The Hebrew word for teach has many meanings: to aim or shoot like an arrow, to point like a finger, or to flow like water. The word’s multidimensional meaning can be summed up in the way similar to how parents teach their children to ride a bike. The first time, guardians may ride with children or turn the pedals. Next, they may help steering while children pedal. Finally, the moment comes when they must balance them, aim them down the sidewalk, push off and let go. Great teachers do that: they start or move the minds of their students along a path, prepare them for the journey, and propel them into the future. And they do it both consistently and passionately. John Coon, the head of Redwood High Schools acclaimed Agriculture Department. does just that.
Though, when asked about any of the numerous accolades he has received over his 20 years leading some of the brightest students in one of the most productive farming regions in the world, he ́ll shrug and say ̈Ego is the enemy. We receive all awards humbly, even gratefully, but ultimately tuck them aside and work on what we can do next to help all students reach their pinnacle of success.
Undoubtedly, Coon focuses on the ̈immeasurables, ̈ and a philosophy on Career Technical Education that can be unrivaled: ̈CTE shares the initiative goal that all students must be industry ready upon graduation, ensuring technical knowledge and skills to be successful in a highly competitive 21st-century workplace.” This attitude has produced a variety of dynamically skilled graduates, but most importantly- civic-minded adults.
Of course, it is still self-evident to any student with the privilege to receive specific CTE, such as welding under the supervision of Coon, that failure is life’s greatest teacher. Sometimes success is falling off the bike just to get back on and ride again. It’s understood that the sweetest victory is the one that’s most difficult. Thomas Edison, whose most memorable invention was the light bulb, took nearly 1,000 attempts before he developed a successful prototype. “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” a reporter asked. “I didn’t fail 1,000 times,” Edison responded. “The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.” Ultimately, Coon says success is ̈Reaching that happiness where all my students have reached their unlimited potential. ̈
