Just wanted to share

I hope sharing this helps you all in the future. I hope and pray you never experience this, but there is nothing in the teaching books about how to handle the loss of a student. Since this post is on counseling I thought it may be a good time to share this with you all. Over the holidays Hailey Miller (15 years old) one of my students in my 6th period class and a member of our SADD club passed away due to complication from knee surgery. This was a tragic shock to say the least. I relied on my faith and police experience on how to console and handle her grieving classmates/friends. Our counseling department and administration was very supportive as well. Shortly after this same time we learned that one of our football players (Trey Rood) who is battling stage 4 cancer had a scan come back that revealed 2 new "spots". Every school has tragedies and I know we are not the first and will unfortunately not be the last. However if I can say one thing (and you all already seem to do it) please be significant in your student's lives. Please get to know them and make an impact in their lives. Prayerfully the impact will last forever while they grow old, but that is not always the case. Hailey had a Christmas card that she wrote to me prior to her surgery. Her Mom and Dad gave it to me after her death. Hailey will live in my heart forever and I hope and pray I made an impact in her life the short time I taught her. As far as Trey goes he made a plaque that read "God doesn't choose the qualified...he qualifies the chosen!" He made a plaque for himself and for me. I told Trey that quote back in October before he spoke at Fields of Faith because he was doubting himself. Keep being a significant part of your student's lives, it truly does matter. You all rock...I hope this post does not offend anyone and I hope Dr. M or Dr. Burns are not upset with this being posted.

Thanks!

Sly