Teams

I first met Molly as a member of the Saratoga Springs Tennis team. A wonderful young lady Molly was a true leader on the team. She is headed to Fairfield University in the fall. I sent her several gifts. She would send me this beautiful note of appreciation. – Rich

Dear Coach Johns,

What an amazing gift you sent! Thank you so much for everything….The Penny Necklace, all the AWRA sway and, especially, your kind words.

I am looking forward to the next chapter, but am so grateful for my SSHS Foundation along with the Act With Respect Always message.

Warmly,
Molly Beauregard

Hi Coach Johns, 
 
My name is Phoebe Dellenbaugh and I’m 13. I go to Bethlehem Central Middle School. And I’m in grade 8. You came into my school on May 17 and you were the best speaker we have ever had. 

Walking into the lesson. I thought it was just going to be like all of the other speakers before. They never tried to relate to us. To make us feel included and treat us like we were people. I was so moved at the part where the person was talking about being bullied in school. 

I’m being bullied for my weight and the way I look. So it meant so much. Thank you. I was also moved by the fact that you spoke about “Out of My Mind”. That book is one of my comfort books because it helps me to look into other peoples’ perspectives. 

So thank you. Thank you for hearing and feeling with us. And for  being inclusive. And not just another speaker. 

Phoebe Dellenbaugh
Bethlehem Middle School 
May 17 2024

This interview was filmed and edited in France. I want to thank Liana Voia for thinking of me and her great work in putting this comprehensive piece about AWRA together. I also want to thank everyone who has believed in Act With Respect Always. I hope you will take the time to watch in all. One sitting or Two.

Coach Rich Johns, Director of Act With Respect Always, visited Duke University recently and spent time at Cameron Indoor Stadium with the Duke basketball team and coaches. Coach Johns is seen with Duke Head Basketball Coach, Jon Scheyer and Coach Jerry Welsh (Rich’s college coach), following their practice.

Yesterday, I was having lunch downtown at Uncommon Grounds. A young lady stops and said, “Coach Johns?” Her name, Christine O’Donnell, played on my tennis team 20 years earlier.

“Coach, I want you to know that you changed my life! I was very competitive and starting my junior year. I had never played tennis before and was playing in the “exhibition” matches. One day you took me aside and told me that I wouldn’t be playing in our top lineup, and would stay in “exhibition”. You offered me a chance to try another sport and I thought I would try rowing. Your conversation that day with me changed my life! I decided to try rowing and I would receive a full scholarship to college.”

Today I visited Christine at her Podcast business in Saratoga. Timing is everything! So glad we reunited. I wish her and her family the very best.

Take a look at the post on Facebook

I had the great experience of surprising Melissa O’Brien and her daughter Coco in Manchester, Vermont where Coco was playing in the Vermont State High School Tennis Championships. Melissa had played on my team in high school, at Saratoga Springs NY where we had won our sectional championship 40 years earlier.

I surprised Coco with a few gifts and we spent a lot of time talking.

I received this wonderful note of appreciation from her.

Below is a really nice piece in Simply Saratoga published by Saratoga Today.

Dear Coach Johns,

Coaches have a huge impact on an athletes career. Mr. Rich Johns, if there is one teacher that should be recognized for all his incredible, not to mention statistics, passionate, genuine, role model and overall badass himself…Mr. Johns you should look in the mirror, because you are that coach that sees the potential and you just bring out the best in people!!

You are in my eyes one of the most infuluenced coaches in all of the tri-state area. I always wanted to play tennis for you, but never got my backhand.

Thank you for all you have done for this community and for all of your hard work and dedication!

Lauren Schneider
Saratoga Springs, NY

Coach Rich Johns Reunites with Former Student during ‘Act With Respect Always’ Presentation – Read Article on Saratoga Today

Rich,

Your enthusiasm and belief in spreading Kindness, Empathy and Love is shining through and touching many lives through your Act With Respect Always mission. Truly heartwarming to read about so many beautiful tributes and the impact you have made and continue to make.

Kris Nolan
Queensbury, NY

Before there was “Solid5”, before there was “What’s Your 99?” and before there was “Act With Respect Always” there was Rich Johns.

While many of you know Rich Johns from teaching or coaching or his speaking engagements, some of us knew Rich before he became “famous”. As a junior high student, I met a high school kid who was taking care of tennis courts and teaching group tennis lessons.

Rich gave each kid who signed up for lessons the chance to learn about the game of tennis and as a bonus, learn skills about life. Rich taught me that on the court, “when in doubt, the ball is in”. From that I learned that everyone has value and should be respected at all times.

Rich has testimonials and countless lives he has touched that do not show up in writing. What I know is that because of Rich Johns I am a much better person and am a better resident of the world

Thank you, Rich, for all that you are and I am forever honored to call you my friend.

Steve Tippins, PhD
Founder and Lead Coach
Beyond Phd Coaching

“Dear Coach, I’ve always thought of you as such an amazing coach, role model, and as one of my solid five. Your Act With Respect Always mission has always resonated with me and I continue to try and always give my 99%, spread kindness, and share the message of AWRA wherever I go.”

Maddie Siebeneck
Saratoga Springs, NY

Good afternoon, Rich,

I attended your session to kick off the NYSRPS Annual Conference and I just wanted to thank you for being there and the message you delivered. To be honest, there could not have been a better way to kick off that conference. You inspired me (and so many in the room) in so many ways, both personally and professionally. Amazingly, and not so common, I have already taken bits of your session and applied it to life. Those actions have paid immediate dividends for me and those involved in the interactions.

Act With Respect Always will now hang proudly in our facility and I cannot wait to read the Energy Bus, and also share with my team.

Thank you so much again for being there and what you do to inspire so many.

Sincerely,
Thomas G. Venniro, CPRP
Parks and Recreation Director
Hilton-Parma
Hilton, NY 14468

Good Morning Rich,

Your message and delivery was perfectly timed. So happy to have met you. Looking forward to having you come back.

I will continue to spread your message encouraging their 99, identifying their Solid 5, unpacking their own and each others’s backpacks and giving respect always and using gratitude and empathy as a daily practice towards goodness.

With my gratitude for you.

Shannon Jordan
Principal – Grades 7-12
Heuvelton Central School District
Heuvelton, NY

Coach,

THANK YOU so much for the kindness you showed today to my school! You gave me a t-shirt and I asked you for the book!

I have to say at first I thought this was just going to be some boring presentation, but wow you touched my heart in so many ways.

After losing my mother two years ago it’s hard to be kind to the world when you feel like the world has never been kind to me.

But today you opened my eyes and helped me understand the real meaning of kindness and empathy.

Thank you for giving every single one of my peers the opportunity to learn from your wisdom! Please come back next year if you can.

Abigail Chambers
High School Student
Madrid-Waddington CSD
Madrid, NY

I had met Simon during one of my presentations as I was asking questions to open up the students “invisible back packs”. He would share with us that both his parents had died. Before he left my presentation, I gave him an AWRA 99 t-shirt.

Hi Coach, I am thankful you were able to make time for us.

This is Simon. Simon was basically told he couldn’t help with setting out chairs in the late afternoon the day you came to the school. Many do not know his back story and staying after school before basketball practice is important to him. So, he likes to help others before practice.

He came to my office asking if I would take a picture of him with the AWRA shirt you gave to him. He asked me to make sure I sent the photo to you as a thank you for recognizing him. He went on to tell me that both his parents have passed away.

He ate some chips. It is hard for him to understand the loss of his parents, not knowing when they had passed and why he cannot help others sometimes. All he wants to do is help and belong. The best part was that he couldn’t wait to wear his AWRA shirt. He asked me for some coffee.

What a kid! As I left he asked me to drive safe. The next day the custodian told me Simon was wandering the halls with his gym bag with his 99-shirt draped over it and a coffee in hand asking if he could help the maintenance crew out in some way until his game.

Selfless and full of gratitude. He said you made him happy and sad to think about his parents. He said it was good that you did.

Rich, your message is a beacon of light to so many young people today. They’re besieged by social media, bullied in person and on line, and driven to dark places even their parents aren’t aware of. Your presence, your message, helps them turn a corner and gives them hope in the face of despair. Your work isn’t just inspiring it’s life saving.

John Shatraw
Murphy, NC
Former Newsperson, Producer and Anchor
WWNY-TV in Watertown, NY,

Rich,
It is always a pleasure to see you and hear your message. I enjoy your visits to OESJ Elementary School. You certainly do a wonderful job of making me feel visible to you.
#thevisibleproject #whatsyour99 #awraSolid5 #acceptthe1 #awrabringsempathy

Thank you,
Dina Brundage
Teacher
OE-St. Johnsville (NY) Elementary School

Austin Crosier put together a wonderful article just after my visit to Granville (NY) Jr./Senior High School. The article starts with…

Preaching the spread of kindness and understanding of others’ emotions and feelings, motivational speaker Rich Johns made his way to Granville Junior/Senior High School on Oct. 19 for the first in-person assembly in more than two years.

Johns, originally from Glens Falls and now residing in Saratoga, has spent the last decade speaking to high school and college-level students on the importance and significance of being a helping hand to someone, anyone they may encounter by making an effort to “Act With Respect Always.”

Read the full article on NYVTMedia.com

See the WNYT article here

Rich Johns was recently featured on the Above Ground Podcast with Will and Tim, The Power of I & I. Every Wednesday, Will Foley and TPP have open, raw conversations on mental health, mental illness and everything on its spectrum. Stomping the stigma’s one conversation at a time. Two not-so-ordinary dudes sharing their stories, opinions and tools to be well, be safe and be Above.

Listen Now

“Drew Kiley is one of those special individuals that you meet that is more mature than his years. I first met Drew as a “5 foot 80-pound sick freshman” at Saratoga Springs HS. Today we are still great friends. I recently received this two-page handwritten letter (2-19-21) from Drew after not hearing from him after I called him. This incredible letter would follow. Drew has now found his purpose!”

Coach Rich Johns

Dear Coach Johns,

The purpose of this letter is essentially to apologize. I will get to that later. There is no excuse for not returning a phone call, especially for someone who had made such a positive impact on my life.

I was, fortunately, able to spend most of this past summer in Saratoga for the first time in many years since the Pandemic gave me the unique experience of working from home. I was able to take advantage of a lot of the nice things that the Saratoga area has to offer. Upon reflecting on the time spent up in Saratoga, one of the things that I valued the most was the sense of community, especially during the tough time such as the pandemic. This is something that I had lost upon moving and living in NYC over the past four & a half years. It was nice organizing my friends to email the City of Saratoga to fix the backboards at the rec this summer. I am glad that it was not only my generation that understood the importance of having good courts for kids to complete during the summer months. Thank you all for probably actually making the change happen, but I like to think our emails played at least a small part of it.

I was able to run into (pun intended) many people from neighbors, former coaches, teachers, & friends whose consultations all exemplified how great an impact that a positive community can have on a person’s life.

I went back to the city in late August because I was swamped at work and I wanted to close all the positive distractions that my Saratoga experience opened up for me. That thought process was that this would allow me to sit down & work 18 hour days until 3 am to make a positive impact on my company until the day tax deadline ended. I went back and did this and got all my work out on time. After the season, like always, the partners always sent me the same “we appreciate all that you did, we will try to make it easier next season” email. Normally these post busy season emails make me feel better, but upon returning to NYC, I felt like I had lost something this time. I have much more to offer and give back than what I was and had been doing over the past few years.

Later in September, I fell ill and after a few days of not being able to keep down food or drink, I was forced to check into the hospital. I wound up staying there for five days while my system normalized. Spending the first few nights in an NYC ER during a pandemic is pretty rough, to say the least! During these five days, you called me and I did not answer, well for five months, I still have not returned the phone call, I should have, and I owe you the courtesy going forward.

I can go off on how many times you have helped me develop from my times as a 5ft 80lb sick freshman in high school, until well, present day, but I more wanted to thank you for what you have done not only for our community but for other less fortunate communities through your Act With Respect Always program & being a friendly neighbor.

I am starting small in my mission to improve and have started to become involved in the Crohns & Colitis Foundation. Hopefully, I will be able to help others who have been impacted by this disease live a more fulfilling life.

Thank you,
Andrew Kiley

Act With Respect Always!
Coach Johns has helped and encouraged so many people in our world with his kind words. As I go through life I will always do my best to live by his words and try to help others realize and encourage their kind potential. Coach, your Act With Respect Always talk really inspired me.

Isabel Ferullo
10th Grader
Queensbury, NY
PTECH Summer Stem Program SUNY Adirondack

“Isabel’s note to me is not only mature, but makes her ever visible to me!
Thank you Isable.”

– Coach Johns #thevisibleproject

Learn more about the Act With Respect Always Visible Project and how you too can participate.

Act With Respect Always’ Rich Johns was recently interviewed by Dan Bazile of Spectrum News. Watch the full interview over on the Spectrum News website.

Article as published by The Saratogian by Lauren Halligan lhalligan@digitalfirstmedia.com @LaurenTheRecord on Twitter

Former teacher, coach in Saratoga Springs community addresses youth mental health issues with The Visible Project

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — In a time of social distancing and online learning, Rich Johns is on a mission to make sure local students feel seen through an initiative called The Visible Project.

A former teacher and coach in the Saratoga Springs community, Johns is the founder of Act With Respect Always, a movement designed to build respect and leadership among youth.

Johns typically spreads the Act With Respect Always message by speaking to large groups of students and athletes at schools both near and far, but lately that format has changed.

Amid the pandemic, Johns has been speaking more directly to mental health issues, highlighting a part of his program called The Visible Project, an effort to help kids be seen and heard, while normalizing kindness and respect.

The Visible Project originally started in 2017, when Johns was asked to visit Hammond Central School in Northern New York immediately following a student’s death by suicide.

While this was a difficult task for Johns, his words resonated with the students, and The Visible Project was born.

Four years later, as students face the challenges brought on by COVID-19, mental health has become a major focus in school communities around the globe.

Addressing mental health is a key component to Act With Respect Always and The Visible Project. “It stresses the importance of always being kind. The kinder you are the more visible you become,”Johns said. “When you give kindness, it comes back to refresh your own daily mental health.”

The Visible Project encourages kids to create connections and establish a “solid five.” This means identifying five people that they can reach out to that will provide the help they may need.

“If they can draw upon others to help them, then they can help to manage their mental health,” Johns said.

Through this type of communication, “You take your senses of understanding others and having empathy to another level of protection for them,” he continued.

Another way The Visible Project aims to address mental health and ultimately save the lives of young people is by assisting them in envisioning their lives well into the future.

“We’ve got to look ahead,” Johns said. “We’ve got to have these kids believe in not only who they are, but that things will be even that much better as you grow up.”

Additionally, The Visible Project invites kids to write notes of gratitude and appreciation to those who have impacted their life.

“While there are resources for students to help with daily stresses,” Johns said, “subtle actions to make another person feel seen sometimes eases tensions, promotes a sense of community, and lets others know that they have more support systems that they initially thought.”

To help further the mission of The Visible Project at this crucial time, former Hammond Central School principal Kate Cruikshank is starting a Kate’s Wish campaign for her birthday this March, requesting contributions to the outreach of The Visible Project and Act With Respect Always. Donations made through this campaign will help Johns continue to spread his message at this crucial time.

More information about The Visible Project and Act With Respect Always, including details on how to donate to the Kate’s Wish campaign, is available online at actwithrespectalways.com.

Dear Coach Johns,

I wanted to take a minute this morning to thank you for speaking to Saratoga Wilton Soccer Club last evening. Your talk resonated with me in so many ways. As a parent of a teenage child with Asperger’s Syndrome, the work that you are doing is so crucial. I don’t know if you could tell, but I had tears in my eyes when you were speaking about the Visible and the not Visible. So many times people have said the words “you would never know” when talking about my son. That’s the point, we never know what our kids are facing everyday, and sometimes its good to see through their glasses or walk in their shoes. It also reminded me of my time student teaching in an inner city school. It breaks your heart to know what your students face when they leave your classroom.

I spoke to my son after hearing your talk because I wanted to see who would be on his “bus”. It was nice to hear that the first one he chose was me. As a parent, specially during the teen years, it can be tough to navigate and it was nice to know he still wants me on the bus with him. Could you please let me know where I can obtain a copy of the Energy Bus for Kids. I would like to share it with my boys, but also our cub scout pack. My husband and I lead the local cub scout pack and would love to share the message with them. It fits perfectly with our oath to do our best and to help others at all times. Please keep spreading your message. I hope you have an opportunity to come back and speak to my son’s soccer team.

Sincerely Grateful
Jacqueline Miller

I have been receiving many thank you notes over the years. With them comes a “direct line” to seeing the person who had written me. Those connections have lasted for years. It would be one specific note of gratitude that would begin The Visible Project.

After learning of Keegan Donovan’s death by suicide, I was asked to visit Hammond Central School. At the same time, I was going to visit Morristown Central School where a student lost his life after a bicycle/car accident. I had never faced two tragedies, at the same time like this.

After my visits I would receive over 60 notes through emails, text messages and Instagram. This one note, from Gabriel Niles, that I received on April 26, 2017, would change my life.

Hello Sir, This is Gabriel Niles. I met you today when you were at Hammond Central School. I really enjoyed listening to you and the stories you told. It really does make a difference how we treat each other.

In our community, we recently lost one of our best friends Keegan Donavan. Listening to you made me wish you had come to our school sooner or more often to share your stories, maybe preventing what did happen to our good friend.

I appreciate what you are doing. Thank you, Coach Johns

Gabriel Niles
Hammond, NY

Now, without question, I wanted to be able to ‘see’ every student and wanted each of them to ‘see’ me. Every one wants to be seen, wants to be heard, wants to be cared for. Each of us can take on the responsibility to connect to each other, to make the world better. Not only our youth, but adults need each other to be able to combat everything they face in life.

The Visible Project can be the most powerful way to change your world.

The Visible Project is designed to encourage written notes of gratitude and appreciation to those who have impacted your life. A friend, relative, a teacher or anyone that has shown kindness to you. These connections can and should be expanded. This allows you to be visible to the person you are writing to and they become visible, as well, to you. If you ever need someone to reach out to, your ‘visible circle’ is there for you. Connecting to those who you know will not judge you and that you can go to any time, will provide you with the help you may need, during good and bad times in your life.

Addressing mental health is a key component to AWRA and The Visible Project. It stresses the importance of always being kind. The kinder you are the more visible you become. “When you give kindness, it comes back to refresh your own daily mental health.”

The Visible Project is the major support system for any school community.

“While there are resources for students to help with daily stresses, subtle actions to make another person feel seen sometimes eases tensions, promotes a sense of community, and lets others know that they have more support systems that they initially thought.”

On this episode of the Jr 3rd Podcast with Earl D and Jose Legit we invite Coach Rich who brings a new level of Respect and discipline to the table.

Rich, you remind us that a gesture can be small, almost inconsequential but meaningful to the recipient. We exist not alone, but as part of a society. And we know that a society is only as strong as its weakest member.

Take the time to make an impact. Be visible.

Ted Bence
Saratoga Springs, NY

Hi Rich, I think of you often, but his morning a little more when I read something that was shared on Facebook by a grief group I am a member of.

It made me think of the message you share with everyone who is lucky enough to sit in a room during one of your programs. I never really thought of empathy until I started reading your posts or listening to you, but now I think of it all the time. I would like to say Thank You for guiding me to empathy towards myself, but even more towards others. At this time of Thanksgiving, I am thankful you came into mine, Jenna’s, and Brian’s lives.

You speak from the heart, somewhere everyone should find the strength to do.

Happy Thanksgiving
Debbie Rivers

Awesome! This guy has lived the equivalent of three (or more) lives. Lives lived fully, richly ) sorry no pun intended) and with purposeful, goal-directed action. I am embarrassed to view my own accomplishments through this lens. I was blessed to have the good fortune to; A) blundered into marriage to a woman who is smarter and better-educated than me and B) the nearly equal good fortune for our wonderful daughters to have their own good fortune to have encountered a teacher/mentor like Rich Johns. It’s almost like they could sense the warmth, the caring, the investment, the love of somebody who actually GAVE A SH*T about these young treasures, a man who instinctively knew these were the stewards of the future, the custodians and molder of our legacy to them bequeathed. Our destiny. Our history. Thank you Rich Johns, for caring. It makes all the difference in the world.

Arthur Zeh
Saratoga Springs, NY

 

 

Listen to an interview with Rich Johns from Sunday 9/20/20 with Walt Adams of Loud Media, Star Radio. Learn more about Walt Adams and Saratoga’s Star Radio here.

Moms love mail, too!! Thank you, Rich Johns, for the package full of goodies, the beautiful card and your book, ‘Purpose Discovered’. It has arrived at a time when the message of kindness & respect needs to be an ongoing discussion in our home. Sometimes gentle reminders are necessary. Thank you for that and for thinking of me.

Sincerely,
Susan Andi Ciaravino
Vestal, NY

Dear Coach Rich Johns,

I can easily say that sitting at my first middle school conference for the capital region in 2011 connected me to my purpose and you. Listening to you speak that day made me think about “old school” education.

We can’t do anything in public schools until people respect themselves and others…once this happens grades go up, absenteeism declines, bullying ends, peace rises to the top and safety returns for our children to dream again.

I totally support your efforts and Act With Respect Always, one of the best non-profits in our area. You are making a difference with young people on sports teams and in schools, by bringing communities together!

#actwithrespectalways
#whatsyour99

PJ Motsiff

Teacher
Kensington Road Elementary School
Glens Falls, NY

Good Evening Coach,

“I just wanted to check in and say hello. Cleaned out my office today for the first time since March and sitting on my desk where the Starfish Awards you had sent me earlier in the year. Although I never got to distribute them to my students, I will be doing it soon.

Thank you for all that you have done for Lisbon! You have been a bigger impact than you will ever know. I feel blessed to have been able to make the contacts with you, but there some of our faculty that you reached or touched is amazing.
That helps me feel good knowing I was part of getting you to visit Lisbon.

Just wanted to say thanks and hope you are safe.

Enjoy the summer.
“What’s Your 99?”

Sean Backus
PE Teacher
Lisbon Central School
Lisbon, NY

“I am a big fan of #actwithrespectalways because it reminds me daily of the values my parents gave me. Be courteous, be kind, be caring. Rich Johns also believes in these values and his movement inspires not only myself, but Rich is successful in bringing his message to schools, events, and especially to our community.
Keep up the great work Rich!

I am so proud to call you my friend!”

Candi Rodriguez Ellis
Saratoga Springs, NY

“Good Evening Coach Johns,

During this whole Covid-19 pandemic I wanted to do something for the essential workers in our community. I work for Cambridge (NY) Central School District. I made up survival kits for the essential workers. A few years ago you came to a boy scout meeting that I attended in Burnt Hills and spoke about how to “pay it forward” and to strive to be a 99. I am ever grateful that you taught me this life lesson during that meeting. Thank you!”

Ellen Branham
Cambridge Central School
Cambridge, NY

I received this note from Sarah Buschynski and I just had to share! Sarah makes a difference every day in the school and community. I thank her for that.

– Coach Johns

“Sometimes it’s the little acts of kindness that ignite into a movement. Thank you Rich Johns for always inspiring me to go that extra mile to spread kindness on to others. You were the best 4th grade teacher ever! and still an even more amazing person!”

Sarah Buschynski
Fort Edward, NY

Hi Coach,

I hope you’re doing well!! I received this shirt last night as a birthday gift and it made me think of you!
Not only AWRA, but how you have changed me into the person I am today by teaching and spreading kindness.

My family and friends have noticed the person I’ve become and it is because of you.

Thank you!
Hailie

In a time when social media seems to be amplifying disrespectful words and actions, a former local teacher and coach is trying to promote the message that we should “Act with Respect Always.” Rich Johns taught elementary and middle school and coached tennis for 38 years. Now he travels to schools giving presentations about character traits, speaking with kindness, the value of each individual and talking about how we can challenge ourselves to be our best. In this podcast with Diane Donato, Johns talks about the presentations and some of the students he has worked with. – Upstate Issues with WGY’s Diane Donato

Hi Lauren,

I have to thank you for bringing Rich Johns to school today. I think I may have gotten more out of it than the students. I was moved beyond tears and words, and was profoundly impacted by his presentation. I’ll never forget it and I’ll never be the same. Actually, I think I’ll be better…more confident in my sensitivity…if that makes sense. You see, I’ve always been very sensitive to everything. A minister once told me that I am sensitive to the world. Funny, Mr. Johns said almost the same thing to me today. Sometimes, I think I’ve gone into the wrong line of work and yet other days I know I’m right where I belong. It’s days like today that I’m sure of that. It’s the Jordan’s, Abbey (s) and Gabby(s) of the world that remind me of this. I know that there will come a day when I’m meant for something else, but until then, I hope I can impact at least one of my students even half as much as Mr. Johns did for me today.

Sincerely,
Beth Whyte
5th and 6th Grade Teacher
Lisbon Central School
Lisbon, NY

Dear Rich,

I want to thank you again for making the trip to Lisbon Central School to present to our Golden Knight family.
Your presentations had a profound impact on us all – from 10 year olds to the 50 somethings in the auditorium – your message
was thought provoking, inspiring, encouraging and will have a lasting impact on all of us who were blessed to be present.

I am committed to your message and will continue to strive for 99 in my daily life.

Thank you again!

Sincerely,

Lauren Morley
5-12 Principal
Lisbon Central School
Lisbon, NY

Hi Coach,

I just wanted to say thank you for your time, message and sharing of life
experiences yesterday. I always reflect with myself and others about the 99,
but never put it perspective like you have.

Thanks for the recharge.

Mr. Pat Farrand
Superintendent
Lisbon Central School District
Lisbon, NY

Coach Johns,

Wow… your presentation really hit home with me. I strongly believe in your message and see its value 100%. I would love a t-shirt, size medium if available. It would be awesome if you could send a couple xs for my kids too! If you’re really in a mood to give a bunch of shirts out I know my students would love to own one too. THANKS!!

By the way, I read Out of My Mind with my students last year. It is definitely an eye-opening read and was so powerful!! We are currently reading Wonder, which is also a perfect gateway to teach empathy.

Thanks again for visiting our school. Knowing my two children also got to hear you is an extra bonus for me!

Thanks again,
Aubrey Thayer
5th & 6th Grade ELA teacher
Harrisville Central School
Harrisville, NY

Eve Crossett is an amazing young lady who is a senior at Saratoga Springs High School. After helping me out at an evening presentation in South Glens Falls she wrote me the incredible letter of appreciation which you can read below. Her incredible look and understanding about Empathy is amazing! – Rich

October 16, 2019

Coach,

I apologize for leaving so soon after the presentation, but I want to take the time to thank you for including me tonight and making me feel visible.  It has been difficult for me to find people I can truly confide in and trust, and I appreciate how empathetic and open you are to everyone you meet.  The past few weeks have been incredibly stressful for me with completing college and nomination applications, staying on top of my studies, preparing for this coming basketball season, and many other things.  It’s so easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of life and busy schedules, especially in today’s world.  I feel like I barely get the chance to sit back, breathe, and focus on the important things in life.  Being able to join you and my friends, and learn more about your program was incredibly special, inspiring, and refreshing.

When you introduced me to the audience and mentioned that I made you feel visible by often saying hello and thank you, I realized how big of an impact a simple thing like that can have on a person.  Ever since I could speak, my parents have taught me to always greet people I know and say thank you to coaches, teachers, etc.  It has become second nature and I rarely see the impact it has on the recipient, aside from a smile or a greeting in return.  By acknowledging me for my simple act of kindness, you made me feel visible.

Daily, I try to make a difference in someone’s life, even if it’s a small difference, such as complimenting someone or helping someone solve a problem. No matter how hard I try, it can be difficult to know if I’m truly impacting someone.  Tonight, I was able to realize the difference I make in the lives of those around me and learn how I can make an even bigger difference by being more empathetic.  I’m glad you put me on the spot when you asked me what empathy was because I was so sure that sympathy played a big part in empathy (mostly because they rhyme).  After watching the cartoon video, I realized that when I believed I was showing empathy, I was just showing sympathy.  Often, when a friend or family member vented or shared their feelings, I just said things like “Oh, well at least you have this” or “At least you don’t have to do this”.  I never really thought about the negative impact those words might have on the recipient because I thought that my role was to help make the situation better.  I now understand that I need to try to connect and truly be empathetic toward others, rather than immediately try to fix the issue.

Another point in your presentation that really hit home with me was the “I Am Not a Label” video.  I always judge people by the content of their character because in the end, that’s what really matters.  It seems as if discrimination and racism are increasing, especially in this generation, and I’ve seen it firsthand with my brother’s friends.  It’s easy to slip up and judge someone by their appearance because society puts labels on everything.  A few years ago, I came across a quote that has stuck with me.  “Your first thought is what society has conditioned you to think, the second thought defines who you are.”  I used to feel incredibly guilty about my initial judgement when seeing someone because I know that it’s wrong to judge others by appearances.  Now, I realize that my initial thought doesn’t represent my character, my second thought does.  In April 2019, I traveled to Uganda on a medical and humanitarian mission and interacted with people living in extreme poverty.  My experiences there reinforced the values instilled in me by my parents.  When I came back to the States, I was able to empathize and connect with others on a deeper level.  Although my experiences in Uganda taught me to be more empathetic, I realized I had lost touch with that level of connection and tonight I was able to get it back.

On the car ride home, my mom and I talked about the presentation and how moving it was.  My mom was brought to tears many times throughout your presentation and enjoyed meeting you.  We were truly inspired by the stories you shared and the impact you’ve had on the lives of others.  Even though it seems like common sense to “act with respect always”, we often need reminders of what that really means and looks like.  I am going to start using my “99” every day and try to convince others to use theirs too.  The lessons I have learned and will continue to learn from you are ones that I will carry with me into the United States Army and hopefully at West Point.

I cannot thank you enough for the incredible impact you’ve had on me in the short time I’ve known you and I am so thankful that we crossed paths.  Thank you for making me feel visible and important.  I would love to become a more active member of your program, so if there is anything I can do, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Eve Crossett
Senior
Saratoga Springs High School
Saratoga Springs, NY

Coach, Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to introduce me to a new game, tennis, that I am really enjoying. I greatly appreciate everything you have done.

I also wanted to thank you for the shirt, book, and bracelets. Act With Respect Always has been a great impact on my life since I was introduced to you in middle school.

Thank you for spreading the word you do and influencing people like me!

Kelsey McFadden
Saratoga Springs, NY

Dear Mr. Johns,

Act With Respect Always means to me that people should not be judged by their race, skin color, and facial differences because people are different. That’s why in
Saratoga Springs and beyond, we have started this campaign to start being more aware and respectful to others in our community. We all need to remember to be more kind to people by being there for them and to be on their side when help is needed.

Chris Teich
Senior
Webster Central School District
Rochester, NY

Below is a note I received along with a few photo from my commencement speech at the Hammond Central School graduation.

“Thank you so much for coming today to be our Commencement Speaker.
Your speech was absolutely wonderful, very inspiring and real.”

Deanna Romanowski
School Counselor
Senior Class Advisor
Hammond Central School
Hammond, NY

Mr. Johns,

Thank you so much for spending the day with the University at Albany Dining Services team.

You spoke directly to the staff and engaged them in a way that I have not seen before. You captivated them, gave them hope and inspiration while delivering a message that will last a long time.

I look forward to hanging your banners in our kitchens and creating an Act With Respect Always community in our work place. I received a lot of great feedback from the staff and I hope many will reach out to you in the future. I hope we can have a Part 2 sometime in the future.

You are a true teacher, mentor and coach. Your message transcends all communities and workplaces.

Thank you for inspiring my staff today.

Jeff Kurto
General Manager
University at Albany Dining Services

An excerpt from a recent article in Saratoga Today, “In 2010 schoolteacher, tennis and basketball coach Rich Johns, retired from the traditional structures of education and coaching and began a nonprofit known as Act With Respect Always (AWRA). The organization has flourished and has taken Coach Johns to schools as far as Duke University and as local as Saratoga Springs High. This month would be the sixth month that AWRA has trademarked it’s new Visibility Project. ”

Read the full article here on Saratoga Today

Rich,

As I see your posts and the kids you’re celebrating with, you’ve brought new meaning when I think of the word “coach”. I always thought it meant coaching some sport, but you are truly a life coach.

If more people would do what you’re doing it would stop the horrible direction so many of our youth are taking today. My heart breaks for the pressures they feel trying to grow up nowadays. I’ve watched this unraveling of families in the courtroom for four decades now. In speaking with some adults who have turned their lives around it is almost always someone stepped in and “saved” them. I don’t necessarily mean that in a religious sense although sometimes that comes the way for them too.

If every adult even chose one youth to mentor as you have, what a difference it would make.

God bless you and all you do.
Onward and upward, Rich.

Sheryl Dirks
Superior Court of California
Yuba City, California

“A HUGE shout out to Coach Johns for coming to speak to our 4th and 5th grade about Kindness, and Respect. Coach shared about what it truly means to be kind to make you a better person! The students and staff again loved hearing his message. If you have not heard Coach Johns speak, he is truly someone you don’t want to miss-all schools should listen to his message, he speaks from the heart and meets everyone’s needs.

My beautiful friend Kelly Mulholland connected Coach and I years ago and I’m thankful for his inspiration and kindness he has brought to me. Coach Johns thank you for being that special someone and for being on my bus.

Again thank you for sharing your message with us!”

Tara D’Aloia
Teacher
Stillwater Elementary School

“Dear Coach Johns, Thank you so much for taking the time to come to Morristown Central School, and other schools. You have opened everyone’s eyes to a whole new world. You inspire others to Act With Respect. I’m very thankful for you to take the time after you’re talk, to talk to me and others. I hope to see you again at Morristown Central School. And you are always welcome on my bus.

Sincerely,
Kayleigh St. Pierre
Morristown (NY) Central School

“Hi Coach,

I hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend! I just finished up my first three days at the Sagamore and as my high school career comes to a close, I just wanted to say thank you so much for everything you have done more me. Between tennis advice, nominating me for awards and giving me this opportunity at the Sagamore, I cannot thank you enough.
I am so much better off having known you these past few years.”

Sincerely,
Ben Crandall
Senior
Saratoga Springs (NY) High School

Good Morning, Mr. Johns,

I wanted to thank you for your wonderful presentation on respect! Your presentation was so very age appropriate for my 3-5th graders and middle school. It was a powerful message that helped us to begin carrying out our KINDNESS CHALLENGE for Catholics School Week. – 17 acts of kindness in 17 days in preparation for Lent on Feb. 14th and in honor of the MSD – Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School kids who perished on that day. Thank you!

One Grateful Principal,

Mrs. M. Vikki Delgado
St. Vincent Ferrer School
Delray Beach, Florida

“Dear Zion,

You are a true gentleman. I was fortunate to see you play last night vs. Army and the next morning, when I saw you on campus, you gave me a few minutes of your time. I recall saying to you that you are a ‘role model’ for others and that you are conducting yourself in a wonderful way. Then you took the time to have a picture taken with me.

This photo I will cherish.

My best to you and continued success.”

Coach Johns

“A Note About Coach K,

When introducing the book, The Energy Bus, to the Freshman ACTION group at Duke University, I spoke about Coach Mike Krzyzewski and his ‘positive energy bus’ that he drives. I thanked him for allowing me on his bus.

I shared a special photo during my presentation that Coach signed for me. His belief in me and my AWRA energy bus helps to fuel my ride. I cannot thank him enough.”

Rich Johns
Founder
Act With Respect Always

“When Mr. Johns handed me over The Energy Bus it became my new motto-I was already a pretty positive person and sent out a pretty positive vibe-but the contagiousness of the positive energy, the positive feel, the positive love and life that you can live is something that truly fills up your soul each day and spreads throughout you!

I see a change in my students as they spread the message daily, I see the positive change in my family as we discuss some quotes from the book and I try every day to “change my mindset” if needed. I will tell myself one thing every morning or night that I am thankful for, I will think of others who I can help today, I will take a very negative situation at work (which can happen often) and I will only highlight the positive.

Thank you, Mr. Johns, for the wonderful gift of positivity and respect that your message truly delivers! I am excited about my bus, I am excited to add more to the bus and I am excited to spread its continuous positive message…”

Mrs. Trisha Phillips
Team 8H~ELA Teacher
Maple Avenue Middle School
515 Maple Avenue
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

“Rich has inspired me to be the best I can be, while spreading kindness everywhere I go, whether I’m on the tennis/basketball courts, or in the hallways.”

I first heard about Mr. Johns and AWRA in the fifth grade, and from a young age, he has been a consistent factor in the person I’ve become. He is visibly passionate with everything that he does, and is overall such a genuine person. He has inspired me to be the best I can be, while spreading kindness everywhere I go, whether I’m on the tennis/basketball courts, or in the hallways.

Being kind doesn’t always have to be an extravagant act, it’s something as simple as smiling, or saying “hello” to someone new. Mr. Johns has taught me to be respectful, honest, responsible and fair. He has also taught be to be a leader, which is oftentimes a difficult task. Being an upperclassman, it’s my responsibility to guide, lead and set examples of what I want our school to be like.

Act With Respect Always is a message that I recommend everyone should hear.

Hailie Casey
Junior
Hudson Falls (NY) High School

“You allowed me to begin to realize that my positivity and acts of kindness can fuel another person’s happiness. I want to make that my mission.” 

Dear Coach Johns,

I wanted to reach out to you and thank you for speaking to us at the ACTION meeting this past Monday night. Although I usually come into these meetings with a closed mind, your presentation really allowed myself to realize that it’s okay to open up to other people and truly understand that I am not alone.

I must do everything in my power to be a more positive person.

Throughout my senior year of high school, I always caught myself counting down the days until I would begin school at Duke. I was so excited not only because it is an amazing blessing and opportunity, but because I would be able to start fresh, in a sense. That idea that I would have the chance to meet new people and form new relationships had me overly excited. I had very high expectations for my start at Duke. When I first arrived in Durham in late June for summer school, I immediately formed wonderful friendships in a matter of weeks, leading me to believe that they would last a very long time. They almost seemed too good to be true. I felt comfort and nothing but pure happiness at this point. However, once the regular school year started, a lot seemed to change. I began my field hockey season and was stressed out and overwhelmed, as I believed any first-year college student would be. However, I really let these emotions get to me. I easily got very upset because everyone around me was out making new friends while I started to lose mine because I was so busy trying to balance my academics and athletics. I began to think very negatively and am still having a very hard time turning my outlook on life around. 

I’ve recently been able to recognize that my negativity is not benefiting me in any way and that I need to stop thinking like that and begin to think more positively. I don’t want people to pity me whatsoever, but I constantly find myself back with a negative mindset. 

I am a firm believer in everything happening for a reason, but when I think about it, I wish I knew exactly why things are the way they are. Over the past few years, I’ve struggled with being able to discover who I truly am and want to be. Sometimes I feel that I am not good enough and am doing something wrong and want to figure out how I can solve that problem.  I want to be able to truly find my purpose in life and understand that I am in my current position for a reason. 

I want to honestly be able to answer who I want to be on my bus and fill my life with people who love and care about me. You allowed me to begin to realize that my positivity and acts of kindness can fuel another person’s happiness. I want to make that my mission. 

I usually struggle when it comes to fully opening up to other people, so even writing this email takes a lot. I am very happy that I am able to do this. I want to thank you again for opening up my mind to a world of positivity and for allowing me to recognize that my actions can significantly influence other people around me. I really appreciate you taking the time to talk to us. I believe that your speech will truly lead me to having a better outlook on my life at Duke and will allow me to eventually discover who I truly am and want to be. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.

Sincerely,
Olivia Sahaydak
Freshman
Duke Field Hockey 

Dear Coach,

This is Annabel Groseclose and I just wanted to say thank you again. Thank you for speaking of such an important topic in our community today.

Thank you for making me feel like you were speaking directly to me and for truly moving me. Most importantly, thank you for making me stop and think, it seems that I have a new outlook on life because of you.

I appreciate you coming to our school today and sharing your message. I just wanted to let you know that you are on my ‘bus’.

Finally, thank you again for being so amazing and for welcoming, not only me, but anyone in need of someone, that they can talk to.

Annabel Groseclose
Eighth Grade Student
Hathorn Springs
Maple Avenue Middle School
Saratoga Springs, NY

A note to Coach Johns after his visit to Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville Elementary School

“Each time you visit, Coach, you leave us with just a bit more to think about. Your recent visit this past week to OESJ Elementary School, not only reminded us all of how important it is to be kind and respectful to each other, but you brought another powerful and energized message to share. You encouraged students to bring not only their “99” to school each day, but you added how important offering positive energy can impact their own life and the lives of others. I loved the example you shared of how an infectious smile or a good morning can have on a friend, bus driver, or school staff member. This message included being mindful of your “energy bus”. If you keep your bus full of optimism, positivity, and your supporters, life’s challenges and obstacles can be overcome. If you’re bus has passengers on it who aren’t good to you or your life, let the passengers off and move on. You let both the students and adults know that it’s okay to try to mend fences, but if there’s someone not good to you or for you, get them off your bus. “Be the driver of your bus.” Thank you again, Coach, for bringing not only a profound, infectious and empathetic message to our students and my son, but for also leaving me with more to reflect upon. I appreciate how you continue to cultivate a culture for a better society of youth and people.”

#ActWithRespectAlways  #kindness  #Whatsyour99  #youareonmybus

Dina Matis Brundage
Elementary Teacher
OESJ (NY)

“Rich, Thank you for returning to Granville High School with your “Act With Respect Always” message. I so appreciated your kind and quiet approach. Too often we have programs with lots of glitz, glitter, and wildly loud and technology driven presentations that don’t engage the heart of the student. I feel you made many connections here on Wednesday.

I teach a 7th to 10th grade Life Skills self contained class. These kids are often the butt of jokes and disrespect outside our classroom walls. At the very least, they are regularly left out of the social aspect of school. They feel different even though they don’t look different. Your presentation opened up some wonderful avenues of discussion yesterday. They were engaged and insightful; they “get it”. I observed them being kinder and more inclusive among themselves in our class activities today. One student referred to his 99!

My class is very interested in reading the book you recommended. Would you please send us a copy? They would love it and asked if I could find it and read it to them.

Again, thank you for bringing your program here.”

Barbara Byrtus NBCT
Special Education Teacher
Granville Jr/Sr High School

“Coach, you came to Granville High School today. You signed my phone today and I greatly appreciate it.

It made me cry and soo happy! I have been going through a lot. You were a big inspiration to me! I am highly glad I had the honor to met you.

I was once in a school full of diversity and moved here and now I have very extinct diversity and its hard to cooperate with. I have a hard time fitting in with a lot of things. Your speech has changed my life for the better and made me realize I AM ME AND THAT’S WHO I AM and no one can change that I am perfect inside and out!

Hope to hear back from you!”

Janessa Winchell
Granville High School

“Dear Mr Rich Johns, My name is Micaela Lynch, I was at your Schuylerville presentation today. I just wanted to say how you touched my heart. I have many people in my life who are transgender, bisexual, dealing with depression and anxiety. I always felt caught in the middle, but it was because I didn’t have the heart to pull away from those who need me.

I grew up in a house with may parents, siblings, my grandparents and my two uncles. I’m telling you this because my grandmother had liver cancer and my two uncles both had muscular dystrophy. They all passed away before I was 10. My mum says that they lived much longer than expected because of the love our family gave them.

The story you shared about the basketball coach and his special player really touched me. The story related directly to my life, because even though some of my family members can’t do some physical things, they are all still my family. Living my life with some people, others my call it a unique life. To me it has made my heart bigger and full of compassion.

Just thank you again for such a powerful presentation.
Best wishes in all your future experiences.”

With love,
Micaela Lynch
Schuylerville NY

“Dear Coach Johns,

I would like to thank you for everything you have done for me. Thank you for your continuing efforts of sharing your vision of a kinder society. The message of Act With Respect Always has really got to me.

I would finally like to thank you for the awesome shirt you gave me. I will rock it in style!”

Sincerely,
Will Brundage
Sixth Grade Student
OE-St. Johnsville (NY) Elementary School

To connect to a ‘Solid Ten’ is very important to our Visible Project. You must make true connections by writing letters of gratitude and becoming visible to that person. I am one of the ‘solid ten’ for Carli O’Hara. I loved her letter that I received recently. So happy we met. I hope to visit her at Cohoes Middle School sometime. – Rich Johns

Rich’s message is one of optimism and empowerment. Rich brings his story of helping young people find the strength and courage they already have inside them and affirms each of our instincts to do the right thing, and to treat ourselves and others with respect and dignity. Rich has visited our school twice and his program has left a lasting impact on both me and my students.”

Bill Zimpfer
English Teacher
Southern Cayuga Central School
Chairperson, Southern Cayuga Anne Frank Tree Project

Dear Rich,

I can’t thank you enough for your meaningful gift to SMI! Your message is so powerful and relatable to all ages. Kindness, empathy and paying it forward…. such important values that reach far beyond the classroom!

It’s been really nice to hear the positive feedback from our teachers and students about your presentations today….it touched so many of us.

I look forward to continuing our relationship; there’s talk of scheduling another visit for next year!

Wishing you the best! Many thanks!

Crystal Quatrini
Athletic Director
St. Mary’s Institute
Amsterdam, NY

Dear Coach,

A few days ago you came to my school, Lowville Academy. At first when I was told I had to go to an assembly about acting with respect always I thought it was going to be teachers talking about how to be respectful. Like opening the door for someone or something like that, but instead it was an inspirational talk about being your best and doing good for others! I was wondering about your childhood and what made you such an inspiring guy because every inspiring person has a backstory. I know you probably won’t read this, but it makes me feel better knowing I acknowledged that you came to my school.

Sincerely,
Lowville Middle School (NY) Academy sixth grader
Keira Watson

Dear Mr. Johns

Hello, my name is Marisa Flanery and I’m 13 years old. You recently came to my school and held an assembly. In this assembly you taught me something very valuable. That sometimes you have to be at your 99 no matter what. Even if it means you are the target of a bully!

I was bullied once and have bullied once. I never realized what I was doing till I thought about it. This was a while ago, but I still feel bad about it so I’m going to send a post card to who I bullied and I’m going to apologize. I want to tell her how amazing she is. I’m going to tell her that everything I’ve ever said to her was because I wanted to make someone feel the same way I had felt once. Thank you for showing me what I had to do.

Again, Thank you!
Please, show this for others to see.

Marisa Flanery
Morristown (NY) Central School District

“Dear Coach Johns,
Yesterday was so powerful – so grateful that you came and made such of an impact.
You are doing the work that children need. You have a gift that is so special.
Feeling like the universe has aligned and everything happened. We have such power to change
things. The feedback has been Amazing!”

Erin Butler Douglass
Parent – Advocate
St. Jude the Apostle School
Baton Rouge, La.

“Hi Coach,
Thank you so much for the shirt and autographed book. I appreciate it.

Yesterday I had my shirt on and everyone in the school was asking about it. I shared information on your website and the 8 characteristics with my class. They decided that they wanted to take the initiative to spread the Act with Respect Always concept with everyone at Poultney Elementary. We talked about “What is your 99?”

Before I even finished my lesson, a 5th grader in my class named Brielle, came up to me with the attached completed poster design that she asked to make copies of, to hand out to students, and hang around the school. I was amazed at the leadership role that she took.

A little about Brielle, she may not be my top student, but is a sweetheart of a kid. Brielle has been through a lot and has shared some of her ‘invisible backpack’ with me. She is simply a wonderful young girl and has inspired me so much.

She asked if I could please send her work to Coach Johns. I said that I certainly would. Although you haven’t visited yet, the Act with Respect Always ball is beginning to roll here at Poultney Elementary School.

When I read, in your book, about you being “disenchanted” with what you were seeing in your world, and how you disagreed with how some situations were handled, it spoke directly to me. I also could relate to you saying, “The fabric of my being would not allow me to sit back and watch.” Personally, I have done just that for several years.

I told my class, “We are going to, as a group, start to make a difference and bring a change to the culture of our school.”

All indications are, that they are willing to jump on board.

I hope you enjoy Brielle’s work. I will keep you posted and I hope to meet you soon.”

Keith Harrington
Teacher
Poultney (Vt.) Elementary School

“Dear Coach Johns,
Thank you again for coming to Duke to talk with both Coach Welsh’s Class and the Freshman Action Program. I have now had the pleasure of hearing you speak four times, and each time I have left feeling inspired to be a better person. To me, the key to being the best person possible is to be mindful. I think we all get caught up in what is happening in our own lives, whether big or small, that we walk around on autopilot, unaware of the affect our words or actions may have on others. I have been wearing my Act With Respect Always wristband everyday since you came this year and it has served as a great reminder that how I choose to act doesn’t just affect me. Lastly, I wanted to say that the quote from Chris Rosati about making an impact has really stuck with me. I will be graduating in a few months and what I have come to realize is that there are probably tons of jobs that I would be able to do and enjoy, but what truly excites me is the idea of doing something that is meaningful to a broader community and will leave an impact.

Thank you for all you have done for me, and others, over the last three years with your visits to Duke. You have made a greater impact on my life than you will likely know, and I hope to pay it forward as best I can.”

All the Best,
Nick Bigot
Senior
Duke University

“Coach, Last night we won the overall league title vs Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons. I just want to let you know that last night’s win is not what truly makes these guys champions. They really buy into your message of act with respect always. Yesterday afternoon about ten minutes before dismissal our school nurse called to ask for help at the food pantry. She runs the pantry for needy families out of DHR elementary building. I put a last minute text out telling them to meet me in the gym so we could go help Mrs. Lape unload food, 9 out of the 12 helped. A few hours before the biggest game of the year they unloaded two truckloads of food. They did this without hesitation, and at the spur of the moment. So yes today I am a proud coach but not because of a win.

Thank you for helping these guys turn into outstanding young men.”

Coach Jason Brundage
Wolfpack Basketball
Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville CSD
St. Johnsville, NY

“Dear Rich (Coach),

Thank you so much for taking time out of your very busy schedule to meet with our team at Granite & Marble Works, Inc. Your talk was met with so much enthusiasm and support — I knew that it would resonate with many, but I have to admit I was amazed at the positive response from every single person in the room. You had the group’s full attention throughout your presentation.

As you look at the attached photo, you can see the diversity of our group — and yet, you touched each and every one of these individuals. Many expressed their gratitude later, thanking Mike and me for inviting you to come. Several indicated that you would be reaching out to them directly (thank you). Several were brought to tears during your presentation. Most went home with books to read and hopefully share with others in their life. They all walked away with the important message that AWRA promotes — working every day to make themselves better, to reach out and touch others in a positive way, and to make a difference in the lives of others.

I was pleasantly surprised to have noticed immediate changes after your talk — more patience, openness, acceptance, more eye contact and real communication among co-workers. I know that over the long term, there will continue to be positive changes and effects from your talk. I am convinced that we could not have picked a better way to start off the year 2018 than to have you come and share your message with us.

I hope you will come back again to visit and share your thoughts and ideas with our group. While you often focus on speaking with students and young people, your talk yesterday is proof of the universality of the message, and the impact Act With Respect Always has on all people, regardless of where they are in their life’s journey.

Thank you again Rich. Rest assured that our group felt visible to you, and you to us. You are a very special person to us all. We look forward to being a part of this movement and spreading this important message in our community.”

Best wishes and with gratitude,

Margaret Roohan
Granite and Marble Works
Wilton, NY

Dear Coach Johns,

Hi, my name is Ellen and I was at your presentation at South Seneca today. I really like what you had to say about all of the people you’ve have come in contact with and been able to help out. Also, the good deeds people have done like the basketball team helping to raise money for cancer.

I also thought about what you said about “labels” and that is so true. Almost everybody just puts labels on people and don’t actually get to know them. I think that is a mistake. So thank you for coming in and speaking today. I was also wondering if you could send me a copy of the book you shared, every day.

Sincerely,
Ellen Appleby
High School Student
South Seneca High School
Ovid, NY

“Hello, Mr. Johns! I was so glad to meet you as well!

I LOVE the picture!!! Thank you! I also appreciate you helping my daughter, Aubrey, create a special memory. She loves her shirt too!

Regarding the Starfish Story, I received the books yesterday afternoon and distributed them to my colleagues today. I will also forward the original story. My class is enjoying the “Starfish” trophy. I am letting them choose who it goes to next and they are really putting thought into who they are choosing (based on that person’s actions). It’s a great visual reminder to think about how we treat others and conduct ourselves.

I hope you are well and look forward to seeing future presentations.

Thank you!
Sarah Hay”

Kindergarten Teacher
Tanglewood Elementary School
South Glens Falls, NY

“Hello Coach Johns,

I wanted to write to you about my conversation with Jakob on our way back to class this morning.

First of all, thank you for taking the time to sit with him and sign a book. He really wanted to meet you, but was a little overwhelmed when he actually approached you. On our way up the stairs, I asked him how he liked the assembly. He said that at first, he had expected it to be a “regular old assembly,” but it wasn’t. He said, “something changed. Something definitely changed.”

Jakob is on the Autism spectrum, and struggles to express himself on anything that is not clear-cut black and white. For him to be okay with just recognizing that something in him changed during your presentation, that was pretty huge.

The other reason I am writing you is to let you know that I would love a copy of Bystander. Thank you so much for all that you do. Your work makes such a huge difference in the lives of people who meet you.”

Melissa J. Rivers
Direct Consultant Teacher
Oliver Winch Middle School
South Glens Falls, NY

Dear Coach Johns,

My name is Cameron Cardinale, I am a seventh-grade student at Oliver Winch Middle School. I am a student representative for OWMS No Place for Hate Committee. I would like to thank you for coming to our school and giving a great presentation. The books you showed looked so awesome. Thank you so much for coming to our school!

Sincerely,
Cameron Cardinale

Hi Rich,

Thank you so much for coming and presenting Act With Respect Always to our Jackson Heights students AND parents! The community approach this year has been so successful. Students are taking the time to think about their behaviors and actions and parents are engaged with us in this community effort to bring kindness and empathy into the day to day lives of our students!

We love you and AWRA! Have a super fall spreading this word!!

Best,
Carrie Mauro
Principal
Jackson Heights Elementary School
Glens Falls, NY

“Thank you, Coach Johns, for inspiring all of us to be better people, showing kindness and respect always. You have made a difference in Hammond, NY.”

Kate Cruikshank
Principal
Hammond (NY) Central School District

“Rich, Thank you so much for coming down here last night. The positive reviews from the presentations have been pouring in!!!!

Kudos to you for such a worthwhile message.
Thank you!”

Jeremy Weber
Athletic Director
Rondout Valley Central School District
Accord, NY

Coach Rich Johns recently presented his Act With Respect Always program to the Shenendehowa Swimming and Diving Team. He received this wonderful note from Coach Sandy Stanislowsky.

“I want to thank Rich for giving his time, his important messages and inspiring and educating all of us!”

Sandy Stanislowsky
Head Coach
Shenendehowa (NY) Swimming and Diving Team

Dinal Brundage and her daughter, Addie Brundage

Senior student/athletes, All-Sports Banquet at Oppenheim Ephratah St. Johnsville Central School (OESJ)

“It’s been an honor for this group to have your guidance and voice heard as these kids progressed through their high school years. And, what a difference you have shown these kids that one person can make.

Thanks so much for your lasting impression. Your visits always are special ones with wonderful reminders and plenty of new stories and examples to hear and think about #AWRA”

Dina Brundage
Mom of Senior Addie Brundage
St. Johnsville, NY

“I can’t begin to tell you the amount of people that have approached me to tell me how inspired your presentation made them. I’ve spoken to three different people that want to bring you back again next year. Everyone says they went in not knowing what to expect but were absolutely blown away. One individual told me that on that particular day she was having just a bad day and you speaking made her feel so much better!

I’m so honored to have been able to bring you to Plattsburgh to speak. I’m so glad you were able to spread your message of kindness to my sorority and all that were there. I can already tell it started a chain reaction, because anyone that wasn’t there that night has heard about it.

Thank you for continuing to inspire with your AWRA mission!

On a side note, everyone also told me how jealous they were of me to be able to have someone like you as a coach because many of them didn’t have the great athletic experience that I did in high school. Many of them said they wished they had someone like that to freely talk to about anything, but just didn’t have that in their coaches. You’ve certainly sparked an important conversation and each person ends by saying something along the lines of “there needs to be more people like him in the world”.

Just wanted to share this positive reaction with you because it makes my day when someone says how much they loved it!!

Thanks for everything Coach!”

Emily

P.s. I wear my necklace every day!

“Hi Rich,

I am writing to personally thank you for your heartwarming presentation last week. I was so very lucky to be able to sit in on both presentations. You reached out to so many of our youth and faculty and staff as well. Your message is a great one, and your motivation and inspiration are catchy! I enjoyed every bit of it and I know our students did too.

I have heard that you are willing to come back and visit us next Thursday. Boy, would we love to see you.

Keep doing what you are doing, the world needs more of it!”

Mrs. Sarah L. Belile
Guidance Counselor
Morristown (NY) Central School

“Hello Sir,

This is Gabriel Niles. I met you today when you were at Hammond Central School. I really enjoyed listening to you and the stories you told. It really does make a difference how we treat each other.

In our community we recently lost one of our best buy priligy online friends Keegan Donavan. Listening to you made me wish you had come to our school sooner or more often to share your stories. Maybe preventing what did happen to our good friend.

I appreciate what you are doing.”

Thank you Coach Johns,
Gabriel

“Act with Respect Always is not a catch phrase, it’s a way of life. Rich Johns lives it with passion every day. His work with students and athletes, sharing his message of treating each other with dignity is truly making us better people. I’ve always felt fortunate to have Rich in my corner.”

Mark Mulholland
NewsChannel 13 (NBC Albany)
Kelly’s Angels, Inc.

“I have had the pleasure of working with Coach Johns in my role as a building Principal, Superintendent of Schools and as the Vice President of the New York State Middle School Association. Simply stated Coach always delivers! His message is powerful and important. I learn something every time I see Coach Johns and Act With Respect Always.”

Mark Fish
Superintendent of Schools
Greenwich (NY) Central School District

The Power of the 99

The Words and Voice from Duke University Student

“Dear Coach Johns,

I wanted to thank you again for taking your time to come to Duke, and speak about the subjects that you did yesterday.

Last semester, I dealt with depression for the first time in my life and it has been a fascinating experience. Luckily I was able to realize what was happening, acknowledge it, and start to solve it and get better. Now at the start of my Junior Spring I am feeling better, but it took about 3 months to feel stable and happy again (without medicine).

The biggest thing that I have taken away from this time in my life, is how accurate the 99% vs the 1% is. Who you are inside is truly the only thing that matters at the end of the day. The human mind is so incredibly powerful. It can either tear you apart, or let you thrive in any environment.

What was most fascinating to me, was how increasing my 99 was what turned me around. On days that I felt as though I didn’t have the energy to interact with other people, my score would be low, and I would feel heavy and sad.

On the days that I started to force myself to acknowledge people, to do little things to make others happy, and to generally be more aware of others, I began to get better. Having a higher score did not just impact other people’s happiness; it was the key to regaining my own happiness.

I wanted to share this so you continue to feel how relevant and important your words are. Thank you for sharing your message, and I will continue to give as much of my 99 as possible.

Best of luck, and thank you again.”

“Hi Coach,
I just wanted to fire off a quick note to say thank you again for coming the other night! As was the case last year, I really appreciated your words and points of view that you shared. Everything you said is how I try to lead my life and it is refreshing and meaningful to hear someone eloquently share those views and inspire others to do the same.

In addition, thank you so much for the book and the necklace! I will read and cherish them and hopefully find the right person to pass the book onto and pay it forward! :)

Speak soon and please keep spreading the word of fulfilling our 99.”

Oliver Spring
Duke University
Men’s Soccer

“Dear Rich

Here I am at 84 getting such an insight into a whole new world, thanks to one of your books, Out of my Mind. To read it is to develop sympathy, empathy, yes, but also to develop so much admiration for her (Melody’s) courage.

This is so well written. On page 118 is a sentence that brought me up short. They are at the aquarium and Melody says to us: the place is crowded…, “I can almost buy cymbalta forget who I am.” What days of suffering are hinted at in that sentence. And this even with a loving family.

I never want a special-ed teacher to set foot in a classroom without having read this book first! In fact as I think about it, ALL teachers should read this –after all, differences come in all guises and sizes, in all classrooms.

Thank you for this.”

Margot Hyde
Former Teacher
South Glens Falls, NY

“The Act With Respect Always program is such a valuable asset to young people as they develop personal and professional relationships. From an athletics standpoint, even to the most competitive individual, respect for the game and the opponent is paramount. Rich is second to none when preaching and practicing these life skills.”

Chris Onorato
Sports – WNYT NewsChannel 13
Albany, New York

Maple Avenue signed banners

“My friend, mentor, educator, colleague, and coach,

I cannot express my sincere appreciation to you enough for all that you do promoting Respect. No words or actions could better describe what your friendship has meant to me over the last 40+ years than to see you speaking in front my students yesterday.

During each assembly, the students listened, were focused, and truly absorbed the message you delivered that pharmacy no prescription will take them to the next level. I appreciate you taking the time to speak to all grades and especially meeting with them afterwards in small groups.

It’s truly a blessing to have friends like you, who are always there for the people who need you the most. I want you to know that I cherish your friendship.”

Robert Loggins
Assistant Principal – Grade 8
Maple Avenue Middle School
Saratoga Springs, NY

Rich Johns with Chase Taylor Mitchell a fifth grader at Caroline Street Elementary School

Rich Johns signing books for the scouts

“Coach, you touch a lot of lives tonight. Everyone in the audience truly enjoyed your message. Our whole family was moved by your words and my two children could not stop talking about it. Thank you for all that you do.”

Jason Mitchell
Parent
Saratoga Springs, NY

On my visit to Maple Avenue Middle School in Saratoga Springs, NY I met two students by the names of Morgan and Judy. They turned out to be children of two students I had years ago when I was teaching in Greenfield Center (NY) Elementary School. Morgan the daughter of Bill Brooking and Judy the daughter of Karrie Brooking. Below is the beautiful letter I received from Bill Brooking.

“Rich,

First, I would to thank you. Thank you for impacting, most recently, the lives of Morgan and Judy. Karrie and I heard the story of Judy and Morgan figuring out that you were in fact Rich Johns (The legendary) then their approach and conversation with you after the Act with Respect Always interaction.

The girls were beaming and the words could not come out quickly and excitedly enough! They shared their experience, as Karrie and I smiled at each other so many times during their story! They then went on to tell us that they were the only two girls who received the coveted shirts. All of the while the amazing news was told with such a thrill and excitement, as this unfolded all that ran through my mind was so positive.

Positive as I recalled the amazing ways you have touched our lives for decades along with the many other lives you have touched over the decades. To my amazement, you are still doing something that affects so many lives. You love what you do and it shows in every move you make, Rich.  For that, we are all better people for having you as a great influence in all of our lives. 

Rich, you are that amazing person who is the perfect person with a wonderful and wildly successful career and personally inspiring. You are an inspiration with personal determination, charisma, talent and effective ways in delivering your personal best. We are all benefiting from a guy who inspires and delivers a personal touch to all of the individuals who are fortunate enough to know or have/had interaction with you as a professional, mentor, and teacher of life.

I nominate you for a lifetime achievement award and Honorary Doctorate of Achievement in Life!

Thank you for the coveted picture. We will cherish this for many years to come.”

Bless you,
Bill Brooking

After visiting Landon’s school, Gordan Creek Elementary School in Ballston Spa, NY I sent the book Wonder to him. I want to share this great note that I received from him about a week later.

“Dear Coach Johns,

Thank you for the outstanding book. Wonder was great, my favorite part was at the Nature Reserve. I loved when Amos tackled Eddie. I also liked how Jack stood up for Auggie.

Additionally, I really loved the end where Auggie gets the Founder’s Award. I got a little teary eyes at that part.

I thank you very, very much for the book. You are a very inspiring man, Coach Johns.”

Thank you,
Your friend,
Landon C. Potter

“I have known Rich for many years. He continues to impress me with his devotion and passion to spread his message of Act With Respect Always. A message for everyone. I wish him continued success.”

Tim Welsh
College Basketball Analyst
ESPN

“Coach Rich Johns makes a compelling case for how we need to engage our youth to become better people. His message is simple and straight forward, presenting with the sincerity which leaves attendees wanting to reach their 99. Our student population is atypical, and life has taught them to be cynical. After an hour with Coach, they now strive to do better!”

Thanks so much for your tremendous program. #ActWithRespectAlways

Bruce Potter
Superintendent
Berkshire UFSD
Canaan, NY 12029

“Coach Johns,

Thank you for speaking to the OESJ middle school students yesterday. We could tell they were all involved with your message. It is a great message, one I try to live my life by and pass on to my students and my grandchildren. Two of my grandsons heard you speak at the OESJ elem. school. My oldest grandson, Dylan Barnes, was telling me about the assembly last night. He was very excited about it. I would like to get him the Fish in a Tree book that you shared with them.

Thank you so much for all you do for our youth.”

Sincerely,
Debbie Conte, Special Ed. Teacher
Oppenheim Ephratah St. Johnsville (NY) CSD

“Coach Johns,

Thank you so much for coming, presenting and giving these kids a little bit of wisdom and hope about the good in life. You sent a powerful message and the kids attitudes for the remainder of the day was definitely positive and pleasant. Some were already asking when you were coming back and others showing excitement for the books! It was all such a wonderful experience and I cannot thank you enough and already looking forward to the next time you come.

Thanks again for spreading the message and being part of our community which looks to better these students lives on a daily basis”

Sincerely,
Rob Flannigan
PE/Health/LifeSkills Coach
Warren Street Academy
Hudson, NY

“Dear Coach Johns,
Thank you so much for your presentation today. You gained the respect of the students quickly and made worthwhile connections with them. I love your use of the Pay It Forward movie. Well done and your efforts are having a big impact on our area!”

Tom Aldridge
Math Teacher
Hudson Falls (NY) Middle School

“Rich,
Our students have come up to me each and every day since your visit to talk about your message and to get a bracelet. :) The kindness evident in you, spreads to those who listen to your message and all ages benefit from being near that kind of positivity!

Good Luck with your travels! Thanks again.”

Kate Slavett
Social Work Associate
Hudson Falls (NY) Middle School

“Rich offers a very valuable and powerful message that is useful for all students, teachers, parents, and community members to hear. His presentation will move you and make you think deeply about your actions each and every day.

Thanks Rich.”

John Karbowski
Northville (NY) Central School District
Athletic Director

“Dear Coach Johns,

I really appreciate you coming to speak at our school. I loved your message. I would love a copy of the books you shared today, not only to read, but to keep in my room for students to sign out.

Here are some comments from my students about your visit:

• I hope he keeps doing what he does. He will help a lot of people change.
• He can change the world.
• His presentation was so thought out and inspiring.

Thanks!”

Kayla Butler
Teacher
Northville (NY) Middle School/High School

Dear Rich
“In a time when we can all use as many reminders as possible, AWRA helps us keep our hearts at the forefront of our interactions everyday with others – no matter what they present with on the outside. When we do this as much as possible, we’re helping to make the world a better place and that’s what life is meant to be about.”

Kristy Brothers
Albany High School Behavior Specialist
NYS Certified School Psychologist
Certified Professional Coach

“Coach,

Thank you for coming to Little Falls Middle School for a second time. All I have heard is positive comments and the students are referring to their “99” as they are walking through the halls. Staff are talking about it as well. I have had many students come in to discuss problems and we were able to use the content of your presentation in our discussions. I have had many others request the books that you mentioned. One of my staff members borrowed the copy of Wonder that you left for the school and is going to request a copy of her own to read and reread to her son who is in early elementary school.

Thanks again for being such a positive influence on the culture of Little Falls Middle School.

P.S. Yesterday, I saw some former students looking at the banner that hangs by our entrance and they were disappointed that the new banner had replaced the one they had signed 3 years ago. They did not forget the message that you presented during your first visit.”

Brian Coleman
Principal
Little Falls (NY) Middle School

“Rich,
Thank you so much for spending time with our Thousand Islands family today. Your message in so very important. It isn’t lavish and trendy, loud or colorful. Instead it is one that draws you in like an incredible educator does. It was poignant, compassionate, and certainly brings a sense of urgency to our need to be kind and caring. You spoke not only to our students, but to the teachers, support staff and administration. Your message was heard and I am confident you have given us the jump start we need to gain momentum and reach our 99. Thank you for sharing your journey and backpack stories with us.”

My best to you always,
Andrea Lomber
Principal
Thousand Island Middle School
Clayton, NY

“Good Evening,

I am a teacher at Thousand Islands where you spoke today. I was the one with 6 special needs students in the front row. 6 students who struggled to listen and sit still, who only made it through half the presentation, who were the kids you were speaking so much about. I had tears in my eyes for much of my time there because your message was so simple and meaningful, yet so lacking in our world. I have a special place in my heart for my students and others like them, and to see there is good done for them (by you) makes me so happy.

I wanted to stick around to thank you personally for the message and signed book, it meant a lot to me! Unfortunately, my students could not sit any longer and a snack and sensory break were a priority. So, thank you. Your presentation and messages were touching. I hope more people, of all ages can find the 99 in their life to share with others.”

Thank you again,
Leann Hill

Teacher
Guardino Elementary School
Thousand Island (NY) Central School District

Presenting to an Amazing Group of Young people at SUNY Adirondack. Working in conjunction with Kim Wegner and the PTECH Freshman Leadership Forum they/we interacted like no other group. Our students need to have Conversation on Important issues such as mirco aggression, loss, suicide, mental health and depression. This Group Will Help AWRA to set the standard of the importance to bring to students the necessary issues they face every day.

“Thank you Rich for sending a powerful message to our youth, you are making a difference!”

Kim Wegner
Coordinator of Enrichment
STEM Education & Career Connections
WSWHE BOCES
Saratoga Springs, NY

“Hi Coach Johns,

I don’t know if you remember me but you came to South Glens Falls High School and spoke to us. I was one of the first girls you handed something too, you gave me a shirt. You also gave me a signed book.

I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. It means a lot to me. I have lost a lot of people and have felt lost. I’ve gotten better recently and that little act, I know it might not seem like much to you, I appreciated it more than I can say. It made me feel like I can make a change, that I’m important, and can do something with my life.

I just wanted to send this because I could not come back to see you after your second speech.”

Thank You.
Brittany Hanchett
South Glens Falls High School

“Hi Rich,

I was very touched by your presentation at the HOBY NYE seminar. I was wondering if there is any way I could get any of the books you were talking about, and also potentially a small t-shirt? I want to get the books to further educate myself on respect and would love a shirt as a memory of the message of the presentation. Thank you for sharing your beautiful message of the 99%. You are seriously an inspiration for everything you have done with the AWRA program.

Thank you again for everything.”

Kunika Chahal
HOBY NYE Leadership Conference
Student
Stony Brook University

“Coach,
Thanks again for speaking at our seminar today. Our ambassadors and staff alike were extremely moved by your talk.”

Katherine Curtis
HOBY NE
Leadership Conference
SUNY @ Oneonta

Coach Johns shared a number of stories which moved the audience to tears several times. These examples reinforced that if you are capable of having empathy, you are also capable of carrying out acts of kindness toward others. Coach Johns reminds us to live each day with empathy and humanity at the core of the decisions we make and the interactions we choose to have with people.

Jodie McGough
School Counselor
South Glens Falls High School
South Glens Falls, NY

“Dear Coach Johns,

We can’t thank you enough for your wonderful presentation yesterday. Your message of kindness, respect and purpose was so important to hear – not only for our students, but for us as well! You did a great job connecting with our students and I know they were impressed. We are certainly going to share your message with other clubs and classes in our high school. Your message is so important.”

Thank you again,

Cathy Roy
Kevin Flores
Advisors
Sponsor A Scholar
Ballston Spa (NY) High School

I received the wonderful note below following my presentation and Q & A with U Albany students. Excellent example of Respect Alberto!

“Good Evening Rich Johns,
Your presentation at the University at Albany was great! It was emotional, but at the same time gave me a sense of hope, that everything in our world will be okay. I have a story, not quite like Kim DeCesare, from Duke University, but I have always wanted to do good to others.

This winter I saw a lady going around with her daughter on her back collecting bottles and cans. It made me feel so sad inside. It just so happened that I had also had been collecting cans, this year, just to recycle. I decided to give them to her. The joy in her face made me feel like an entirely different person.
Ever since then, I have seen her a few times and she says always says hello. Next time, I will try to follow Kim’s example and say hello and possible invite her in and find out her story.

Your presentation was very inspiring!”

Alberto Salcedo
Student
National Society of Leadership and Success
SUNY Albany

We’re excited to share this recent audio interview and article with Rich Johns on WGY, Upstate Issues. Below is an excerpt from the article, we encourage you to read the full article, and listed to the audio. Please tell us what you think over on our Facebook page.

“Complaints about uncivilized and disrespectful behavior are nothing new. At sporting events, on social media, in the workplace, in politics, even waiting in line at the grocery store, we see and hear disturbing things.

Rich Johns is trying to do something about it.

He’s on a character development mission for children called “Act With Respect Always.” Given his decades as a teacher and coach, Johns is in a unique position to teach about respect.”

Read more here

“Rich,
As a high school English teacher and soccer coach, “Respect” has always been a focus of my instruction. Our mission and focus of respect of our soccer teams tied in so beautifully with Coach Johns’ message. Our teams made the decision to make “RESPECT” their pre-practice, pre-game, post-practice, post-game call and had it emblazoned on their team warm up shirt. It was inspiring to see our students’ positive reaction to Rich’s presentation.

As in many of our invited guests, Coach Johns had to compete with our student’s lunch period that followed his presentation. Usually they flee as quickly as possible at the end of any presentation. This time, better than forty of our students missed lunch to stay behind and talk with Rich and several students even returned after lunch to make contact. He definitely reached our student body with a much needed message.”

Bill Keating
Boys Soccer Coach
Coordinator of Advocacy
English Teacher
St. Edward’s High School
Vero Beach, Florida

Kathy Hill – left, and Fawn Emerson Persuitti right

“Rich,
Thank you again for the chance to experience your Act With Respect Always presentation in Vero Beach today. Wonderful to see the overwhelming response from the students and teachers. Comforting to know so many will bring your message of kindness forward.”

Kathy Jarvis Hill
Lake Worth, Florida

“Dear Rich,
I enjoyed your presentation today. It was nice to see the reaction and interaction of the students at St. Edward’s School. May they continue to ‘pay it forward’ and respect themselves as well as others. It was great to see you. Proud to call you my friend. May your good work continue as you are changing the world!”

Fawn Emerson Persuitti
Fort Pierce, Florida

“Hey Coach Johns, I’m sitting here grabbing a late dinner because I came straight from practice to your presentation, but as soon as I sat down this email is the first thing I wanted to write. I wish I was able to speak with you more tonight, but I’m so glad all the other student athletes were so eager to meet and talk with you.

First, I wanted to thank you for making my night. You truly are the embodiment of your message. I know how many people you must meet in your travels and for you to greet me like no time had passed between last spring and now was awesome. Also, I’m honored that you included me in your slide show. I am very impressed with the power of your presentation.

The atmosphere in the room and among the athletes leaving was much different than that of our usual meetings. Everyone I talked to left the room with a new optimism and that is so special because even if that optimism only lasts the last few hours before they go to bed, everyone they touch between now and then will feel the effects of your message. You have an amazing talent and have built a special organization.

Thank you for taking your time to come see us!

Best,
Dylan Payne

P.S. Thank you for the new shirt! You can be sure I’ll be wearing it tomorrow around campus.“

Dylan Payne Is a Member of the Duke University Swim Team and Mentor for Duke’s First Year Action Group

“Rich,

Thank you again so much for taking time to talk with our ACTION program. Your message was very well-received and I have no doubt impacted even more than I/we may hear about. I most definitely will be following up about having you back next year—maybe in October–earlier!! J

I really enjoyed your demeanor and presence, and hope to share you with more folks that I know around the country at some point too. Keep doing this important and genuine life work!!!!

Again, sincere thanks for working with us and making all this possible!!”

Leslie Barnes
Assistant Athletic Director: Student Athlete Development
Duke University
First Year ACTION Group

“Dear Mr. Johns,

My name is Leah Goldman I am a sophomore on the Duke swim team. I introduced myself at the very end of the action meeting tonight.
I want to thank you so much for taking the time to come to Duke and speak to us.

Being a first year mentor I have already gone through the Action meetings once and I have to say your talk was the best Action meeting I have ever attended. Your message and words spoke to me. I am going to beg Leslie and William to bring you back every year because I truly believe in the message you are trying to spread.

I think everyone needs to hear it. I am usually a very strong, stoic person, I rarely show emotion, but your and Leslie’s words really hit home and I just couldn’t help but let my emotions out at the end of the meeting.

I feel so fortunate to not only be at Duke, but be a student athlete at Duke and get to participate in meetings and activities like Action and get the opportunity to listen and meet people like yourself.

I now know that every day I wake up the number 99 will pop in my head and I will try my very best to keep it as close to 99 throughout the day.
I am keeping your Act with Respect Always book next to my bed.

Thank you!”
Leah Goldman

Leah Is a Member of the Duke University Swim Team
And Mentor for Duke’s First Year Action Group

“Act with Respect Always (AWRA) is an incredible program with a wonderful message.  Coach Johns is a wonderful presenter and truly practices what he preaches. The best part of the program is that it is not difficult to do or understand.  The message is simple: be kind, be empathetic, pay it forward with random acts of kindness. These acts can, and should be, simple, easy, everyday things. Saying “hello” to your teacher or a colleague, saying “I love you” before you leave your home for the day, holding a door open for someone, or saying “thank you” when someone has held the door open for you. These are not difficult things to do yet, all too often, we forget. We don’t mean to forget, but we get busy, distracted, overwhelmed with the ever-growing lists of responsibilities and activities that we all, kids and adults alike, find ourselves doing.  

AWRA is a reminder to all of us to take the time to be kind, take the time to smile at one another, take the time to listen to each other. We all have a backstory, no matter who you are. We all have baggage in our invisible backpacks. For some people, their baggage is heavy, for the more fortunate, it may be lighter. However, it’s there. Remember that, and be respectful of that. To quote Dr. Wayne Dyer, as well as the book Wonder that Coach Johns shared with me and the Broadalbin-Perth Intermediate School, “When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind”.  That’s what AWRA is all about.”

Andrea Hamill, LCSW
Intermediate School Social Worker
Broadalbin-Perth (NY) Intermediate School

John Borgolini recently wrote an article for the Fulton County Express about my visit to Broadalbin-Perth Intermediate School.

By JOHN BORGOLINI
Fulton County Express

PERTH — While talking to a supervisor in 1974, Rich Johns was told he should cut his shoulder-length hair and shave his moustache before interviewing for a tennis coaching position with the Saratoga Springs School District.

“Hopefully they’re going to take me for what I am. I’m not going to change my one percent,” Johns told his supervisor.

The former tennis coach shared this story with the students at the Broadalbin-Perth Intermediate School Thursday morning during a speech of his “Act with Respect Always” presentation.

Read the full article here...

“Hello,

Again I wanted to thank you for your presentation at Southern Vermont College. My name is Emily Lesure and I talked to you afterward about how you included the Carpe Diem quote in your presentation. Today I was more aware about how I interacted with people, and I cannot believe how much I just try to keep to myself rather than just say a quick hello to someone passing by, regardless of the environment that I am in. I have been so focused on school lately that I haven’t notice how much I have neglected the people that I live with. So that I thank you for.

I also wanted a copy of “Out of my Mind” please? I have heard good things about it, even before your presentation. Can you also sign it for me? I want to remember who it is from because you have helped me to focus myself back to what matters the most in life, how we treat others.”

Thank You,

Emily Lesure
Southern Vermont College
Bennington, Vermont

“Dear Mr. Johns,

It was such a pleasure seeing you yesterday, and I’m so glad I finally got the chance to hear one of your famous lectures! I still remember sitting in your classroom as a sixth grader, and you would always start class out on a positive note. You would inculcate us with your wonderful message of respect, even before you started AWRA. Your presentation yesterday left me feeling empowered and hopeful that every single day we can strive to achieve a character score of 99 by being kind, compassionate, respectful, empathetic, and non-judgmental. In light of recent events in this nation and in others, it is all to easy to feel as though there is “nothing” we can do, but your message is a true testament that meeting hate with kindness can help us rise above the hated and aggression. On a micro level, even the smallest acts of kindness are meaningful, and these acts are the ones we have control over every single day. It is a beautiful and comforting feeling knowing that every day we hold the power to be kind and help someone else, which is not only a win-win situation for everyone involved, but is also a stone thrown in water which has the potential to become a ripple effect. Spreading empathy and compassion is of upmost importance, because no matter who you are, or where you come from, kindness is universal, and only leads to positive effects.

Thank you so much for visiting SUNY Adirondack yesterday. As I mentioned before, we need more people like you to come in and speak on such fundamental and important topics such as respect, kindness, empathy, and compassion. Too often these concepts are just “words” thrown around in conversation, but it is wonderful having someone like you around to remind us that these words are actions that can, and must, be taken on a daily basis. Your message really resonated with me, and I look forward to carrying your ‘Act With Respect Always’ message with me wherever I go.

I wish you nothing but the very best as you continue to spread AWRA across the nation. Please realize how grateful I am to know someone like you, who emulates and embodies everything AWRA represents. I admire your tenacity to spread your message to all those fortunate enough to cross your path, and I look forward to seeing all the good that will continue to come of this mission.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday season, and please be sure to keep in touch!”

With gratitude and admiration,
Allison Accettella

“Dear Coach Johns,
Hi, my name is Bailey and I’m in 7th Grader at Waterford-Halfmoon Jr. Sr. High School. You came to my school on Friday and talked to the 7th and 8th grade, I would like to thank you for the speech. Your talk inspired me to treat people with more care and to not judge them by their 1%. That day I thought my score was about a 50% and you told me that everyone can earn a 99% and that is now my goal, to have a 99% every day.”

Thank you for your time,
Bailey Thibodeau
Student
Waterford Jr/Sr High School

I want to thank Benita Zahn for a great piece about ‘bullying’. She mentions that our ActWithRespectAlways program is not a one and done program. Every good program must be an ongoing effort to instill the KINDNESS necessary to bring change. Thank you Benita for speaking out on this important topic. Here is her piece for all to see. – Rich Johns

Dear Mr. Johns,
I am a sophomore nursing major who is on the Volleyball Team at Hartwick College and had the honor of listening to your speech yesterday (Sunday). I found it extremely well put together, and it really sent a strong message to me. I never viewed my character as 99% or the 1% but do find myself now thinking about it every time I go to do something or say something. I find myself thinking more and more about others around me and myself in a positive way, and really would like the opportunity to spread this thought about your individual character. I was hoping you would be able to send me a shirt that has the number 99 on the back, that way I hope people will ask me about it and I can spread it that way. Also, I would love the opportunity to read 13 Reasons Why and Wonder and have you sign them too.
You have impacted my life.

Thank you again,
Nicole Wyse
Hartwick College

Hi Coach Johns!

I just wanted to thank you again for coming to speak at my school, I’m sure it was an eye opening experience to many of the student athletes that attended, as I know it did for myself! I’m so thankful to have had you as a teacher myself and got to grow up with such an inspiring saying that always is in my head and I take with me wherever I go. I’m so happy to have the “Act With Respect Always” with me here at school to remind me to always be kind, caring and compassionate towards others, not only sometimes, but always. Having you speak tonight was truly another eye opening experience. I am so thankful for all you’ve done not only at Hartwick, but in Saratoga as well. I hope to see more of Act with Respect Always wherever I go and will do all I can to spread the word. Thanks so much for my shirt! I hope you hear from some of my Hartwick peers about their stories as well!

Hope to see you soon!

Sarah Ryan
Field Hockey

“Dear Coach Johns,
I am so pleased that we were able to make arrangements for you to visit the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont last week. When I first saw your message about RESPECT last year I knew our Rotary Club needed to bring you to our community to talk to our students. Your message of kindness and respect is so important to our young people as they struggle each and every day to make their way through a very difficult world. What a tremendous impact you had on our students as witnessed by the letter from Jasmine. I’m convinced many more felt the same way, but they just didn’t have the courage to come forward to give you that message. Thanks again for bringing your wonderful message to our students and hopefully we can work on this and make it a continuing project for years to come. Hope you have a great year and I look forward to working with you in the future. Thanks for Being a hero every day.”

Roger Cartee
President
Rotary of Newport
Newport, Vermont

“Hi Coach!
My name is Jasmine Pion and I’m a sophomore here at North Country High School. I just wanted to let you know how appreciative I am for you coming all this way to talk to us and share your experiences. Although I just met you and you have no idea who I am, I would really love to talk to you. Today was just a quick talk about respect and I am already so moved from what you said. You inspire me to achieve that 99 and say no to that 1%. You have changed my life drastically and I cannot say thank you enough. Thank you. I promise to keep smiling and spreading kindness! I would love to spread the word of your teachings and spread the word about how important each and every day truly is. I would love a reply. I just wanted to write this letter and give you a huge thank you to the man that inspired and moved me to be a better person. Best of luck to you and hope to hear back. Have a great day and keep on sharing and teaching!”

Jasmine Pion
Sophomore
North Country Union High School
Newport, Vermont

“Rich,

Thank you so much for all that you did for our school family today! You are truly appreciated! I hope that you felt comfortable and valued in our school today and that you will keep returning. My students came back to the classroom after their morning session and had a lot they wanted to share. They are writing some notes to send your way. You made a real difference for them today. Thank you again!

We will keep Act With Respect Always growing here at OESJ!”

Elaine McNulty
Teacher
Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville CSD
St. Johnsville, NY

“It was amazing how Coach Johns was able to capture on LGI full of antsy 7th graders – when he asked for eye contact and to sit up straight and they responded – POWERFUL!

I also heard more feedback from the kids regarding this presentation, than I have from other presentations. No offense to our recent presenters the last few years, but your presentation made an impact. Something happened this week. I truly feel that an impact was made for a majority of our kids and it got them thinking. The kids were captivated! That is the most feedback (and positive) that I have heard from students, both current and former (8th grade). This message can and should and will be different.”

Olivia Sutton
Seventh Grade Teacher
Oliver Winch Middle School
South Glens Falls, NY

“Coach Johns, today I sent this note to my parents after your visit.

We learned about what it means to be a 99%. Everyday we have a choice and by our actions decide if our character (how others see you) can be a 99. Do we smile at others, let people know we care, show respect, stand up to unkindness, and not gossip? Do we make fun of someone’s 1% (the way he or she looks)? We can control our 99. Perhaps you are at an 85%. How can you bring online pharmacy YOUR Character to a 99%. Please encourage your children to be an 99. We can’t always be a 99, but we can self assess and make a decision to do better.”

Tina Fuller
Teacher
Corinth Elementary School
Corinth, NY

Coach,
Thank you so much for such a wonderful presentation on Friday. After you left I was able to deal with a discipline situation structuring our whole conference with the student about his 99 and what he shows on the outside, his 1%. The analogy of the invisible backpack will really help us to teach empathy with our students, many of whom have backpacks, like all of us, jammed full and sometimes overflowing with life issues.

I just had a nice conversation with Zach Brown, 2nd from left in the photo. He was telling me about how impactful the message was, how much he could relate to you and what you were saying and how much he really enjoyed the presentation. Zach really is a leader among his peers, so to hear him speak so positively about the presentation really helped other students to buy into the message as well.

Again, thank you for sharing your time and message with our school and our students. We have received such positive feedback and are so thankful that you were able to join us.

Have a wonderful day.

Jennifer DeVinney
Administrative Intern
Spanish Teacher
Solvay Middle School
Solvay, NY

Act With Respect Always, “What’s Your 99% Today?” are the messages that Coach Johns brought to our school. His presentation, stories and positive messages grabbed our students’ attention while reinforcing good character. His program enhanced our school’s character program to be an “Action Jackson” and supported our day to day efforts perfectly!
We are utilizing his 99% philosophy as well as the StarFish Award daily. We loved it!

Thank you Coach!

Carrie Mauro
Principal
Jackson Heights Elementary School
Glens Falls, NY

“Coach Johns is one of the most professional and effective people I’ve ever worked with. His personality and stories resonate with students of all ages, and bringing this program to our school was a sensible decision. With just an hour and a half to speak to our kids, Coach Johns made a positive impact on our school environment that will last all year. Do yourself and your program, team, school, etc a favor and bring Coach Johns in to present!”

Stephanie MacArthur
Teacher
Physical Education and Health
Stillwater Middle School

“I always knew I wanted Coach Johns to come our school, ever since I saw him present ‘Act with Respect Always’ at the Middle Level Conference, but it didn’t happen until now. Many thanks to the Prevention Council and Coach Johns for making our September 2015 Wellness Day truly about the impact of being healthy in mind and spirit. Students understood the power of their “99” and how they can make every day count. This is not a one shot presentation; it is a mindset that can change the way students treat each other, adults, and the world around them. Coach- you made an impact on every single member of our school community- thank you!”

Patrica Morris
Principal
Stillwater (NY)Middle School

“So excited to have my beloved former teacher come in to speak to my campers this week and he inspired them as he has many before them. Mr. Johns’ message of kindness, paying it forward, empathy and character resonated with the kids. He had them really thinking about the simple ways we show respect to each other; a smile, eye contact, listening, and being helpful. Just within the few days left of the program, I saw a difference in how the kids treated each other and the adults who came in to work with them. Mr. Johns has an amazing way of reaching kids with a positive message and inspiring them to be their best!”

– Jen Veitch
Volunteer for Racetrack Chaplaincy Backstretch Camp

“Mr. Johns, I cannot thank you enough for recognizing me among people as powerful as yourself. I am blessed to know you and walk in your footsteps to a better positive character filled society.”

With Love
Morgan McCarthy
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

“Coach Johns, For the past few years you have been an incredible positive influence in my life. I would like to thank you for this because without all the messages you promote I know I would not be the same person today. Thinking about my personal 99% and how I influence other people’s lives with my actions has been essential to my character growth.

As I am moving to Tacoma, Washington due to my father’s job, I am sad about leaving Saratoga Springs. However this move will be a positive one and I will make sure to project all the messages that Act With Respect Always
represents.”

Sincerely,
Caitlyn Bell
High School Sophomore
Tacoma, Washington

Another great example of Our Saratoga Springs Community Police doing wonderful Acts of Kindness. Check out this note from Assistant Chief of Police, John Catone.

“Today Chief Greg Veitch and I donated 22 backpacks to the Franklin Community Center for children who are in need. We are invested in our community and organizations like the Franklin Community Center who do a fantastic job of providing a wide range of services to those in need. Coach Johns, this was our 99 today.”

Assistant Chief
John Catone
Saratoga Springs (NY) Police Department

“Coach Johns,
I personally would like to extend a sincere thanks on behalf of the Southern Adirondack PTECH Early College High School Program, for speaking to our students during the Summer STEM Camp. We witnessed the transformation of students upon hearing your significant messages, “Pay it Forward” and “What’s Your 99%.” Students undoubtedly received several take-a-ways, however the most important message they were able to appreciate was the characteristics of a true leader. Realizing that everyone can be a leader, students walked away from the program a little kinder, a little taller, and a little more humble.

Best,
Kim Wegner
Director – Southern Adirondack
PTECH Early College High School Program

“Coach Rich Johns of “Act With Respect Always” was a key speaker at today’s Camp Abilities Saratoga’s welcoming ceremony.

Thank you Coach Johns for sharing your message and thank you to the Saratoga Lions and all the other sponsors and people involved in making Camp Abilities year two a reality. Visual impairment is a cause near and dear to me and my family and I’m so very proud of my husband Joe Brady for his involvement. I can’t wait to see what this week has in store for the campers. With Love”

Angela Brady

“Thanks to Rich Johns for his excellent presentation of a program he has developed “Act With Respect Always”. We are honored to be the first Police Department you have presented to and hopefully antibiotics many more will follow.”

John Catone
Assistant Chief of Police
Saratoga Springs, NY

See the article on WNYT.com

“Hello Coach Johns!

I don’t know if you remember me, but I am Emily Arquette, a 7th grader at Whitehall CSD. My friends Keriona, Brendan and Jacob helped you bring in supplies for the assembly. I think your message is truly inspiring and we were so lucky to have you come in and speak to us!! I loved it so much. I was wondering if I could support it by wearing one of your 99% shirts??

I know you probably get a lot of requests for these shirts because of how inspiring and motivational your message is.

Thank you for everything you do!!

PS: I am currently in the middle of reading Wonder !!

Thank you
Emily”

“Hello Rich,

On behalf of our organization, I would like to thank you so so much for coming out and speaking to us. The members loved your presentation and were very thankful for the shirts you gave to us. We are planning to make a donation to your cause by the end of the semester.

We are having our members participate in our very own challenge called #WhatsYour99Challenge. We are going to have our members post on social media themselves wearing your shirts, they will post a caption explaining the meaning behind the hashtag, and we will be posting your donation link with the photos in hopes to have others donate to the cause as well. It’s our way of supporting you! As soon as the challenge begins we will make sure to send you pictures of the participants.

Once again, we thank you for coming and I hope we can make a difference by having our members donate.

Best,

Sade Bowen
President of the Albany Chapter of the NSLS”

“Hi Coach Rich,

This is Audrey Gibson from Duke University! We met this morning in Coach Welsh’s class. I just wanted to thank you again for the book, Wonder, but more importantly thank you for sharing your message with me. Your passion is so vibrant and contagious. I’d love to stay in contact to learn more about your program and how I can get more involved.

All the best,
Audrey Gibson”

“Spent the morning at Whitehall High School listening to a friend on a mission with a message we should all hear and live by.

Way to go Rich Johns —- ActWithRespectAlways — YOU CARPED THIS DIEM AND MADE A DIFFERENCE

Bob Bohmaker
Former Teacher – Coach
Fort Ann Central School District”

Andrew Catalon of CBS Sports has endorsed Coach Rich Johns and the Act With Respect Always program.

“I am very excited to have Andrew as part of the AWRA movement. He was one of the first individuals in the Capital Region to believe in it.” said Coach Rich Johns

Catalon had worked as a sports anchor and reporter at WNYT 13 for nearly 10 years prior to moving onto the national scene with CBS Sports.

On the AWRA website Catalon says:
“It’s wonderful to see the impact Act With Respect Always has made both regionally and nationally. Kudos to Rich for the energy and passion he’s dedicated to this project. I’m a big fan of AWRA.”

Coach Rich Johns, founder of the Act With Respect Always (AWRA) program has been endorsed by Minnesota Twins pitcher and Saratoga Springs native Tim Stauffer. Stauffer who played high school baseball for Coach Phonsey Lambert at Saratoga Central Catholic is another in a long line of professionals to endorse AWRA.

“Tim Stauffer represents everything that Act With Respect Always strives to be. I cannot thank him enough in his endorsement and belief that every one can make a difference every day” said Coach Rich Johns.

Tim made his big-league debut in 2005, he went on to go 32-34 with a 3.87 ERA in 183 appearances (73 starts) over parts of nine seasons.

On the AWRA website Stauffer says:
“In life both on and off the field I believe that respect is one of the most important things that we can give and receive. I believe that the Golden Rule, which states “So always treat others as you would like them to treat you” best sums up how I was raised and how I strive to act each and every day. The Act with Respect Always program is a great tool for our young people to implement in their lives. Coach Johns’ message can and should be implemented in every walk of life. Thank you Rich for all you do.”

It was a wonderful evening listening to so many passionate people at Our Community’s Board of Education meeting. Each asking our board members to please place kindness, compassion and dignity as our school district’s number one mission. Below is a letter written from Colleen O’Connor-Potter, one of the many speakers from the evening.

“My hope is that Our Community’s Board of Education truly listened to the passionate people that spoke this evening. That they will act and show everyone that they do represent our community on this very important topic. A common character core of kindness for everyone to live by who interacts in our schools at any level, would truly lead the way to excellence for years to come. Our school district has been asked to ‘pay it forward’ not only for Saratoga Springs, but for other school districts to emulate. Everyone benefits.”

– Coach Rich Johns

“What we need is an agreement that a change in behavior is necessary where all adults hold each other accountable for their words, their behaviors and their actions without fear of professional repercussions or backlash.”

– Colleen O’Conor Potter (Read More)

“Today I had the privilege of hearing our friend Rich Johns speak at Saratoga Central Catholic to the high school students. His Act With Respect Always campaign is committed to spreading the message of the importance of strong character and paying it forward. I’m so thankful for your dedication to making our world a kinder place Rich!
I LOVE my shirt, what a wonderful surprise! I’m so grateful to you for your kindness and for being such a role model to Victoria and countless others. Your message is so important and you’re making a real difference by sharing it.”

Thank you!!!

Carla Lawrence Alvord
Parent of Victoria Alvord
Greenfield Center, NY

“We had the pleasure of having Coach Johns spend the day with us at Geyser Road School last week. AWRA is such a powerful program that impacts both students and adults. I find myself daily referring to the AWRA poster hanging in my classroom with my students in our everyday activities. I’ve already seen children “paying it forward” with simple smiles and gestures to one another. Thank you Coach Johns!”

Laura Endieveri
2nd Grade Teacher
Geyser Road Elementary School
Saratoga Springs, NY

Article written Tuesday, July 5th, 2011
by Richard Harwood, The Harwood Institute

Amid the rising anxiety and anger vexing Americans today, I wanted to write about what it means to lead in this nasty environment. First I thought about focusing on the president, then congress, or corporate leaders; but each time I started, I found myself veering back to one person in particular: my high school tennis coach, who won a national award for his exemplary leadership, and who has some lessons to inspire us all.

There are more than enough examples these days of challenges of leading in a nasty world. But anything I would say points me back to Rich Johns, a real life example of a genuine leader. A couple of years ago, Rich won the Starfish Award given out by the United States Tennis Association, for his “no-cut” system of high school coaching. Every kid who comes out to play is on the team. But that’s only the beginning of the story.

First off, don’t misread how or why he won the USTA award: he’s no pushover. Lesson #1, He loves winning, and he’s not afraid to say so. Indeed, he’s one of the most demanding people I’ve ever known. His teams (both girls and boys) win religiously.

Lesson #2, he expects each player to leave everything they’ve got on the court. He will settle for nothing less than highly competitive play. I’ll never forget the season I played number one singles for him, and during one match I got sick and was hit by heat stroke. I didn’t want to quit, and nor did he ask me to. Instead, he laid me out on the cool shower-room floor, doused me with water, and then talked me into going back on the court to finish and win the match. He doesn’t like to lose.

But then there’s Lesson #3: he expects fair play at every turn and he brooks no one crossing the line. I’ve seen him argue firmly and openly with other coaches about their players’ cheating; and I’ve seen him take on his own players for the same. To him, there are some rules that should never be broken because they strike to the very heart of what it means to have integrity.

Lesson #4 is that he expects his players to play with respect. He’s a legend in my hometown for this, and it’s something he’s fast becoming nationally known for. Rich implores you to fight your hardest, but always treat others with honor and dignity. These can be difficult notions to hold simultaneously. But the bottom-most player deserves the same respect as the top dog. Everyone participates; no one sits courtside. No excuses, ever. You show respect for others, and you learn to respect yourself.

And yet, if it comes down to compromising his core principles, he’s willing to lose and play for another day. We need more leaders like Rich.

What does this have to do with the national scene today? Two keys I want to mention here. First, in sports, as in politics, and in all parts of life, we need more leaders like Rich Johns. You always know where he stands, and he always speaks clearly so you can hear him. He doesn’t hide, flinch, or retreat. What he values is crystal clear. What’s more, what he does is not about himself or his own aggrandizement; rather, he seeks to advance a cause larger than himself (in case, the life and growth of kids). And in pursuit of this cause, he is never dogmatic, always open to working things out. And yet, if it comes down to compromising his core principles, he’s willing to lose and play for another day. We need more leaders like Rich.

Here’s the second key: when you find leaders like Rich – whether they’re athletic coaches or politicians or someone else – let them know that you value and support them, even if, or especially when, you do not agree with them. Too many leaders are getting undercut in these nasty times. Please, sit down and write them a letter or email today to let them know! When we see good leaders, we must stand by them.

So, for me, thanks Rich Johns, for being my mentor and friend since 1974, when we first met, when I was only 14 years old. Thank you for being someone I look up to, stand by, and love with all my heart.


“Coach – Thank you!

Our students had the opportunity to spend the morning with you and be involved in a topic that is so timely and relevant. Your ability to reach them, where they’re at, was impressive and critical in getting them to buy into your mission.”

L. Steven Lombard
Principal
Saratoga Central Catholic High School
Saratoga Springs, NY  12866

“Dear Coach Johns,

Thank you for coming to Duanesburg Central School to speak to our 6th grade students. The faculty, staff, and students absolutely loved the presentation and I know we will pay it forward!

Thanks again.”

Jaymes White
Guidance Counselor
Duanesburg Central School District

“As the principal of Queensbury Middle School, I feel we are very fortunate to have had Mr. Rich Johns speak with our students, faculty and parents.”

“Coach Johns’ message, Act with Respect Always, is applicable in so many ways for both students and adults in our community. He has packaged his life experiences and the stories of others into a presentation that can be tailored to fit any constituent group. I have seen him speak six times, and his stories and reflections resonate with everyone who attends. He addresses civility, citizenship, empathy, value systems, and the need to develop a true sense of community to assist all of us in being better students, parents, teachers, administrators, and spouses.”

“Most of all, Coach Johns makes the mission of acting and treating others with respect tangible. In describing the 99% that makes up your inside versus the 1% that you are able to show on the outside, he helps listeners develop a baseline of what the perfect day would look like. Children and adults alike learn how to measure their success by looking back on the decisions they made about how to treat others and how to maintain their belief systems when pressed to make tough choices. This is a powerful tool for self-assessment at any stage of your life. For our students, asking, “What’s your 99% today?” has created a culture of self-reflection where they reflect on what it means to be a better person who makes better choices.”

“The banners, books, wristbands, and other resources that Coach Johns provided our school will assist us in sustaining the mission of Act with Respect Always. Thank you Coach Johns.”

Richard Keys
Queensbury Middle School
Principal

“I have heard such wonderful feedback from our teachers and staff about your visit and the positive impact on our children. I was very impressed by all aspects of your visit and I think that all schools (and other institutions!) would benefit significantly from your messages!”

“Keep up the great work.”

Richard Smiles
Principal
Stowe Elementary School
Stowe, Vermont

Coach Johns brings a message that all can learn from. It comes from the heart and touches the mind of many. Coach spent the day with us at OESJ High School doing three presentations. The message was the same but the delivery to the different groups was differentiated for each group.

Our 9 -12 students had the privilege of hearing Coach deliver his heart felt message during the day. In the evening we invited the community, athletes and their parents to listen to the message of “respect”. It was amazing to watch how many students flocked around him at the end of the evening to chat with him even after hearing him speak during the day.

However, the tell tale sign of his success showed up about a week after his visit. One of our students had an issue with a teacher just before break. I was in the gym chatting with him about the incident. He was explaining to me how the teacher did this and did that. I stopped him after a minute and just said to him, “what was your 99 at that time?” His reply was instantaneous, as he looked at me and said, “may I leave?” Obviously, I asked him where he had to go because I thought we needed to chat a little more. His reply, “I have to go apologize!” and off he went! I looked at Coach Brundage and asked him if he saw what just happened. His reply, “It was like a light bulb went off!”

Thank you Coach Johns for speaking to our community and students!

Being a school board member of a newly merged school district and also an active leader of the Booster Club I was very encouraged by Coach Johns’ presentation. I think it is an important message he is bringing to our whole community. Our students and parents were on the edge of their seats during the entire presentation. Coach Johns has an open invitation to come back and speak to us anytime and I know that we will be a better school both on and off the field because of Coach Johns. WHATS YOUR 99%?

Jason Romeyn
School Board Member
Oppenheim Ephratah St. Johnsville CSD

What a great choice we made to kick off the start of this school year by having Rich Johns speak to our students and parents. He is authentic and presents real-life situations that enables his audience to make emotional connections that will not be forgotten. As a school counselor, I continue to bring his lessons into conversations that I have with students about self-reflection and showing empathy for others. As a school, we have common language such as “What’s your 99% today?” It’s great to have a phrase that cuts right to the heart of the matter and every one gets it. Rich Johns doesn’t present a canned program but a living, breathing dose of what truly matters, people.

Antoinette Donahue
School Counselor
William H. Barton Intermediate School
Queensbury, NY

Two volleyball players from Massapequa High School speak with Coach Johns following his speech at the
NYSPHSAA State Volleyball Championships in Glens Falls, NY

“Rich Johns spoke at the NY State volleyball banquet this past weekend. He spoke to about 300 plus teenagers as they were honored for making the State Tournament. He amazed me how he was able to tear them away from their cellphones and engage them in his message- Act with Respect Always. Afterwards I watched as many of them came up to Rich and ask for autographs and contact information so that he could come to their schools. He is a powerful speaker with a more powerful message!”

Amy Chambers
Lake George NY

Coach Johns,
Your visit today with our students and staff at D. H. Robbins was a memorable one. As the students left the classroom this afternoon and I was wishing them, “goodnight… Get your homework done” the last boy turned to me at the door and said “Thank you, Mrs. Brundage!” and had a huge smile on his face. I know he “Got it!” Sometimes programs like yours not only affects students, but can help to revitalize the adults. I know I am guilty of letting some days be too routine and maybe not being the best I can be! The message you share helps individuals to reflect and be accountable to yourself.

All responsibility of our actions is our own!

Dina Brundage
Third Grade Teacher
D.H. Robbins Elementary School
St. Johnsville, NY

I’m very proud to share these words, thank you both!

Dear Coach Johns,

“I really enjoyed your presentation to our students a few weeks back and really appreciated your powerful message.”

I am writing to share a story about your program and my son Kyan.

After your recent visit to WHBI in Queensbury I shared with my son, Kyan, a second grader in Queensbury’s Elementary School, that Coach Johns had visited my school. A short time later Kyan was working on a project through their school’s PTA and the National PTA’s reflection program. The theme for this year is “The World Would Be A Better Place if……….” Kyan decided to focus on “RESPECT” in the world. Locking hands with me we took this photo to share with you. The AWRA awareness bracelet front and center.”

Thank you Coach.

Mark Allen
Fourth Grade Teacher
Queensbury – WHBI

Coach Rich Johns was recently featured in a story covered by WNYT in regard to a recent high school football brawl.

A major concern following the fight is a lack of sportsmanship, but local groups like Act With Respect Always are working to get into schools to change that. “We’re hoping that each of them, that everyone speaks about this, really on a daily basis, but understands that we all are representing our school and community,” said Rich Johns, found of Act With Respect Always. “We want to do it in the best way possible.”

Click here to read the full article

A heartfelt comment sent from a student after a recent visit to Albany Academy for Girls, thanks so much Allie!

“Hi Coach Rich Johns,

Today you came to one of the leadership classes at Albany Academy for Girls. I would just like to thank you for coming to speak to our class. Coming to class and hearing your presentation turned my day around completely. It has inspired me to reach out to my family and friends, and also kamagra teach them about the Act With Respect Always program. It has impacted me in the way I interact with people, and pushes me to become a better person. You have encouraged me to say, “I love you,” more often to the most important people in my life. Thank you for giving a most uplifting presentation to our class. I will take this with me throughout my entire life.”

Sincerely,
Allie Bellair
Student
Albany Academy for Girls

"Coach Johns, Thank you for sharing your message of kindness, respect, and Paying it Forward with our elementary students.  Your program blended nicely with our existing Character Education program.  As you witnessed, our elementary students were moved by your words and your compassion.  We look forward to having you visit our elementary in the future and gauge our 99%."

Cheryl Record
Assistant Principal
Greenwich Elementary School
Greenwich, NY

"Coach Rich Johns delivered a powerful message to our students and staff. Acting With Respect Always and focusing on shaping our character will help to foster a community that respects each other for the uniqueness of each individual. In our class we have a “post” board. We asked the students to share what they took away from the assembly. It was great to see how your presentation resonated with all of them.

Thank you so much for sharing your message with our students."

Michelle Kenney and Brooke Harkins
Fifth Grade Teachers
Greenwich Elementary School
Greenwich, NY

“Awesome Program!
The kids were very excited all day about being respectful and kind!!
One Happy Teacher!!!”

Barb Moore
First Grade Teacher
Greenwich Elementary School
Greenwich, New York

“Our 4th and 5th grade students at the WHBI in Queensbury, NY were able to relate strongly to Rich Johns’ message of 99% Character. So often, students focus on only the 1% but Rich’s pay it forward mission of respect and working to improve the treatment of others, has really taken off since he was here! Each day in the cafeteria and classrooms you can here teachers, administrators, and students asking “What’s your score today?” His message has really given all of us an additional tool to put in our toolbox to help make positive differences in the lives of our students. We truly enjoyed Coach Johns’ visit to our school and will continue to push his mission of 99% Character! Thanks!”

Sincerely,

John Luthringer
Asst. Prinicipal
William H. Barton Intermediate School
Queensbury, NY

“Coach Johns showed our students how they can help our community thrive, and become one as a whole. Making snap judgments about others can be damaging. We need to look beyond the 1% on the outside, and get to know people for each unique person they are. Coach Johns has a gift, and he helped our students see that we all have gifts. The power comes from using those gifts to better the lives of those around us. “What’s your 99% today?” is a sustainable theme that we can incorporate into our daily lives. Thanks Coach Johns for leaving such a wonderful message with our school community.”

– Mike Brannigan, Assistant Principal – Queensbury Middle School

“What a difference you made in our lives! My two mantras have always been to pay it forward, and that you never know what crosses people carry, so always be kind to others. The Herkimer community got that message from Coach Johns in a far more meaningful way than one person alone could ever convey. Thank you for empowering us with our own courage and honesty to make a difference!”

Mary Tomaso
Principal
Herkimer Jr./ Senior High School
Herkimer, New York

Coach Rich Johns recently visited Hartford NY High School to present the Act With Respect Always Message. Below is a quote from Teacher, Rebecca Harke…

“It was absolutely amazing to have Rich get into the kids’ heads and really get down to their level. Too often kids are talked ‘at’ and not talked ‘with’. AWRA is a heart-warming xanax online program that will make anyone, of any age, stop and think. There were amazing stories shared that will continue to resonate with the participants for a long time to come. Thank you for spending time with us!”

Thank you for continuing to do what you do!

Rebecca Harke
Middle School Teacher
Hartford Central School District

“The Varsity Girls’ Tennis Team at Saratoga Springs High School recently completed the “pay it forward” ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in memory of Mike Beson. Mike was a longtime friend of mine, who passed away in October of 2013 from ALS. His wife, Elly, shared with all the players her story and the love that she and Mike shared. The players and coaches were so moved by Elly’s talk that the Challenge meant that much more to each of us.

Act With Respect Always was founded on the “paying it forward” movement four years ago. I am thankful to everyone who has joined the AWRA movement.

Please enjoy this article and the video.

What a wonderful experience for all of us.”

Coach Rich Johns

“What is your 99%? This has been the question asked all year at Southern Cayuga Jr high. Teachers have been encouraging Jr. High students to think about their actions and how they impact others. If you act with integrity and pay it forward you increase your 99%. Southern Cayuga was honored to have Mr. Rich Johns present to our students and his presentation was well received. To meet the man behind the words that pushes them to be better people well in their words… “that was cool”. We will continue the work started and keep building our 99% here at SCCS as we Act With Respect Always and pay it forward.”

Tanya Thompson
Guidance Counselor
Southern Cayuga Central School

“Dear Rich,
I wanted to write a quick note thanking you for your presentation. It was so positive, and the students clearly loved it. There was a buzz in the building after, and hopefully that will continue through the end of the school year.

Thanks also for providing lacrosse sticks for the students. The program has run its course, and Sue and I identified some students who do not have their own equipment nor the means to get any. We provided a couple of the students with sticks that up until that point had been borrowing them each day. In each case, I told the students that they had come from you, and that you were paying it forward. Each child was very moved.

Thank you again for all you have done for us at Thousand Island Middle School.”

Sincerely,
Michael Bashaw, Jr.
Principal
Thousand Island Middle School

During my wonderful visit to Argyle Central School District, I met, senior, Allison Havens. We spent some time together, at lunch, as she interviewed me regarding the Act With Respect Always mission. A very mature young lady, I was very impressed by her.

Allison wrote an article that appeared in their school / community newspaper, click here to read, I hope you will enjoy it.

Thank you Allison, and Argyle Central.

Recently I spent some time at SOLVAY MIDDLE SCHOOL, in Syracuse, as part of the Oswego BOCES Showcase. I was so fortunate to meet an eighth grader, Brie Ascrizzi, who instantly became an ambassador of AWRA. She showed so much kindness to me. A real helper during the day, she also introduced me to people, she felt, I should meet, including the District Superintendent.

Thank you Brie!
Coach Johns

Each year Little Leagues across the country have Opening Day Ceremonies. This year I was invited to speak at the Saratoga Springs National Little League’s ceremony. Speaking to players, parents, coaches and extended families, I was asked to share my Act With Respect Always mission.

I asked everyone to remember to be respectful to each other and that the main reason that children play sports is because it is fun.

Sharing my 99% Character I wanted everyone to know that we are not perfect, but we can strive to be kind to others and to strive to keep our personal ‘character score’ as high as possible every day.

“It was a great honor to have Coach Johns join us for our opening day ceremonies this year. The message of Act With Respect Always is so vital for our players, coaches and parents. Our banner is in full view, to act as a constant reminder for our entire community to Act With Respect Always, both on and off the field. It’s such an important message for all athletes, and all adults, both parents and coaches, who need to lead by example.

We will continue to pay it forward throughout our season and beyond!”

Derrick LeGall
President
Saratoga National Little League

Were you there? Send us a note about what your experience, or share it everyone on the AWRA facebook page.

“Saratoga Miss Softball is very appreciative of Rich’s “Act with Respect Always” speech which he gave during the Opening Day ceremony of our spring rec season. As an organization consisting of players between the ages of 4 and 17, their parents, and volunteer coaches and board members, this reminder was extremely beneficial and welcomed. We are grateful for the banner hanging proudly on our backstop as a constant reminder of the importance of respect and kindness toward each other. Thank you, Rich, for sharing your message with us!”

Sandy Muller
Saratoga Miss Softball

“Coach Johns recently captivated our Tri-County School Nutrition Association with his inspirational presentation. Normally a very lively group, not one person’s attention strayed. His message is simple and relevant: demonstrate empathy and kindness. His mission is one of a kind and shouldn’t be overlooked for any group presentation.
Thank you Coach Johns.”

Mrs Jane Pepin, SNS
School Nutrition Services
Hudson Falls (NY) Central School District

I just wanted to thank Coach Johns for visiting my classroom and Embassy Creek Elementary on your recent Florida visit. My students are STILL asking, not only themselves, but me as well, “What’s your 99% today?” I think how truly fortunate my students are to learn from you – as I did when I was in grade school. Thank you so much for your Act With Respect Always message, because my little second graders, not only got your message, but are also continuing to practice it loud and proud every day!

Karen Smalley Valachovic
Second Grade Teacher and Former Third Grade Student of Coach Johns
Embassy Creek Elementary School
Cooper City, Florida

During the Act With Respect Always presentation to our students last fall, Coach Johns mentioned Jay Asher’s book Thirteen Reasons Why as an example of how we can never know really what’s going on in another person’s life, and thus the need to treat each person with kindness and respect.

After the presentation, all twelve of our library copies of the book began circulating like crazy! I had seen Jay speak at a school library conference back in April and thought how wonderful it would be for our students to meet the author of this influential book. A quick email exchange later, and a visit was scheduled.

We are so grateful for this opportunity to extend Coach Johns’ message to our students.

Anne Paulson
School Librarian
Lake Placid (NY) High School

Our students, teachers and staff created an anti-bullying video called “Tell Me” after a wonderful visit, to our school, from Coach Rich Johns.

“Coach Johns encouraged our students to stand-up to bullies and to finally “live a life of purpose. My students will carry, what he said to them, for a long time.”

Teacher Laurie Hall
TSP North – Hudson Falls (NY)

Check out this wonderful story covered by reporter Mark Mulholland that appeared on WNYT-TV.

I am so impressed with teacher Laurie Hall and the students at TSPN BOCES – Hudson Falls (NY).   After a recent visit the students and teachers produced an anti-bullying video to present to their school community.  The video came as a result of my resent presentation. Here is the great article that appeared in the Glens Falls POST STAR newspaper.

This fall Rich Johns spoke to our entire Shaker Junior High School student body over the course of two days. His impact on our students continues today. His approach of being proactive and treating each other kindly compliments our school’s mission of “Standing Up for Others.” After he left our district, several students sought out adults in hopes of continuing his message. This speaks volumes of his ability to connect with kids. As a result of his work with us, our students with the help from some faculty have created the “Make a Difference” club. Their mission is to continue Rich’s words in our everyday interactions with one another. His words will live on in the hallways of Shaker Junior High for years to come. Thank you Rich!!!

Stacey Angell
Guidance Counselor
Shaker Junior High School

Dear Rich,
Thank you again for your inspirational visit to our school. You can be sure
that the legacy of your message will be shared for years to come at Cambridge Central Schools. I have spoken to many children since your visit and I am always reminding them to “check your character” – before we begin our talks.

Colleen Lester
Principal
Cambridge Central School

On Wednesday, December 4th, Coach Rich Johns visited Argyle Central School to present his program, “Act With Respect Always.”

Students and teachers in grades 3-12 attended the program and learned about honestly assessing and scoring their character. Students loved receiving the reminder bracelets printed with the AWRA message.

All students in grades 7-12 had the opportunity to sign a school banner which is hanging in the cafeteria. Although Coach Johns visited us for only one day, his message resonated with faculty and students. His message was simple: treat people kindly. He maintained that if you perform kind acts for others, without expecting anything in return, it makes the world a better place.

Many thanks to Coach Johns for promoting the Act With Respect Always program at ACS! It was engaging and fun, and gave a common message that can be shared throughout the school.

Thanks for visiting Cambridge Elementary and High School this week. Throughout the day I hear people, adults and children, talking about their 99%.

That is such a powerful and simple message to remind all of us to check in with ourselves and our character. The signage and stories that you shared will help remind us to ACT WITH RESPECT – ALWAYS. Thanks for the great message, it was great having you here.

Colleen Lester
Principal
Cambridge Elementary School

Act With Respect Always recently visited West Sand Lake, Averill Park CSD. Below is a note direct from the school principal, such kind words…

“Dear Mr. Johns,

On behalf of the students and faculty at West Sand Lake Elementary, we wanted to say thank you for continuing to educate our children on the importance of Acting With Respect Always. Your hard work, tireless effort and devotion on a daily basis, demonstrates to our children your-pharmacies.com true qualities and dedication to such a noble profession. Character Education plays a vital role in our school community and we were happy that you could share your experiences with us.

The children had a great experience and look forward to seeing you again. We promise to give our 99% at West Sand Lake Elementary as much as possible.”

Sincerely,
Laura Canny Kyer
West Sand Lake, Averill Park CSD
Principal

Coach Johns presented to grades 3-5 at the Stillwater, NY Elementary School on Monday, April 22, 2013. The 300 students and staff were actively engaged in his presentation as he discussed the importance of true character and the act of paying forward acts of kindness and respect.

My class returned from the assembly and shared how important the 99 percent of a person really is. They agreed that looks can be deceiving and the things and behaviors a person presents tell the true tale of character.

At the suggestion of Coach Johns, our class has decided it would be great to pay the “Act With Respect Always” concept forward by creating a weekly self assessment form of how much of the 99 percent they demonstrate. I will keep you posted as to how that plays out.

Our first classroom “Starfish” Award was presented this morning as well. The feedback from colleagues was excellent and a buzz occurred about how we can carry the program forward within our school community.

Rich thanks for paying it forward and connecting with so many new young lives. We enjoy your passion and commitment to teaching the youth of today the importance of doing the right thing; especially when no one is watching.

Best Wishes,
Jeff Crotty
Grade 5 Classroom Teacher
Stillwater Elementary School

“Coach Rich Johns carried his message of character in life inside the walls of Coxsackie Correctional Facility. The message was very well received by the 150 inmates and 20 staff members in attendance. To continue the healthy male memory of his message, one of the Act with Respect Always banners will be hung in our gymnasium. Coach, thanks again!”

Dave Barringer
Deputy Superintendent for Programs
Coxsackie Correctional Facility
Coxsackie, NY

Act With Respect Always was well received at our recent visit to the Corinth Middle School in Corinth, NY. Below are a few gracious quotes that were addresses to Coach Rich Johns following the punapharmacy visit.

“Thank you so much for coming to my middle school and presenting Act With Respect Always to us. You really have changed my perspective on things and the way I will live my life from now on.
I now learned never take for granted even the little things because they mean so much in the end. And doing a small act of kindness for others can go a long way.”

Steffani McKeown
Student

“Coach Johns,
The assembly was incredible. Thank you for touching the lives of our students and staff in a powerful way today. Students were talking all day
about their Character Number and many other aspects of your visit. WOW! Kudos!!”

Patti Siano
Foreign Language Teacher

“Act With Respect Always” is more than just a phrase to students at Schoharie Central School. It is the school’s mission and is based on a character education program designed to build respect and leadership, teach positive and constructive behavior, and help stop bullying before it starts, both on campus and off.

On Dec. 12, guest speaker Rich Johns made the message real during assemblies at the school. A retired Sartoga Springs elementary and middle school teacher and coach, Johns developed Act With Respect Always as a “pay it forward” proactive movement in his sixth grade classes and tennis program to stress the importance of self awareness on a daily basis.
The program looks at each person as a leader and stresses eight key personal traits: responsibility, honesty and fairness, civility, self-discipline, no excuses – do the work, persistence, courage and respect.

“During one of the assemblies, Coach Johns had fifth grader Noah Fagnani stand up and identify himself by name only, and then pointed out to the rest of the students that they were really seeing only one Male enhancement percent of him,” said Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Jamie Rockhill. “By that example, he was teaching the students to take time to learn about and respect each individual – including themselves – as a whole person.”

Johns has received numerous awards for leadership, team building and coaching.

We’re very fortunate to have some web wonderful sponsors, but we can always use more help. To learn more how you can become a sponsor please visit our sponsor page, or click the button below to contact us.

Act With Respect Always is proud to announce the launch of our all new web site. Our redesigned web site works on modern devices so you can experience our web site from your laptop, desktop, tablet and smart phone, we have to thank Mike Hosier and his team at MWH Design for the creative direction and development.

Since we started over two years ago our mission of respect has been consistent, but how we go about spreading the word has evolved over the years with banners, certificates, and even a book that’s coming soon. Our new web site reflects a forwarding thinking AWRA where we’re emphasizing our pay it forward message even more by highlighting individuals just like you that Act With Respect Always. We encourage you to contact us and sildenafil viagra online tell us your story of how you Act With Respect – who know’s, you just may be our next spotlight! Our new web site will also allow us to better communicate when our events are, our latest news, and to share photos and videos from our journey.

We hope you like our new web site, we’d love to hear any feedback so please feel free send coach Rich Johns a note from our contact page or add a comment on Facebook.

 

Coach Rich Johns recently visited with a group of students who are home schooled from Saratoga County. They were a wonderful group of students and parents, doing wonderful things. Below is a photo from our visit and some kind words Collette (Daignault) Kilinski that followed.

I can’t seem to find the right words about Coach Johns’ visit with our children. We were all moved zoloftanxiety.com by his message.

His visit and words were so special, as our children don’t typically get such a wonderful message, from the heart, from a male and because the message is just so special.

It made them all want to do more. It made all the parents want to do more. We now believe strongly that we want to help and contribute and be a part of the greater good.

We are thinking of all the ways we are ‘making a difference’ and even more ways that we can.

I feel very very lucky that the kids were able to hear and learn and experience Coach’s message. It is a gift that he shares and we are truly grateful. We know that we can do more. Our immediate goal is to pay forward AWRA to others and to be more aware every day about giving back and paying it forward.

Coach Johns is amazing and I am lucky to say that I know him!

Collette (Daignault) Kilinski
Ballston Spa, NY

Enjoy these words from a recent meeting with students in Amsterdam, NY.

“Too often, young people feel as if they’ve have punapharmacy no control over their lives: school, parents, and teachers tell them what to do, what to say, and how to act. Coach Johns’ message, “Act With Respect Always” reminds students that they ARE in control of their lives.”

“His powerful presentation emphasizes that students “make a difference everyday” with the choices they make. He empowers students to develop their characters and their voices, and to positively impact the world though kindness, thoughtfulness, and respect.”

Mrs. Jessica Reed
Global History Teacher
Ninth Grade Academy

The school year is full swing and so is AWRA. We’ve been busy spreading the word, and here is yet another very special comment from a recent talk.

Thanks for speaking to our students and faculty today. I am the Science and Athlete Coach who shared with you the trust plate. about My students and I really enjoyed your message a great deal.

I just want you to know that you made a very positive impression on my students today. You were a 100% = 99% + 1% for them all.

Your stories and video clips hit the spot and I know that it opened their eyes. If you ever need a substitute presenter, please let me know.

John Slyer
Science Coach, Teacher and Student
Shaker Junior High School
North Colonie School District

Coach Johns received this note from a wonderful woman whose son attended Jimmer Fredette’s Basketball Camp. This is what inspires AWRA to do more!

“I met Coach Johns at the Jimmer Jam Basketball Camp in Saratoga Springs zoloft anxiety in June. It was definitely more than just basketball for me and my family. So inspiring! I am a better mom, wife, and person for meeting Coach Johns and being a part of the camp. Great work!!! Keep Inspiring!!!”

Amy Micallef
Warwick, NY

Article written by David Messner, Ph.D., Assistant Principal, RCSSL

National Character Education Speaker, Coach Johns, Shares His Message With St. Lucie Students

On March 7th and 8th, “Coach” Rich Johns delivered his message in multiple sessions with website the Renaissance Charter School of St. Lucie’s (RCSSL) fourth through eighth graders. New Yorker, Johns, a former elementary and middle school teacher and tennis and basketball coaching legend, provided a simple yet powerful message: ACT WITH RESPECT ALWAYS. Johns’ presentations supports Charter School USA’s character education program, S.T.R.I.V.E., and RCSSL’s anti-bullying initiative “Expect Respect.”

Act With Respect Always is a “pay it forward” movement, started in Johns’ sixth grade classes and tennis program, stressing the importance of personal character. It is designed to build respect and leadership, teach positive and constructive behavior, and help stop bullying before it starts. Looking at each person as a leader and stressing teamwork, kindness, empathy, courage, and honesty, he strives to make everyone aware of their daily actions.

Johns earned the United States Tennis Association’s National Starfish Award, given in recognition of his “no-cut” tennis program and his positive impact on hundreds of athletes. He has also acquired the National High School Coach of the Year Award for his exemplary leadership, enthusiasm, and team building skills. Rich serves on Wilson Sports Company National Coaches Advisory Staff.

Duke University Men’s basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski, said, “… The Act With Respect Always program is making a huge, positive difference in the lives of many students.”

It’s so great to receive follow up correspondence from past visits, it helps keep this program strong and effective. Here is a note sent from John McNally from a zoloftanxiety.com recent visit to Boynton Middle School.

“I just wanted to drop you a note and thank you for the time that you spent with our students last Friday. I’m glad that I was able to meet and visit with you before your presentation. Your message was great and I think that you made an impact on a number of our students. To listen to some of our students who are not our most “engaged” talk afterwards showed not only that your message was well received, but also that sometimes that front that they put up in school in front of their friends is their 1% and through the examples and stories that you used, you were able to touch their 99%.”

“You are a fine example of what the teaching and coaching profession is all about. As coaches we love to compete and we strive to win but our main focus is to use our sport as a means to teach life lessons and get our athletes through the educational process. After watching your presentation and reflecting on it with both students and colleagues, I am proud to consider myself a member of your team.”

Thanks again,
John McNally
Boynton Middle School
Ithaca, NY

Act With Respect Always recently visited Glencliff Elementary School, below is a note from Shelley Baldwin-Nye, Ph.D., school principal about the experience.

“I would like to thank you so much for coming to speak with our school about the Act With Respect Always themes.

The students and teachers very much enjoyed learning more about getting to your “99%,” paying it forward, and empathy messages.

Thank you again for helping us Act with Respect Always! All the best.”

Shelley Baldwin-Nye, Ph.D.
Glencliff Elementary information School
Principal
Niskayuna School District

Here is a note to our recent visit to Homer Junior High, in Homer, NY.

Dear Rich,
I first want to again thank you for the wonderful keynote presentation given at the annual NYSMSA Conference on October 25, 2013.

To have you actually come to Homer Junior High to speak to my students was so meaningful.
I just want to thank you again for today’s presentation. The kids were so engaged and listened intently to everything you shared.

The atmosphere this afternoon, in my room, had a slightly different “feel.” Everyone just seemed content, and a bit more respectful. I attribute that to you!

Deb McGee
Teacher – Grade 6
Homer Junior High
Homer, NY

Coach Rich Johns recently visited with the KAPE kids and Maple Avenue Middle School Teacher, Deb Cionek. Below is a photo from the visit and some kind words that followed.

Rich, Thanks so much for taking the time to come in and talk to the KAPE kids! “Kids Adding Positive Energy” You really kept their attention, and I know they walked away with something very valuable! They are now members of your Act With Respect Always team.

You are always a pro and I thank you for that.

Deb Cionek
Teacher
Maple Avenue Middle School
Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

“Rich,

Thank you for speaking to our staff this morning. Your message certainly resonated with me and clearly left an impression with the staff.

I appreciate the time commitment you give.”

Thomas McGowan
Interim – Superintendent
Salem Central School District

We’re passionate about respect in our schools, sports, and lives. If you’d like to help us spread our message, please consider paying it forward with a donation of any amount by clicking the button below, thank you.

“I have provided a quick guide to give each teacher and coach the necessary tools to share the different character traits with your students. How you present each is totally up to you, but it is important to identify each with your students over a period of time. Components of each trait will vary depending on what age group you work with.”

“There are 8 basic Character Education Traits that Coach has for you to pay forward to your students. The following gives you a quick guide to follow.”

– Coach Rich Johns

The Importance of Character Education

1. Responsibility
  – Teaching responsibility to your students begins with simple basic routines. Your students need to be on time for school and /or classes. Students must come prepared with the right equipment for each day. Students need to know that each has to meet his or her personal responsibilities. No excuses.
2. Honesty and Fairness – 
With the pressures that exist in schools today, some students can be less than truthful. Honesty and integrity need to be sewn into their fabric. If you are in a position to correct an incident, do not make excuses for the student. Let the student know unequivocally that cheating will not be tolerated.
3. Civility
 – Treatment of another student, as in adult life, is about basic civility. A simple courtesy such as greeting someone appropriately to not complaining about an assignment or request by a teacher are a couple of examples.
4. Self Discipline – 
No matter what situations confront your students during a day, it is important to teach them to always control their emotions. Guide them so they can maintain a steady and consistent emotional approach at all times.
5. No Excuses – Do The Work – In honor of Coach Mike Nolan  
No excuses. Do the Work! Anything done well in life comes attached with hard work.
6. Persistence – Your students must learn to be persistent. When the going gets tough, s/he must focus, show strength and not quit. Persistence in difficult times makes for a more successful student.
7. Courage – Stand up for what is right! Students should understand that how others are treated in and out of the classroom is part of each person’s responsibility. It is important to show the necessary courage to tell a coach, parent or someone of authority about any situation that is wrong.
8. Respect – Respect is the core of everything we do. A student needs to understand that they must respect their classmates, teachers, and other responsible adults in their school (environment). No student is more important than another. Show respect for others and you will learn to respect yourself.

I just wanted to say thank you so much for coming today. The students and staff really enjoyed the program and the positive messages that are embedded within it. I think the students really understand how important it is to have mentalhealthdrugs.com empathy for others and they learned how to “pay it forward” without expecting anything in return. You clearly have a passion for what you do and you are a natural educator with the children.

Best,
Shannon Britten
K-8 School Counselor

Since I officially started the Act With Respect Always mission I have been motivated by so many great people making a difference every day. I feel compelled to share the Act With Respect Always journey with everyone in my new book which is available now.

“It’s Important To Understand That One Person Can Have A Monumental Impact On Another.” – Coach Rich Johns

In my book I share my life’s personal experience that inspired me to develop the Act With Respect Always mission. Throughout the book I share photos of those I have met on my AWRA journey and share many people of all ages that have moved me to continue to work as hard as I can to ‘pay it forward’ every day. I also explain the 99% Character and how each of us can measure our kindness every minute of every day by ‘scoring’ our behavior.

If you would like a copy of my book, please contact me today.

Coach welcomes sponsorships from those companies that believe in Act With Respect Always. With sponsorships your company will be features on our website for thousands to see along with your website link. Your financial support is greatly appreciated.

To learn more about our sponsorship opportunities please contact Coach Rich Johns.

Giving Back and Paying It Forward is the first and most important message of Act With Respect Always! I have always believed in and been part of the importance of doing for others.

AWRA donates to school groups, charities and individuals as part of its mission. Your donations go a long way in supporting this mission of “paying it forward”.

Click the “Donate Now” button on any of the pages you see it to make your donation of any amount. Thank you for your support!

The first thing that you need to do to become involved in the Act With Repect Always movement is to connect with Coach Johns. Coach will explain to you the components to the program whether it is in the area of being a student or an athlete. Everyone from elementary school to college and professional life, can benefit from the AWRA message.

There are 8 basic Character Education Traits that Coach has for you to pay forward to your students. If you would like Coach to address your school he will make every effort to visit your school or team.

Each school will receive AWRA banners, and each student will receive an AWRA awareness bracelet.

“… The Act With Respect Always program is making a huge, positive difference in the lives of many students.”

– Duke University Men’s basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski

Act With Respect Always is a “pay it forward” movement, started in his sixth grade classes and tennis program stressing the importance of one’s personal character. It is designed to build respect and leadership, teach positive and constructive behavior, and help stop bullying before it starts, both on campus and off. Looking at each person as a leader and stressing teamwork, kindness, empathy, courage and honesty, amongst other key traits, he strives to make everyone aware of their daily actions.

Growing up in the small village of South Glens Falls, N.Y., I learned many important core values that have stayed with me for my whole life. The most important of these is Respect!

My mom and dad were from large families that immigrated to the United States to create a new life for themselves.  Each of them taught me from a very young age that you must always work hard and respect all people that are in your life.

As a young student and athlete, I soon learned that teachers and coaches were there to help me improve my abilities.  Respecting these individuals was first and foremost to me.

As years have passed, the core value of respect continues to be even more important to me.  I believe that respect is at the center of all things we do in life.

Teacher and Coach

Rich Johns started his college career at SUNY Adirondack in Glens Falls, NY from 1968-1969 and graduated from the State University of New York at Potsdam in 1972. He has been honored by both colleges with their highest awards given to an alumnus. In 1997 Potsdam honored Rich with the Minerva Award and in 2018, SUNY Adirondack inducted him into their inaugural class of the Trailblazer Society.

Rich taught elementary and middle school as well as coached tennis in Saratoga Springs (NY) for 38 years. His highly recognized girls’ tennis teams were traditionally among the top teams in New York State. Under his guidance Saratoga won 17 League Titles, 9 Sectional Team Titles, and holds the Section II record for Class AA with 85 consecutive wins and a record of 107–2 during that period. Rich was honored with the USTA National Starfish Award (2009) given in recognition of his “no-cut” tennis program and his positive impact on hundreds of players, Racquet Sports Industry as their National High School Coach of the Year (2010), and the Saratoga Springs Rotary Education Foundation Award (2010) for his distinguished-exceptional leadership and commitment to education and community service. In January 2011, the USTA-Eastern Section presented Rich the High School Coach of the Year Award.

Rich was honored by SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Adirondack, the Saratoga Springs School District, and the South Glens Falls Community by inducting him into their Athletic and Community Pride Hall of Fames. In 2018 Coach was inducted into the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame receiving the John Cahill Award for community service. In 2023 Rich received the NYS School Administration Association Excelsior Award for his leadership and continued work in the field of education through his 501c3 Charitable Organization, Act With Respect Always. Rich has now seen over tens of thousands of individuals of all ages. He has been endorsed by Coach Mike Krzyzewski of Duke University, CBS Commentators Dottie Pepper and Andrew Catalon and ESPN Announcer Tim Welsh to name a few.

Coach Rich Johns brings with him many years of experience as a teacher, coach and community leader. He has been recognized regionally and nationally as one of the most outstanding coaches in America.

Coach is very passionate about his message and would love to bring Act With Respect Always to your school. Use the form below to contact Coach Rich Johns.

What a pleasure to spend a few days on the campus of Duke University.

To have the opportunity to speak to student-athletes, from all sports, was truly an honor for me. I met so many outstanding young men and women working hard in the classroom and in athletics, joining the Act With Respect Always Team. I am sharing a couple of the many special photos taken on my visit.

One is of athletes signing their AWRA banner after my presentation in the Smith Center.

The other is, Amile Jefferson, one of the athletes I got to spend a few extra minutes with. Amile is a 6’9″ Sophomore who starts for the Duke Blue Devil’s Basketball Team at the forward position. I had the opportunity to watch Amile in practice and in the season opener vs. Davidson.

Go Duke!
Coach Johns

Here is a short article written on North home page Country Now that was published last January about one of coach Rich John visit to Postdam Schools.