Greater Dayton School founding principal A.J. Stich spent the afternoon of Jan. 25 as one of a few spectators at the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team’s private practice. He chatted with the program’s legendary coach John Calipari. Then, after going to dinner, he sat behind the Kentucky bench while the team beat visiting Mississippi State at Rupp Arena.
For a diehard Kentucky basketball fan, it was a perfect day.
A.J. however, is not a diehard Kentucky basketball fan.
His wife Kendra, on the other hand, is. And she was his companion on the once-in-a-lifetime R&R trip for two.
“She was smiling ear to ear,” A.J. said.
Sometimes the best R&R we receive isn’t even for us. And quite often, the gifts that mean the most to us are the ones we share with the people who mean to most to us. It’s not easy to work at The Connor Group. It’s not supposed to be. From time to time, it’s important for us to recognize that difficulty extends to our support systems … and to recognize them accordingly.
A.J., whom Kids & Community Partners hired in early 2020 to lead our innovative new school for under-resourced students, has undertaken a monumental task. He spent three months working days at his previous school in Chicago and nights planning GDS. He spent a year commuting between Chicago and Dayton. Then, he and Kendra moved their three kids to Dayton so his work could start in earnest.
Kendra managed the family, the relocation and the renovation of their new home – all while navigating a pandemic.
As a result, Kids & Community surprised her with the Kentucky trip. Through a previous relationship with Calipari, we organized the meet-and-greet.
“He knew who we were right away,” A.J. said. “He was like, ‘You work with Larry. You’re doing the school right? That’s great!”
Kids & Community director Ryan Ernst said he learned the importance of spouse buy-in and support during his first year at The Connor Group.
“My wife won a Teacher of the Year award and my boss at the time, Mike McQuiston, sent her this really big, really nice flower arrangement with a nice note from The Connor Group,” he said. “From that moment on, she understood our reward-and recognition culture and she became a Connor Group believer.
“And that’s important. We always say that this is a team game. Well, that extends to home too. It has to.”