I came home yesterday and found this email and attached video on my computer. My heart is still racing and I am very emotional. I am humbled, and I recognize that this gift is priceless, and one that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. It's been over 20 years since I have seen or talked with Tim. Tim attended Garrison Middle School at the time that I was the assistant principal. I will never forget working with Tim's grandmother as she tried to raise all of her grandchildren with a household of 18. I remember feeling bonded to Tim, and knowing that he was very capable, but he was going down a path that was getting quite serious, and moving at a faster rate than what we were able to control. I find it fascinating that our paths cross some 20 years later over an article on trauma. I hope you are blessed by Tim's resilience and accomplishments as I am. The video clip is short and powerful. Blessings.....Jim
I am not sure if you remember me, Tim Sain Jr, but I was a student at Garrison Middle school when you were Assistant Principal (I forget the date). I remember you explicitly because I felt an almost overwhelming and empowering sense of love and hope from you. I didn't know it at the time, however.
I was a troubled youth--gangs, drugs, violence and an unstable home, but I excelled in academics. I remember you calling me the summer before i was to become a seventh grader and asking my "How would you like to start the 8th grade next year?" Sure, throughout my childhood my mother and family members told me that I was smart and capable, so did a couple community mentors that I never took to, but you helped me believe it, and that I could do anything, become anyone, all I had to do was believe in myself and make good decisions.
I never got the chance to thank you for your contribution to the person I am today, or for instilling in me what I imagine you hope for all your students--self-efficacy, determination, work-ethic, resilience and above all hope! I have attached a personal statement that explains a little more about my journey, as well as a link to a short video documentary created by the California State University System. I think that these will help you see how important you and so many others were in the process that led to ME!
You come to mind because I just read an article titled "What Does It Take for Traumatized Kids to Thrive?" by Laura Tillman (2013), attached below. I too attended Paine Alternative School, and remember you vividly as playing a critical role in my life. So reading this article resonated with me very deeply. I am excited to hear the work you are doing with ACEs and, now, Lincoln.
Today, I am an elementary school teacher in Redding, CA. I have three beautiful teenagers. I have been with my wife for 18 years. We have a stable and happy home. The journey getting to this place was not one with a straight road. I did not take to my true calling until almost nine years ago, but the important thing is I did! I will have my MA in Education next semester through CSU, Chico and love educational research, especially when it hits so close to home. I will be spending the next couple weeks looking into the studies around trauma and stress as they relate to student learning, as the population of student that my school serves resembles the population of Lincoln's students (they are just younger). I am very excited about this line of study. I may be contacting you with questions on application. Research only goes so far...
This email is meant to thank and congratulate you on a life well speant. If you have made an impact on just a handful of student's lives (and I am sure you have) the way you have mine, you belong among the Titans of educators. Thank you so much.
P.S. I am reading about your recent medical leave. I hope that you are feeling better and that you return to the field soon. I am sure your staff and students miss you.
Congratulations on your successes Tim, and thanks to this school for highlighting your circumstance and story with this award and film. The teachers (and principals) who rise above the norm and provide this kind of inspiration for students simply because they care and are willing to reach out and do more than teach their subject don't get enough praise and appreciation. Thanks for writing your mentor, Tim. I became a COL, Pediatrician, and Family Advocate, much to the thanks of Warren Schuenemann, the Speech and English Teacher at my high school who also led the theater department. While I never had the good fortune to be in one of his classes, he taught me life skills on the stage. Now I lead a non-profit called Serendipity Alliance, a company of soul-mates from all walks of life who are willing to assist people without a voice to get it back and become independent again, successful. Perhaps Tim should be on this team?!
A wonderful story and lesson on how each of us, even those with high ACEs...no let me amend that statement...especially those of us with high ACES, can impact the lives of others. Tim...via his story is obviously having that impact and will do s the rest of his life. And you, Jim, that pebble of interest and caring you tossed int the pond of Tim's life, has rippled out further and further, across the years and across many, many lives...mine now included.
Thanks Leisa, what makes this experience so humbling, is that I did not know that I had any impact on Tim's life. I think that is the message, to love our kids unconditionally, we don't always know the impact we are making. For Tim, he has a lot of support in his village, which aligns with the research on resilience. It's an honor to have been a small piece of his journey. He should be joining acestoohigh fairly soon. I told him about ACEs and he wants to learn more
Jim, this is such a wonderful and heartfelt example of why its so important to do the work that we do. You broke new ground in the education world, and the stats you achieved are something I think all schools strive to achieve. But when you get right down to it, this is the real proof. This is what we want for all of our youth. I am so happy for this young man, and what a wonderful tribute to the difference you made in his, and so many, young lives!
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
Comments (4)