how do we go deeper with that? And I also think we have some amazing opportunities to talk about how do we upgrade, how do we make sure that the next generation has the best resources, facilities, athletics, performing arts and academics that we’ve all come to expect and want to protect at Eanes? And I think that can be a really creative and fun conversation too. 

But it’ll still involve a lot of work, and it’ll involve a lot of people with opinions that should all come to the table and talk about that together. My job is to help convene that. 

R: We touched on this earlier with student leadership. When it comes to these opportunities, what role do you think the student audience can concretely play in making these decisions, and working on these opportunities, as you’d say, not challenges?

K: Well, first, I think, again, I’ll just use a survey as a method, right? Sometimes people put surveys out and ask people what they think. I don’t know that we would want to move forward with a major initiative in this district without having student voice be a part of something. And it could be as simple as a survey or it could be more pervasive. It could be a panel, it could be testimonials, it could be some dialogue meetings. It could be students at the high school sitting next to adults in the community and saying, ‘here’s what I need out of my educational experience.’ And I think this district has a history of doing some of that. And those are the kinds of things I would expect that we would do, right? 

R: So if a student is listening right now, and they just wanna hear some words from you to help the district through this moment, because as I mentioned, the budget is a major issue for the district right now, what would you want to tell them directly? 

K: One, we’re gonna be okay. Two, we’re gonna get through it all together. And three, that we’re gonna talk about things openly and transparently to protect the resources and supports we have here for students first and foremost, and then our amazing staff, and that we’re gonna work with our community and our partners in the community to make sure that everybody knows that we have some alignment. Our goals and our missions are always gonna be very high expectations, high outcome here, and that’s not gonna change. 

R: Great! So, as we come to an end, I just want to ask you some fun questions to get to know you better. What’s one piece of advice you would give not to students here, but to your high school self? 

K: Probably get out and meet some more people as a 9th or 10th grader, and try a couple of new things. 

For example, I didn’t play golf until I was a sophomore in high school, but there were opportunities that had I gone out for golf, I probably could have gone to a driving range and hit balls for free every single day and learned to play a sport that I could carry the rest of my life, even if I didn’t compete on a team. And I kind of missed that opportunity my freshman year, and then my sophomore year, I finally learned that I could take that up when I had a little more confidence. 

And I also think trying things where you think you have a talent and not waiting for someone to invite you is really important. So if you think you’re funny, try comedy or maybe a funny podcast. If you think you can sing, go and try. 

And I think there’s lots of avenues in a high school to do those things and get support. Sometimes people aren’t sure if they’re gonna get that support, but I have found here that students get empowered and that the adults are here to help them. So I would hope that people would try that sooner rather than later.

R: That’s such great advice. I wish someone had told me this earlier. I’m a sophomore, but even I wish I tried more things freshman year. So Chaps listening, please try new things and explore the avenues you have here at Eanes.

K: Like student leadership.

R: Yes, like student leadership! What’s one surprising thing you think not a lot of people know about you? 

K: I think in another lifetime, I was a hockey player and coach, and I’m not a hockey player and coach anymore. I’m a fan.