EXCELLENCE & ETHICS

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  Why Teach Power2Achieve? "The kids deserve it!"

  Eric Martin posted in Character Blog, Power2Achieve Community at 2:59 pm on August 19, 2010 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: 21st century skills (4), Character Blog, Iowa (2), Power2Achieve (8)

  On Wednesday of this week, my colleagues and I wrapped up our final Power2Achieve training in Iowa. It was an intensive few weeks of training preparation and delivery with our field research schools, each site with its unique student population, needs, and delivery strategies.

  At each training we revisited the core concepts of the program and introduced the NEW Power2Achieve approach which they helped shape through their dedication, hard work and feedback during their first year as pilot schools.

  During our last day of training at Oskaloosa High School, I posed the question to the staff: “Why are we doing this program?” The teachers completed a self study to answer this question. Next, they shared their answers in small groups at their tables, then I asked if they would share some of their comments to the larger group.

  A wonderful women sitting in the center of the room was first to raise her hand and said with 110% certainty, “The kids deserve it!”

  This passionate opening comment led to a flurry of amazing reasons why the Power2Achieve program and the competencies it reaches are so important to teach our young people today. It was a very gratifying moment to hear the many reasons why these dedicated teachers are working so hard to help their students succeed.

  As I said in my opening, it was an intensive and overwhelming few of weeks of coordination and preparation from our team to be ready to deliver the workshops. However, even more overwhelming was the positive response and reception to the evolution of the Power2Achieve program for the upcoming year from all of our schools. We are so proud of our Iowa Educators for their commitment to their students, the teaching profession and the Power2Achieve program. Our Iowa Power2Achieve schools are ready!

  A big thanks to the staff and administrators at Creston, Ogden, Oskaloosa and Urbandale High Schools. I hope you have a great year…You deserve it!

  

   

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  When the lights go dark.

  Kyle Baker posted in Character Blog at 2:34 pm on June 5, 2010 | 1 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: athletics, Character Blog, coach, coaches, coaching, education (3), lessons, scoreboard, sports, Wooden

  Yesterday one of history’s finest character educators, John R. Wooden, passed away at age 99.

  From the time I could hold on to a football shaped pillow in the crib to the moment I took off my headset for the last time, came down out of the coaches’ box, and put away my call sheets after coaching in a Texas high school playoff game, I spent much of my life directly involved with competitive athletics.

  In my travels I’ve encountered many coaches who hung The Pyramid of Success on their office wall and sprinkled quotes and anecdotes from Coach Wooden into their speeches to players who had taken a knee around them.  I consider myself extremely fortunate to have played for two head coaches, Mike VanDiest of Carroll College (Helena, MT) and Van Troxel of Lake City High School (Coeur d’Alene, ID) who along with their excellent assistant coaches didn’t just reference something like Wooden’s Pyramid of Success, but who lived the character it described day in and day out (they also happen to win more games than most, something I doubt is much of a coincidence).

  Youth, high school, and college coaches like VanDiest and Troxel teach young student-athletes just like I once was valuable lessons every day.

  The true measure of a coach, however, has less to do with what happens when the scoreboard and lights are on than it does with the days and years that come long after they’ve gone dark.   I’ve been a part of many losses and even a few championships too, and I’ve seen coaches be there for their players during births and deaths, marriages and divorces, great successes and even greater times of adversity.  Coaches have been there for me in the best and the worst moments of my life, and I was blessed with the opportunity to be there for players as a coach myself for several years.

  I remember one moment more than most in my years as an athlete, the moment I removed my shoulder pads and jersey for the last time in Savannah, Tennessee in 2005.  There were feelings of relief and fear, sadness and celebration, joy and great uncertainty…and there was also trust…trust that the lessons coaches had taught me for years about hard work, commitment, teamwork, desire, and perseverance were going to matter more than ever now that the lights had gone dark for the last time and my cleats were being put in the back of the closet for good…trust that the same coaches who were there for 6 AM workouts, film sessions, and game days would always be there as mentors, advisors, and friends.

  That was just one of many moments in my life where I was consciously thankful for the role coaches have played in my life…this is a moment where we can all be thankful for the influence of one of the greatest of all time.  Thank you Coach Wooden.