2011 Memory Mission Trailer

During our trip to the Dominican Republic, Lifetouch was constantly filming, capturing the moments both with still photography and video. Watching the trailer has me ready to rush back to Constanza to continue the work.

Lifetouch Memory Mission 2011 - Trailer

I appear in the trailer at the 2:25 mark asking the question Jan Haeg asked of us all, "Is it more important to be interested or interesting?" This question was the subject of a past blog entry: http://www.ncpoy.blogspot.com/2011/12/is-it-more-important-to-be-interested.html

The trip was absolutely amamzing! It was life-changing and worth every moment of worry over the to-do list that was growing at home. I hope that you have an opportunity to experience a trip like this. Thanks Lifetouch!

My Class Ring Came Home

In 1986, I graduated from high school and entered the US Navy to begin my military service. In the service we were allowed very little jewelry while in uniform. The only ring a man could wear was a wedding ring. For some of my fellow recruits, there was great angst as they removed their class rings to store them in their lockers. This was not an issue for me as I no longer had my class ring despite having only graduated a month before. The story is a bit cliché. I was dating a young lady and gave her my ring to wear on her necklace. After graduation, I never saw the ring (or the young lady) again. I am confident that is due to some poor decision on my part.

26 years later, I serve as a High School Principal and have another class ring. When a new high school opens, the Founding Principal is given the school’s first class ring. It is a symbol of all of the hopes and dreams for the new school and the students who will fill it over the decades to come. For me, the ring is incredibly special. When I look at it I am reminded of the incredible teachers and staff in our building. I am reminded of the families who have sacrificed their time, talents, and financial resources in birthing our new learning community.

Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs Class of 1986 (left) Cuthbertson High School Cavaliers Opened 2009 (right)

I would not have thought that I would ever see the two rings together because I had long ago given up all hope of ever seeing my own high school class ring again. Then I received an email from my alma mater. The Principal’s Secretary had reached out to me because my ring had been found. A gentleman in the community had called the school to seek out the ring’s owner. After some research on the part of the secretary of our Alumni Association, I was located.

A wonderful gentleman had found my ring years ago and had placed it in a box in his room intent on tracing down its owner. Years past and the ring was unfortunately forgotten. Then as the Winter Holidays approached this year, he happened upon the box and found again the ring. He immediately began to make phone calls and three weeks later, I put it on again for the first time in over two decades. The bottom is cracked and there are scratches on it. It still looks beautiful to me. I can clearly remember the pride my parents showed when they sacrificed to be able to purchase the ring for me.

As I have met with our students on ring day each year, I had shared the story of losing my ring and had encouraged them to learn from my mistakes. Next year, I’ll tell the story again and I will be able to show our students my class ring for the very first time. I am very grateful to the gentleman for finding my ring and to each of those who helped him in his search.

Today the two rings are side-by-side on my dresser. I love thinking about how the experiences and memories represented by one ring formed my approach to the work of opening the new high school that is represented by the other.

Second Chances - University of Alabama vs. LSU

Last night in the BCS Championship Game, the University of Alabama triumphed 21-0 over Louisiana State University. I do not pull for either team and watched the game simply as a fan of college football. As the game progressed and it became more and more evident that Alabama would win, I began to think about the mild controversy that was stirred up when they were announced to play in the Championship Game. Some believed that two schools from the same conference should not be in the big game. Others felt that since Alabama had already lost to LSU in their regular season meeting, that they should not have a second chance to play them.


Had educators made the decision based on the way we approach our work, the decision would have been easy. We believe in second chances. We work hard to help students overcome where once they failed. Imagine if there were no second chances in school. How many students would be lost to us early on?


Alabama was given a second chance and won a National Championship. The BCS Committee was justified in their selection. They must have asked what would an educator do when debating whether to invite Alabama. Second Chances are really wins for everyone.