JH & HS Principal - Cherokee ISD By Rebecca Sharkey Little Things.
Dennis Rodman, a. k. a. Rodzilla, made a career and a name for himself during the Michael Jordan era of basketball because he capitalized on doing the little things well. We all know him as an amazing rebounder, but he was also a fierce defender and all around hustler on the court. (Maybe off the court too. He was a… character). In spite of his antics, he is widely recognized for his contributions to the game of basketball.
As a former coach, I remember appreciating the kids who always tackled the little things. I dubbed them the heart and hustle kids. The thing about this group of student athletes is that they have something that you just can’t coach. You can encourage and recognize it, but you cannot will it for someone who does not want it. The other thing about this group of athletes is that though they may never make the highlight reel there is an obvious void when they are not present. Without them, things are just…off.
On Monday, April 1, our science teachers put together an eclipse family night. They designed activities for our students and their families to come up to the school and learn about this crazy event that is coming on April 8. These teachers re-cruited high school students to participate, designed hands-on activities, and just geeked out with our community about an event that won’t happen again in North America for 20 years (So, I’m told. I was an English teacher. What do I know?). When I was heading over to the cafeteria, I didn’t know what to expect. As I opened the door, I was greeted by a buzz of excitement from all present as kids were jumping from activity to activity and proudly sharing back with their family members. I did a little learning myself. I even went home with my very own corona that I made with chalk and black construction paper, which is proudly displayed on my fridge.
As I was making the long commute home afterwards, I just kept thinking about how it is the little things yet again that make all the difference - the extra effort that often gets overlooked yet really matters so much in the lives of our young people as well as in the Cherokee community at large. Shannon Padgett and Laura Gratz are not the exception. They are another example of the exceptional folks I have the distinct pleasure of working with every day - and, another example of how much heart and hustle makes an impact.