The Kids are Alright

If you consume any form of national media, you may have heard our young people are lost, have no motivation, direction or moral compass.

You heard wrong.

The kids are alright.

Maybe even better than alright. They might be the best of us.

I had the pleasure of sitting in on Monday’s academic banquet at the Casino Hall in La Grange where 16 soon-to-be graduates from La Grange High Schools Class of 2022 were honored.

They each got to pick a favorite teacher and these kids’ descriptions of their teachers, and the impact they had on their young lives, were read to the crowd (We’ll have photos and info on all the honorees next week).

It was enough to bring tears to a lot of eyes.

There are so many admirable teachers here locally. Our young people are trully being prepared to be impactful members of our society.

The most amazing part of the night, however, was when the teachers’ thoughts about each student were read.

One teacher told the story about how when she was in her first week at LGISD, one special student wrote a note to her apologizing for the behavior of her classmates, and how that note still holds a special place in her heart six years later.

Another teacher talked about how her student quietly and even without being asked, took it upon himself to help some special needs classmates navigate through their daily assignments.

Still another teacher told the story of how her bad day was turned around when she found a kind note on her car from a student. That same student gifted that teacher a book for her baby, a book she reads to her young son every night.

The guest speaker of the night was another highlight, Jordan (Knesek) Ayers, a 2010 La Grange High School graduate, now head of Human Resources for Fox News Media in New York. She gave eloquent tips to the seniors on navigating college and careers and life.

This is the 15th consecutive year of this banquet – the brainchild of former superintendent Randy Albers. It has grown and been continued by soon-to-be retiring superintendent Bill Wagner.

It’s an amazing snapshot into our classrooms that I wish everybody could see.

No, our education system isn’t perfect, and neither are our teachers.

But some truly amazing things are happening inside those classrooms.