‘Something special in you’
Rally pairs Harding football champs, Renaissance students
The excitement in the Renaissance West STEAM Academy was palpable
on Feb. 21. Thirty boys in fourth and fifth-grade were chosen for a special
assembly by Principal Erin Barksdale and their teachers. They’d received
special printed invitations the day before to a “Champ’s Chat,” but still
weren’t sure why they were there.
Barksdale gave them a first clue. “You’ve been chosen today because
your teachers and I see something special in you,” said Barksdale. “We see
something in you that’s amazing.”
Power 98 talk show host Jessica Williams was on hand to emcee the
event and introduced the Harding University High School football team, the
current 4A state football champions. Renaissance students screamed and
cheered when the high schoolers walked in.
Williams and Barksdale decided to partner together to create an event
that could inspire the Renaissance students. “I think it’s really important
for our students to see kids who look like them who are champions,” said
Barksdale. “It helps them understand that they one day can be champions.”
One of their main goals was to help with increase students’ self-esteem.
“If they walk away from here feeling good about themselves, then our job is
done,” said Williams.
Barksdale is a graduate of CMS. She attended Butler with Harding football
coach Sam Grenier. He was eager to bring his students over for the assembly.
“Being a champion is about so much more than winning football games,” he
said. “It’s an everyday way of life. My players were so excited to come out
here and share this with the younger kids. We’ve always wanted to have an
impact on our community and now that we have a title to go with it, people
want to listen.”
After the cheers for the football team, Williams told the students
the goals of the day. “We’re here to talk to you today about overcoming
challenges,” said Williams. “We’ve all gone through a lot to become who we
are and there’s so much that we can learn from each other.”
You can set your watch by her
The program
began with an
ice-breaker
activity. Williams
read statements
and if they
applied to a
student, they
were encouraged
to stand up and
shout, “That’s
me!”
Williams
said the activity
was designed to
help students
understand they have more in common than not. “Say ‘that’s me’ if you
play football at Harding University High School,” she said. Nearly 40 football
players jumped up and shouted, shaking the bleachers.
“Say ‘that’s me if you want to go to college,’” she said. Both groups of
students stood up and cheered.
Many of the Harding students have overcome significant challenges,
including homelessness and struggles with academics. They shared their
stories with the elementary students. One player, Tim, talked about being too
small to be a lineman and how he had to keep fighting for his position but
never gave up.
The Renaissance students were asked to share things that make them
a champion. One student eagerly reached for the microphone. “I have
confidence,” he said. “I am a good reader. I am a kind person.”
The football team roared their approval.
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There is one thing Lucy Saxon knows for
sure about bus driver Sheila Ussery. “Parents
say you can set your watch by her,” she said.
“She never turns down extra runs, is always
full of true kindness and always has a smile
for everyone.”
Ussery started driving for CMS 20 years
ago and now transports more than 35 special-
needs students from the Metro School area. “I love it,” she said. “We are
special drivers in this area.”
Her own son attended Metro School and Ussery takes her driving
responsibilities very seriously. “There is no one more important than your
kid,” she said. “And the person that’s taking care of your kid needs to
show compassion and patience. I never forget that. I treat each of these
children like they’re my own.”
Ussery’s kind personality and patience are
off matched by her dedication
to safety. “I have to be patient not only with the kids, but with traffic,”
she said. “I’ve never had an accident.
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safely.”
Many of her passengers are in wheelchairs and she often deals with
emergencies such as seizures or sick students. She maintains close
relationships with all of the students and their parents. “I had one
student who missed some school and I started texting his mom to make
sure he was OK,” she said.
Ussery credits her colleagues, particularly Saxon, for helping her
succeed. “She is always open and willing to help out. It makes my job
easier because we are like a family here.”
Loving her job makes it easy to Ussery for come to work every day.
“I love my relationships with the children.
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Parent Teacher Magazine • March/April 2018 • 3