[SchoolMatters] Class of 2008: Men and women built for others

[Brian Wheeler]

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This message is not an official communication of the Albemarle County School
Board. It is a private, e-mail-only newsletter written by Brian Wheeler,
At-Large Member of the Albemarle County School Board. 
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[Want to share some public comments on this message?  See the weblog version
here:
http://schoolmatters.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/06/built_for_others.html ]
 
During the past two weeks, I had the pleasure of attending seven graduation
ceremonies in Albemarle County Public Schools (Our comprehensive high
schools--Western, Albemarle, Monticello; CATEC; Ivy Creek School; Murray
High School; and our Post High Program). 
 
At the comprehensive high schools, the Chair of the School Board typically
offers a welcome on behalf of the Board. I recently read Season of Life by
Jeffrey Marx and that served as the inspiration for my comments to the
graduates (below).  Marx tells the inspirational story of two remarkable
coaches of the 2001 Gilman High School football team (Baltimore, MD), Joe
Ehrmann and Francis "Biff" Poggi.  Their philosophy, as adults working with
young people, is to ensure their students are "built for others."
 
Brian Wheeler
 
Season of Life: http://books.google.com/books?id=72P9FdT4mlgC
 
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Remarks to the Class of 2008
Western Albemarle High School graduation, May 30, 2008
Monticello High School graduation, May 31, 2008
Albemarle High School graduation, May 31, 2008
 
On behalf of the Albemarle County School Board, I welcome you to this
celebration honoring the accomplishments of these students.
 
On behalf of the Board, I want to thank the staff and the family members who
have helped these students reach this major milestone of graduation. 
 
Season-of-Life I read a book recently about a minister who tells the young
people around him that his job is to love them, and their job is to love
each other.
 
The minister was an all-American football player at Syracuse.  This minister
was an all-pro defensive tackle for thirteen years with the Baltimore Colts.
 
This book was about the Season of Life--The 2001 season of the Gilman High
School football team.
 
Reverend Joe Ehrmann coached the Gilman boys while growing his Building Men
& Women for Others ministry in inner-city Baltimore.  Building men and women
for others.
 
Ehrmann's approach to loving his players and teaching them to love each
other and live by a code of conduct certainly made me think about the
relationships we want to build in Albemarle County.
 
Seniors, you have a lot of adults here that love you.  Sometimes it might
have been tough love, right?  But I do know that this faculty, your family
and friends are all here because they love you and want you to be
successful.
 
My question is. have you been built for others?  What are you going to do
with the talents you have?  How will you present yourself to the world?
 
At a team picnic, parents come up to Coach Joe Ehrmann and ask him how
successful he thinks the football team will be?  Are they going to be
winners?
 
Joe says, "I won't really know for twenty years."  Twenty years...
 
"Life [won't] be measured in terms of success based on what you've acquired
or achieved or what you own.  The only thing that's really going to matter
is the relationships that you had. It's gonna come down to this: What kind
of father [or mother] were you?  What kind of husband [or wife] were you?
What kind of coach or teammate were you?  What kind of son [or daughter]
were you.? Success comes in terms of relationships."
 
Seniors, your twenty years begins today.  Will you be built for others?
 
I wish you lifelong success in this community and beyond as you embrace
lifelong learning and take ownership of your future.  Think about your
personal code of conduct , about your integrity, and about the relationships
you can create and sustain with the people all around you.
 
Love each other.  Become men and women built for others.
 
Thank you and good luck.
 
Brian Wheeler
Chairman
Albemarle County School Board
 
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