Cheney Public Schools students, families, and community,
First and foremost, I am honored and excited to join Cheney Public Schools! This year marks my 25th year in education which includes ten (10) years of teaching science and coaching at Lewis and Clark High School, ten (10) years as an administrator in Bancroft School, Cheney and Westwood Middle Schools, Freeman Middle School, and four (4) years as superintendent at Valley School District. I have been so fortunate to work with dedicated educators at each stop along the journey.
“Cheney Public Schools exists to guarantee a safe and caring environment where ALL students learn at high levels and graduate with options for post-secondary education, careers, and civic engagement” is our mission statement and the center of the work we do each and every day in Cheney Public Schools. In my opinion, there is no higher calling than to serve in public education.
For me, relationships are the heart of education. Rita Pierson, an educator that did a TED Talk with millions of views says, “Every child deserves a champion: an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists they become the best they can possibly be.” I believe relationships are the foundation in a students’ education.
My wife Stacy and I just celebrated our 23rd anniversary and have two amazing daughters, Isabel (18) and Sami (15). Stacy is an incredible math teacher at Sacajawea Middle School, Isabel just graduated from Lewis and Clark High School and is going to the University of Hawaii next year, and Sami will be a sophomore at Lewis and Clark. Our family enjoys adventure and being outdoors at Coeur d’ Alene Lake, Thomas Lake, Silver Mountain, and anywhere we can park our 1979 VW Bus. We just moved into the Cheney Public Schools district and are excited to be an active part of the Cheney, Airway Heights, and West Plains community.
Thank you for the warm welcome and I look forward to the coming school year!
Ben
Ben Ferney, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Cheney Public Schools