DF last letter email

June 6th, 2020

To the M.E.T.S. Faculty and Staff;


The Law of Conservation of Energy provides us with the understanding that energy cannot be created or destroyed only transferred.  When applied to our living world, we think of the energy gravity stores in the rock at the top of a hill or when we stand on the shore and feel the energy of the water as each wave crashes against.  Applying this metaphor to the closing of M.E.T.S Charter School has helped me to gain perspective on both the meaning and emotion this decision has wrought.  Hence, what this school has done for the students, families, communities, staff, and administrators will not just end when we shut the doors for the last time.  All of our work, love and passion will transfer its form into that which was a direct external force into one that lies in wait;  to be accessed when it is needed to propel our spirit towards finding success.

Since February, each day has presented itself to be the bearer of a different emotion.  Some days, are filled with such pride for the continued professionalism and care that the staff has placed in teaching, cleaning, and/or providing support to the students.  Others are filled with anger, frustration and malcontent with the decision to close the school when the trajectory was moving in such a positive and exciting direction.  Yet most are filled with an incredible sadness and regret.  Those two feelings undergird the one indelible truth of the decision to close the school - I did not fulfill my promise to the Board of Trustees and rest of the M.E.T.S. Charter School Community.  On November 4th, 2018, I made the promise to the Board and the Community that I would work as hard as I could to ensure our school maintainers effective operations, improved the teaching and learning experience, and would  lead the schools into another 4 years.  As the leader of this organization it was my responsibility to see this promise fulfilled and  for my failure I am sorry.  Although there is nothing I can do now to change the outcome, in our short 2-years together, my goal was to inspire, improve your practice and treat everyone professionally.  I can only hope that I was able to achieve those goals with each and every one of you.

As with scientific principles, the artistry of humans has furthermore provided context to help contextualize this experience.  In his masterful work, “The Prelude,” William Wordsworth writes:

The mind of Man is fram'd even like the breath
And harmony of music. There is a dark
Invisible workmanship that reconciles
Discordant elements, and makes them move
In one society. Ah me! that all
The terrors, all the early miseries
Regrets, vexations, lassitudes, that all
The thoughts and feelings which have been infus'd
Into my mind, should ever have made up
The calm existence that is mine when I
Am worthy of myself! Praise to the end!

I urge every one of you to discover what kind of energy transfer you will make with you from your experience at M.E.T.S. into whatever is next.  With the excellence of character, thoughtfulness and passion you all bring to your work, I am certain that at the end, you all will find yourselves praising what we accomplished and rediscovering that our worth is truly defined by ourselves and not by an outside entity.

Thank you for everything you have done for this organization, students and the respective communities.  Thank you for finding a way to touch the hearts and minds of every student.
Thank you for believing in what we were doing.
Thank you for placing your faith in me.
Thank you for never giving up.

Please stay in touch:

Damion Frye
35 Madison Ave
Montclair, NJ 07042
862-596-7883
Damionfrye@gmail.com

Regards,

Mr. D. Frye
Lead Administrator