Redding School District

In 1964, 14-year-old William was rising for high school and getting ready for his first day at his new school.  He was a sophomore.  Arriving that morning was like any other day going to school except that West High School didn’t seem to want him. 

During the first period, the principal was calling the roll.  He called out his name “Bill Weaver,” and he answered, “My name is William.”  The principal looked sternly at him and said, “So we have a wise ____ here.”  William recounts it like this, “I wasn’t in school 30 minutes and he suspended me.”

Most of that first year went much the same way.  The teachers would often stand over him during tests and yank the paper out from under his hand and say, “Time is up.”  The first report card was all F’s.  He went from being a great student at his old school to starting to think maybe he didn’t belong.  “Maybe I am dumb,” he would think.

One evening he was at home and his seventh-grade teacher from his former middle school came to visit.  “I understand you are having trouble,” he said.

“Yeah” William replied.

“Come on over each afternoon and let’s help you out.” Mr. Hill suggested.

Every day waiting for William would be Mr. Hill and assorted other teachers.  They tutored him and got him past those F’s and as Williams put it, “I stopped doubting myself.”

During William’s senior year, to his surprise, he received a letter telling him he had been awarded a scholarship.  William accepted and went on to attend Howard University.

Dr. William Weaver was the Chief of Surgery at Fayetteville VA Medical Center in North Carolina and says he doesn’t remember a day that a teacher didn’t tell him that he “didn’t belong” In high school.  He was also one of 14 black students integrated in the all-white West High School in Knoxville, Tenn. 

Thirty-seven years after going to college and becoming a doctor, William was at his older brother’s funeral and saw Mr. Hill.  He said to Mr. Hill, “You know, if I had not gotten that scholarship I don’t know what would have happened.  And I don’t know how I got the scholarship because I never even applied for it.” Mr. Hill said, “I know, because I filled in the application and sent it off for you.”

Every day we as educators have the power to help our learners stop doubting themselves or just feel dumb.   Most of that comes from the short interactions that we have with them daily.  How do we react to them each and every day makes the greatest difference.

This reminds me of my first year as an admin at Sequoia.   I had a student who was sent to my office quite frequently and he was a difficult case for sure.   However, what I recall the most is that after a few months I would just see him coming down the street to school and would start to have negative thoughts about him.  There he was walking perfectly fine down the street and I was already gearing up to have to discipline him.  He wasn’t doing anything at that moment but I was just waiting for his first negative move.  That was an epiphany moment for me when I realized that our thoughts about someone affects how we react to him or her unconsciously. 

It also reminds me of the many times that I have witnessed our teachers supporting students anonymously, who then go on to do great things with their lives.   Most of the supporting things we do for our students we will never get recognition for.  My hope for you is that 35 years later a student tells you a story about how something happened and you can let them know that you were the catalist for it happening.  Mostly that will not be the case but know that it is happening in our schools every day.  I know it because I know the hearts of all of you who are the partnership family and how much you care.  

Thanks to everyone who continues to foster the relational capacity to support the most vulnerable among us.  I really do love what we do and who we are.

Have a fantastic weekend,

 Rob