By: Mary Beth Rogers, ED.S, CFO, MSBO Board Member, Executive Director of Business Services, Clarkston Community Schools
When I googled who inspires you, the common theme was father, mother, grandparent, teacher, son or daughter. It is typically someone in our lives that we feel has overcome an obstacle. They work hard; they make a difference; and they persevere. Maybe we are inspiring.
Who inspires me? My answer, unequivocally, is my son. My son is currently a successful adult with a promising career – three promotions in just a little over a year of employment. Why does this make him an inspiration to me? He has beaten the odds, overcome obstacles and has not let his shortcomings define him.
My son has always been academically challenged. He doesn’t learn like everyone else. His third grade teacher said he is one of the hardest working individuals she had witnessed with the least results in his schoolwork. That same teacher requested he be tested for learning disabilities or special education services. The school psychologist tested him, but determined he just learns differently, and traditional teaching styles would not always work for him. In elementary school, he was always a Title/At Risk student. The student who had to go to summer school. The student being pulled for speech, for reading, etc.
His second grade teacher saw something so special in him that he received the highest award that only one K-5 student receives annually. She defined him as a born leader, as a giver, as a committed student, as a compassionate individual and said he would do great things. He is definitely on that path. One of his high school teachers knew there was something special about him and encouraged him to join student council. He not only joined student council, but he served for four years and became school president and student on the board of education. He made an impact in his high school.
One of his university professors also saw something in him and took him under her wing, offered him an internship and eventually a graduate assistantship for his masters. He has made differences everywhere life has taken him. He struggled his first two years of college. Can you only imagine studying and studying but you continuously fail all your tests? His friends said that they have never seen someone study so hard for a test and fail it. He failed biology and sociology and not because he wasn’t trying. He was diagnosed with a testing disability. He took those classes over and successfully completed them with B’s.
He almost gave up and dropped out. I encouraged him to stick it out, ask for help, talk with professors, and use the university resources. I also told him that, “Education is something that no one can ever take from you.” That was his reality, but he overcame it. I am not saying it was easy. It took many pep talks, lots of support and educators seeing something in my son.
He started to request tutors, used the testing centers, signed up for writing and math labs and spent many hours attending professor’s office hours. The work ethic of my son would amaze you. He should have been that student who never made it past high school. However, he not only made it past high school, he has a bachelor’s and master’s from Grand Valley State University.
He is currently working at his first job out of college. It has been a year and he is now on his third promotion and travels throughout the United States. Colleagues and supervisors request him to work for them. It has been a long path for him, and he wasn’t always sure he could get there. He got there!
I wonder how the other students similar to him can succeed. It takes the effort of parents, family members, educators and society. The schools need to get the parents engaged, educate the parents and build relationships with them. Educators need to educate but they also need to build relationships with the students, find ways to engage them and encourage them along the path. Education cannot be “one size fits all” or a cookie cutter system. My son taught me that. As adults, wouldn’t it be great if we could just reach out to at least one child and encourage them. “Education: making a difference one student at a time.” As a society, it is our responsibility to not let any child fall through the cracks. Unfortunately, we are failing. I don’t have the answers. I can only hope that by mentoring a child or reading to a first grader every week is making a difference.
I do believe in MSBO and its members, another inspiration of mine, and I do believe in the education system. We are all in this field because we want to make a difference. We are not doing it for the recognition or glory. Every day when we go to work let’s think about how we can make our districts or educational institutions better for every student. How can I help everyone be successful! How can I be someone’s inspiration?