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Notes: David Slater, Principal Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville CSD

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!