The Greatest Award of the Year

“Give me a word,

Give me a sign.

Show me where to look;

Tell me what will I find,

What will I find?

Lay me on the ground,

Fly me in the sky.

Show me where to look,

Tell me what will I find;

What will I find?

Oh, Heaven let your light shine down

Oh, Heaven let your light shine down.”
--Ed Rolland “Shine” by Collective Soul, 1992.

Well, it HAS been a long time.

Recently, I was awarded as a finalist for Gilder-Lehrman’s American History Teacher of the year. Over 700 United States History teachers applied for this distinction and one was awarded per state. To be nominated, honestly, is an honor. To make it to the final cut is great. I am both proud and humbled by the distinction. The winner receives ten thousand dollars worth of computer software for their district, one thousand dollars, and the chance for a trip to Washington DC for the honor. I would love to have had all of the above, but not this time. I will be receiving a certificate singling me out as a top finalist from the Illinois Board of Education, which is very kind and very cool.

When he found out, Mark emailed me and commented how this has shaped up to be a great year for me. I appreciate his kind words. I wish to express, however, that this award distinction was NOT my greatest accomplishment this year. Nor was the Presidential Who’s Who as a top teacher distinction.

The greatest award I received this year happened at graduation. The young man pictured in this blog's name is Ryan. The first picture, for the record, is one he posed for when he was a freshman, adding to the myth and illusion that I hate the freshman. Ryan has been a student of mine for four years. He is a classy individual whom I taught when he was a freshman. He exhibited intellect and maturity at a young age. He also exercised an incredible work ethic that set him apart from his peers. This young man grew to be a high-achieving student with a zest for learning.

Incredibly, he was humble about his accomplishments. Ryan earned straight A’s in his classes and was a valedictorian this year.

One day in the fall, he walked into my room before school. I had him as a student in Psychology, and he humbly asked me if I would write a letter of recommendation for him. To be honest, he was flattering to me. He hemmed and hawed for a few minutes and blurted out that he “really liked my classes” and that “I taught him most of his four years” and that he “liked and respected” me, and would I help him out if I “had time” by “writing a letter of recommendation.” This is a young man whom I could not refuse. I like to think they are all “my kids” to a degree, but Ryan was a young man I would be proud to have called my own. He was, as evidenced by the picture above, a small young man as a frshman. He was large in moral stature and intellect, but even he hinted he was small to me. He grew physically and emotionally and even morally before my eyes and distinguished himself among his classmates. There was not a teacher who did not remark how positive and intelligent an example of the future he was.

He was well-raised by two loving parents whom I have grown to know over the years. His father served on the school board and decided to step down while his sons are in school. That, to me, shows class. His mother is always complimentary of me and the district and truly wants her son to be respected and respectable.

To write a letter for Ryan was truly an honor. On awards night in the district, Ryan earned many distinctions, including the Social Science Award I presented. He may not have received any money from me, but it was an award I know he truly wanted. The other picture is from the awards night, in which he heaped praise on me, much of which I felt was a bit undeserved. Why is it that the people who can and seem to accomplish the most are the most humble? Ryan is truly a humble young man as he thanked me for helping him throughout the years.

That noted, my greatest distinction this year was on graduation. Ryan was a valedictorian and at the beginning of his speech he mentioned me and gave me a shout out.

In every speech I give at the school, and as a department chair, I give more than a few, I start out by simply saying “hi.” Ryan, who told me he was nervous about speaking, started out by saying “I really do not know how to begin, so I took a lesson from my social studies teacher over the years, Mr. Sweetwood, and thought I would first like to say ‘hi.’” He, like me, pauses for the laugh. Sometimes just saying something simple like “hi” puts everyone more at ease. I told him that once, and he took it and gave me a humble homage in his moment to shine. His speech continued to be about the service he gave the school as a peer helper as he worked with special education students with severe learning disorders. This young man made an impact in his four years and he did so in an unassuming manner.

Sometimes teachers wonder if they make an impact. Sometimes, we know it. The true “award” is when the students recognize you in their moments to shine and wish to give thanks so you, too, can share in the moment.

This year, I was truly humbled by a classy young man who will continue to accomplish great things in his lifetime. Is there truly a greater award? I did not think so either.