ConversationED » Heroes

05/28/14 Hump Day Heroes – The Respect Brigade

Kathleen Jasper — Wed, 28 May 2014 11:32:11 +0000

When a group of veterans stumbled upon on an overgrown field and discovered it to be a neglected and overgrown veteran graveyard, they sprung into action to create a proper memorial for their fallen comrades. They found volunteers in the community to help turn this forgotten burial into a proper resting place for those who fought and died for our country. For never forgetting your comrades and for doing the right thing, the Respect Brigade, you are ConversationED’s Hump Day Heroes.

Just watch the video and you’ll see why we chose these vets as our Hump Day Heroes.

05/21/14 Hump Day Heroes – Citizens Fighting for Recess

Kathleen Jasper — Wed, 21 May 2014 10:47:24 +0000

Today’s Hump Day Heroes are a group of citizens made up of parents, teachers and students who are fighting for at least 20 minutes of recess per day in Lee County Schools. You may be thinking, I thought kids always get recess in elementary school. Not true, in fact the emphasis on testing and test prep has trumped many of the important activities students need for a productive, intellectual and physical lifestyle. Even adults go for a walk during the day or do something to relieve stress, so why aren’t we doing this for students? In addition, the CDC recommends 20 minutes of play every day for students in grades k-8. It’s common sense but district leaders and school principals, under the pressures of testing, have ignored these recommendations. But the people of Lee County took to the board room last night and kindly and peacefully asked for 20 minutes per day for students in grade k-8. Congratulations Lee County citizens you are ConversationED’s Hump Day Heroes. Keep fighting for our kids!

05/14/2014 Hump Day Heroes – The Graduating Class of 2014

Kathleen Jasper — Wed, 14 May 2014 15:46:58 +0000

Today’s Hump Day Heroes have endured 12 years of homework, worksheets, PowerPoints (and a little death by PowerPoint), science fair projects, victories and setbacks to muddle through and become the graduating class of 2014. Even when people doubted their aptitude, their motives and even their capability to think, they kept going. They passed the tests, they played on the teams, they even played their trumpets and participated in their clubs. Some of them sustained excruciatingly painful experiences and continued with their education anyway. For all of it, we are so very proud of them. Congratulations high school seniors of 2014; you are ConversationED’s Hump Day Heroes! Now go out there and change the world!

05/07/14 Hump Day Hero – The 40 Book Project

Kathleen Jasper — Wed, 07 May 2014 09:20:33 +0000

This week’s Hump Day Hero is an organization that understands children who grow up with books in their homes have an immediate and long-lasting advantage in education over those who do not. So The 40 Book Project has a goal of filling homes with a 40+ book library especially for children who need books the most. Based out of Charlotte, NC, The 40 Book Project recognizes the worldwide need for improved literacy rates. They encourage people to contact them via Facebook message to receive books for needy kids. Could there be a better organization?! For spreading the love of literacy to those who need it the most, The 40 Book Project, you are ConversationED’s Hump Day Hero. Congrats!

Follow them on twitter @40bookproject

Like them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/The40BookProject

04/30/14 Hump Day Hero – Coach Sommer

Kathleen Jasper — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 12:06:08 +0000

This week we revere a man who has the discipline, desire and dedication to wake up every morning at 4 AM and head to the track. He has done this for over 25 years. Known as just Coach, he greets his runners with a smile and then…IT’S ON. Grueling 1-1.5 hour, 4:45AM practices that turn regular kids in to champions. This is a guy who understands the only way to be great is to put in the hours…and does he ever put in the hours.

Not just the XC and track Coach at Estero High School, he is also the Athletic Director, which means he is in charge of all athletics, clubs and special events at the school. On top of that he is constantly making sure he helps everyone in the building with whatever they need. If he ever feels burned out, he absolutely NEVER shows it.

Most athletic coaches will understand this when we say, you are lucky to get one state championship in a high school coaching career. Coach has 8 team state championships and numerous individual state champs under his belt. And they didn’t come easy.

His3D running program , which stands for discipline, desire and dedication – three words this man lives every day – is the best program in the state and arguably the very best in the country. And he does’t do it with fancy equipment and money. Most days you will see the kids running and dragging heavy ropes behind them. Sludge hammers, tires and sandpits are his “high-tech” equipment. He works side by side with his runners, runs every split with them and swings every sludge hammer with them. This gets him mad respect among his team and his colleagues.

The guy is an animal but one that truly cares about kids. His dedication to student athletes has gotten some of the most economically disadvantaged students scholarships to go to amazing 4-year universities. He cares…a lot. And he cares just as much about his female athletes as he does his male athletes; that attribute alone makes him awesome.

For working harder than anyone else we know, walking the walk and not just talking the talk, Coach Sommer, you are ConversationED’s Hump Day Hero. Congrats!!

4/23/14 Hump Day Hero – Opt Out Orlando

Kathleen Jasper — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 10:14:35 +0000

Opt Out Orlando represents parents and educators working in tandem to help students opt out of unnecessary standardized testing. They provide essential support and information for those pushing this Opt Out movement forward in the state of Florida. On their Facebook page and website they provide legal documents and fact sheets to help navigate the confusion of high stakes testing and how to go about saying, “No thank you” to the test. We highly recommend Opt Out Orlando as a beacon of light in the confusing sea of standardized testing. We especially want to thank Cindy Hamilton of Opt Out Orlando because she not only came on the ConversationED podcast to help others understand their opt out rights, she has helped students and parents in Lee County and all over the state who want to join this movement. For standing up and empowering others to stand up to unnecessary testing, Opt Out Orlando, you are ConversationED’s Hump Day Heroes.

04/16/14 Hump Day Hero – Yolanda Ruiz

Kathleen Jasper — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 19:46:07 +0000

This week’s Hump Day Hero is a teacher working deep in the trenches. Being a Life Skills teacher is one of the toughest jobs in a schoolhouse because students in a Life Skills class have the most severe disabilities. That doesn’t stop their dedicated teacher, Yolanda Ruiz. She works tirelessly to bring authentic learning experiences to her students despite their disabilities. Where most would see roadblocks, Yolanda sees opportunities. For dedication, love and unwavering support of our most challenged students, Yolanda Ruiz, you are ConversationED’s Hump Day Hero.

04/09/14 Hump Day Hero – Steve Daar

Kathleen Jasper — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 12:01:06 +0000

Sometimes a retirement option that looks good enough on paper is really designed so a teacher misses out on $200,000 or more at the end of her career. Today we honor a young man who quit a lucrative job in finance after discovering the company he worked for was ripping teachers off by pushing shady retirement plans. Steve Daar now educates teachers on the best possible retirement plans for their best possible future (website below). We thank him for standing up to assholes trying to rip off dedicated teachers. For using your finance skills to help educators with the little money they have, Steve Daar, you are ConversationED’s Hump Day Hero. Congrats and thank you!

http://teachersretirementhelp.com

03/26/14 Hump Day Hero – Kamryn Renfro

Kathleen Jasper — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 12:08:05 +0000

Today’s Hump Day Hero is a 9 year old girl who found herself in a bit of hot water after shaving her head in support of her friend going through chemo therapy. Although she had her parents’ blessing and the gesture was one of compassion, Kamryn Renfro was suspended after returning to school without hair.

“Caprock Academy does have a detailed dress code policy, which was created to promote safety, uniformity, and a non-distracting environment for the school’s students. Under this policy, shaved heads are not permitted,” Catherine Norton Breman, president and chair of the public charter school’s board of directors, said.

However, after the story gained attention and subsequent outrage in the press and on social media, Kamryn was allowed back to school. To see the whole story with video click here.

For being gutsy and kind, Kamryn Renfro, you are ConversationED’s Hump Day Hero. Congrats!

03-19-14 Hump Day Hero – Willie Eyre

Kathleen Jasper — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 05:00:53 +0000

Today we feature a Hump Day Hero dedicated not only to his own children but also to the special needs community he helps and inspires daily. Willie Eyre ended his major league baseball career to spend more time with his family. He now works as an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) teacher helping the most challenged life skills students. Most days you can see Willie laughing and even dancing with his special needs students. He also donates time and equipment to the local high school baseball team. It’s not everyday local kids get to practice with a former MLB pitcher. For being an awesome roll model and helping your local community, Willie Eyre, you are ConversationED’s Hump Day Hero, Congrats! Click here for Willie’s Wikipedia page (He’s kinda a big deal).