Education Commons^™

Personal Reflections / 12.14.20, José M. Torres

Personal Reflections

On Saturday, December 7, 2020, I got up early at 5:00 a.m., put on a white shirt, a black jacket, and shorts, and joined a zoom call broadcasted from Alexandria, Egypt. A longtime friend, Bill, passed away at age 90 from COVID-19 complications. Bill and his wife Peg, who passed away 12 years ago, opened their home to me in 1980, when I was only 20 years old and needed a place to stay. Six months later, I found a more permanent home. While my time living with them in their home was short, this experience and our continued relationship …

Personal Reflections / 10.6.20, José M. Torres

Personal Reflections

Last week, I presented a webinar via Zoom for principals and school leaders in Puerto Rico, sponsored by the Puerto Rico Education Foundation, regarding leading schools in the era of COVID-19. Puerto Rico has 1,120 public schools serving 345,815 students. Earlier in the summer, on July 6, 2020, I presented via Zoom at a conference for teachers of PrepaTec, a private school system throughout Mexico. There were 1,300 teachers who participated via live stream. The pandemic has "flattened" the world even more. Before the coronavirus, if my schedule allowed, I would get on a plane to present at these …

Personal Reflections / 9.9.20, José M. Torres

Personal Reflections

After six years at IMSA as President, I will be retiring from full-time employment at the end of this academic year to pursue personal interests. I know that this might come as a shock as we have so many great future plans and much work ahead of us as an IMSA community and family. I want to share my thought process because IMSA has been a great opportunity for me to contribute and because I value the relationships that I have formed over the years.

Personal Reflections / 8.19.20, José M. Torres

Personal Reflections

It's hard to believe that we kicked off the new Academic Year 2020-2021 with Convocation on Monday, August 17, 2020. If you joined us, you know that while it was our very first virtual convocation, it provided us with inspiration and encouragement to begin the new year with confidence and realistic optimism.

Personal Reflections / 8.10.20, José M. Torres

Personal Reflections

Welcome to the 2020-2021 Academic Year!

As we commence this new Academic Year, the word that comes to mind is: "strange." We begin the year seeing others two-dimensionally, as flat images in Zoom screens. Yet, let's remember that we are fully human with all the yearnings and desire to return to campus as soon as possible.

Personal Reflections / 7.14.20, José M. Torres

Personal Reflections

Over the past few months, I have written and sent out a host of communications on various topics, including fall plans and student fees, budget reductions, the status of SIR, @blackatisma and updates on COVID-19. Today, I step back to share some of what’s in my heart about our situation at IMSA. Warning: this is my “personal reflection.” As such, I’m going to share some of my thoughts, feelings, and reactions from a deeply personal perspective. I am not announcing new policies nor decisions in this Personal Reflection.

Personal Reflections / 6.2.20, José M. Torres

Personal Reflections

I’m mad as hell and can’t take it anymore. I know this Personal Reflection is not going to be popular because it is a no-holds-back statement relating to the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man killed by White men while jogging; Breonna Taylor, a Black woman killed by the Louisville Kentucky police while sleeping; and George Floyd, a Black man killed by a Minneapolis police officer.

Personal Reflections / 5.26.20, José M. Torres

Personal Reflections

This is my first Personal Reflection since March 12, 2020 when I wrote we were about to go on spring break. I did not know then that we would not return to campus for the Academic Year 2019-2020.

Personal Reflections / 3.12.20, José M. Torres

Personal Reflections

I have yearned to write and send you this Personal Reflection after my last one, which was early in January. What has prevented me from writing and posting a new one? Loss.

On February 9, 2020, I received a text and engaged in several phone calls with my 30-year old daughter, Daniella, from an emergency hospital room in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Her mother, my first wife of 19 years, was undergoing an emergency procedure. I arrived at the hospital by 11:30 a.m. to find my ex-spouse unconscious. She passed away just after 1:00 p.m. My other two sons, Corinno and …

Personal Reflections / 1.25.20, José M. Torres

Personal Reflections

Welcome to a new decade! Between now and graduation, there are less than 127 calendar days and less than 90 days when we exclude extended weekends and final exam days. Time is relative, and while we may perceive it as moving too fast, the only time we have is the present moment. None of us has a guarantee. As the adage says, “Yesterday is a cashed check; tomorrow is a promissory note.” Today is the only time we have. Let's be present and mindful today.