Ogden Elementary School is a Texas Education Agency 2008-2009 & 2009-2010 "Exemplary" Campus and National Blue Ribbon School-2010. Throughout my educational experience, my teachers taught me that “with every privilege comes great responsibility.” I do believe it is a great privilege to get to be the principal at Ogden. I also know a grave responsibility comes with that privilege. Each of you entrusts your most cherished possession, your child or children into my hands for about 180 days each school year. Unfortunately, students come to us with many obstacles and barriers that could impede their learning process. However, no matter what we may encounter, we are prepared to take on the task at hand.

Erik Erikson, a developmental psychologist and student of Sigmund Freud, said that throughout life, humans go through eight major stages of development. Each of these stages can be identified by a foundational conflict that is occurring within each person. Our students fall into Erikson’s fourth and fifth stages of development (ages 4-11 years old). It is during these stages when children need to feel loved and accepted. "Children need love, especially when they do not deserve it." Harold Hulbert
Ogden Elementary School provides positive adult role models and open lines of communication that Erikson says young children need so badly. Elementary school students are always seeking to please those who are in authority. At Ogden, we are able to help them find themselves and reach the virtue Erikson calls Fidelity. Fidelity means loyalty, the ability to live by society’s standards despite the imperfections, incompleteness, and inconsistencies. This is not a blind acceptance and or ignorant loyalty. It is an acceptance that there are imperfections; but that there is a place for me in the imperfect community that will allow me to contribute to, and hopefully improve, the community.

I take on this great privilege with serious responsibility. It is my goal to return your children to you each day better than they were when they walked through the door. In today’s society, with its onslaught of drugs, sexuality, and misinformation, I know that some students will make decisions that harm them despite the best efforts of their parents and the school. It is imperative that you as parents and we as the school partner together to combat this and give each of our kids the best chance possible to choose to make the most of their educational journey. It can, and will, be an exciting time to watch these elementary children become young adults ready for middle school in the years to come. These times can be trying, but we can make them fun and exciting.

With this background, I ask you to partner with me as we commit to do our best to help the students of Ogden make this a positive transition toward a life of responsibility and privilege. They are the future and we are preparing them for a world that is ever so changing. We must give them our all. It requires nothing less than excellence…for all…from all. Our motto is: “It Takes Teamwork to Make a Dream Work”. At Ogden, we sincerely believe that the home, school, and community is the team that will help each of our students become winners.

Educationally,
Wayne D. Wells

Ogden Elementary....2300 Victoria Street....Beaumont, TX 77701 (409)833-2313
Principal: Wayne Wells Counselor: Adrienne Hebert Diagnostician: Angela Rathiel Paralibrarian: Deitra Gilmore Nurse: Ivory Celestine	Secretary to the Principal: Deirdre Selman Attendance Clerk: Mary Broussard Cafeteria Manager: Mary Brown Custodian: Rodney Winford