Greetings Columbus —
Can we have a parade for educators some day?
On one of the floats, let’s put Ron Williams, Karen Garrity and Tony Pottorff.
The Bartholomew County mentors are representative in all the right ways of teachers who take our kids under their wings and help them fly.
They deserve cheers and applause because teachers are underappreciated and underpaid.
Each and every day, they have to be on their game, ready to help mold dozens of young minds against obstacles that would make most of us weary and tired.
Teachers do so much more than impart lessons, give tests and grade papers.
For the most part, they do most things a parent does and on top of that must understand and implement the ever-changing standards and testing required by government officials.
They are faced with students who have a difficult home life, students who have emotional issues and students who haven’t had a decent breakfast. They must be motivators, cheerleaders, nurses, therapists, parent whisperers, correctors of bad behavior and so much more.
The good ones never see teaching as a job; they see it as a calling, a way to change the world and make a difference.
Like Karen Garrity, who worked for the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. for 43 years. She says:
“I’d be most proud to know that I made a difference in somebody’s life and gave a voice to people who otherwise didn’t feel like they had a voice. When you see a child be successful and you see the smile on their face, and their whole demeanor changes, that has to make you feel good.” Read her story here.
Like Ron Williams, who for 24 years coached at Northside Middle School.
Sure he taught students the fundamentals of basketball, but Williams has this mantra: Family and academics always come before sports. Story here.
Like East social students teacher Tony Pottorff, who even though he is battling Stage 4 breast cancer, continues to set an example not just for kids but for adults. And his teaching colleagues at East are rallying around Tony in ways that would make anyone proud.
That story is in Tuesday’s Republic.
Here’s what else you need to know —
For real this time. Colts get their man.
The second choice is getting great reviews. Here’s what Tony Dungy said:
Frank Reich was with me at the end of my tenure with the Colts. He has a creative offensive mind. He’s a great communicator and a high quality person. The Colts are in great hands.
Indiana in state of agricultural innovation.
Farm Indiana columnist Katie Glick writes: For far too long, there has been a disconnect in our industry and many of us have failed to realize that agriculture is not just planting and harvesting crops and raising livestock. In this ever-changing and connected world, we have to realize that bringing together other sectors, which we haven’t traditionally thought of as agriculture, will help to advance our beloved industry forward. Tuesday’s Republic.
Pence: A bond forged in war.
Columbus native Vice President Mike Pence is home after a trip to Asia and the Olympics. No doubt you have read about the North Korea-South Korea intrigue. A report by CBS News also noted this:
Diplomacy and politics aside, the vice president’s appearance at the Olympics was also personal. Pence’s father, Edward Pence, was a veteran of the Korean War — he won a Bronze Star for his military service in 1953. Pence said that spotted signs throughout Seoul and PyeongChang that said, “thank you for your father’s services for our country” that made him “a little emotional.”
“My dad served in combat in Korea and he really didn’t talk about it very much, like most combat veterans, but I know that it was a defining time in his life,” Pence told reporters aboard Air Force Two. “I take great pride in seeing the extraordinary prosperity of freedom in South Korea and to know that the people of South Korea know that the American soldier won that for them — that’s why there is no daylight and there will be no daylight — because the core of the bond between South Korea and the U.S. was forged in war.”
The rest.
A conference about preserving historic places coming to Columbus … Meet Columbus East senior Kaylin Miller … Pacers win with Victor Oladipo!
Today’s Instapic from thedoorajar.
Have a great day. Send your story ideas to [email protected].
