Driving back from school after teaching first block and leaving lesson plans to be home with Manuel who had a fever the day before, I heard the news about the first plane crash. For the first time ever, I made a call from my car - asked the front desk secretary whether people were watching the news in the building, when she said they were I asked to be put through to my classroom. The guest teacher sounded shaken - I told her the lesson plan had changed for the day, that all of my classes should be watching the news making two lists - one of facts they hear, the other of questions that occur to them.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to me, both of my editors in chief had called home from school phones to ask their moms to record the news so they would have access to it later. That pair of brilliant young women led their team to a revamp of their first issue as editors in chief - also my first issue as the Wildcat Roar’s adviser.
This past Thursday, Sara-Beth O'Connor and Carolyn Vermeulen Zoomed in with the current ROAR staff to share their experiences and reflections. It brought back memories and made me so proud of the incredible leaders they were from the start. It was wonderful to have Principal Nicole Nuckolls Carter join us - after all, she was the teacher Carolyn was with when they first heard the news.
In September 2001, in the middle of a National tragedy, I learned to be true what I had already suspected: High school students are capable of great things. They are deep thinkers, compassionate individuals, and tremendous leaders.
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