Partnership Educators,
They used to call them Scrub Horses. Third rate wagon pullers was another term. Back in the 1860s in Ohio, there was just such a horse named Sleepy Tom. He was a familiar sight around the town of Bellbrook. People said in earlier years Sleepy Tom had been harness racing material and that he had come from good pacing stock but he had been trained too hard and he had fallen ill. Ever since that illness, he had been a victim of one owner after another who used him for pulling various carts and wagons. Finally, Sleepy Tom was sold to Stephen Phillips for a cheap watch and some cheap whiskey. Stephen Phillips saw something in that old scrub horse that had eluded everybody else. Steve wanted to race him. Of course, everyone in town thought he was crazy. They thought Steve should be lucky that the horse was still standing. After all, Sleepy Tom was a dozen years old and that was surely out of prime for racing. Stephen insisted that he had great breeding and a ton of heart.
Stephen Phillips began harness racing Sleepy Tom and training him the correct way with great care and love. People of the town were amazed to watch and see how Steve was taking it seriously. They also noticed that Steve would talk a lot to Sleepy Tom and sure enough it seemed that the horse understood. After some time Sleepy Tom was ready for his first race. Plenty of tough competition in Jackson, Michigan. The race organizers let the word get out that some 12-year-old nag was challenging the most experienced field in the midwest. The race began with a great deal of laughter from these seasoned spectators. Then Steve started talking to Sleepy Tom. From high up on the sulky, you could hear Steve using soothing tones that just said “Go on Tom and win” In the last quarter stretch Sleepy Tom took off like a flash of summer lightning and left the field in the dust. More incredibly still, this one event began one of the best careers in harness racing history. With Steve’s gentle urging, Sleepy Tom would defeat the best pacers of his day. He shattered the world harness racing record and has been called “The Prince of the Pacers.” Through it all, you could hear Steve Phillips talking gently and lovingly to big Sleepy Tom. You see, Steve was more than just a trainer who had seen the potential for greatness, he was also Sleepy Tom’s eyes. Remember that sickness that Tom had? It had been an infection and it had left the record-making harness racing horse blind.
Thanks to all who serve within our Partnership and who caringly urge our students to their greatness. Potential is only greatness waiting for someone to help it come out no matter the apparent barriers.
Next week is dedicated to Administrative Appreciation Week. I would like to go on record as saying thanks to all of our administrators, administrative assistants, classified management for their untiring commitment to our school community. John F. Kennedy said, “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” Just like Sleepy Tom, we have some of the most caring leaders with vision in the world.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-growing-acceptance-of-autism-in-the-workplace/
Portrait of a Graduate: Link to learn more
Enjoy your weekend,
Rob