A memorable weekend for sure...

What a great weekend ...

Congrats to Anna Kiser and Will Baugher Jr., BHS sweethearts and new Belmont grads who were married on Saturday. Anna's mom, LeAnn, is a media specialist at Brentwood High. Dad Jimmy is quarterbacks coach at Vandy (think Jay Cutler). Will grew up in Meadowlake and has scored his dream job already -- working with reptiles at the Nashville Zoo.
And how is this for being a great big sister (and new brother-in-law): Anna and Will postponed their honeymoon a day in order to see sister Jamie graduate from BHS on Sunday.

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Congrats to all of the graduates of Brentwood, Ravenwood and Brentwood Academy high schools. Go far and don't let anyone or anything hold you back. (But consider coming back to Brentwood when you're ready, we need bright young people like you living, working and paying taxes here!) And remember, especially if you are heading off to a school without a posse of high school buddies -- this is a new start. Be whoever you want to be.

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Speaking of graduates, shout outs to five of the most wonderful young women I know, five Ravenwood grads I've had the pleasure to work with over the past few years as part of a church small group.
Cory Smeltzer is headed to Auburn, where I expect her to be a leader the minute she steps on campus. Can't wait to see what awaits her there.
Lauren Walsh is headed to Eastern University outside of Philadelphia, Pa. Lauren, who has already been on two international mission trips may help save the world (or at least a little piece of it).
Stay well until Leanne Justus graduates from pharmacy school at Samford. She's definitely someone you want taking care of you.
Look for Chloe Morelli on Project Runway in a few years. Chloe switched from MTSU to UT-Martin after a late visit when she fell in love with the smaller campus. If only she had visited Emory & Henry ...
And finally, there's Nicole Brooks, who lives within shouting distance of the Williamson County line but graduated from Overton. Nicole is headed to the University of Evansville in Illinois and wants to take the business world by storm. No doubts from me that she will.

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Treading on friend Kelly Gilfillan's blog turf a bit, the Leathers ventured outside the Brentwood Bubble yesterday. We heard Abe Lincoln give the Gettysburg Address and share his thoughts on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; saw a short Civil War re-enactment; and paused in our busy lives to remember all those who have served in the armed forces. We also said hello to John Hartford and Jimmy Martin among others.

We had spotted an ad in the paper about a Memorial Day celebration at Spring Hill Cemetery in Madison. Being fans of cemeteries and the stories they tell, we decided to check it out. So glad we did.

Did I mention they invited everyone to a free cookout too? This is a definite "must-do" if you're in town next Memorial Day.

Students mourn man of magic

The obituary isn't even posted yet, but students of Mr. Jim Dale, a most magical substitute teacher at Ravenwood High School, have already created an "RIP Mr. Dale" page on Facebook that perhaps tells his story better than anything that will be printed in a newspaper.

To learn what an impact he made, consider these postings (and for the uninitiated, I'm sure most of these were text messages from phones, so please excuse the typos, etc.):

When Mr. Dale told me about when he got diagnosed with Cancer, he said this and my mom and I have found it so inspiring and I remember Tricia crying when she heard him say it, "My doctor told me I should pray and tell God about my Cancer. I said no. I told my cancer about god and it knew better." He loves everyone so much at Ravenwood, he told me another time, "god didnt bless me in some ways but he did bless me with a big group of beatiful children?" I asked him how many children and he smiled and told me "A whole school of them, and then some." That man is my hero and always will be. Mr. Dale I really do love you and I hope every substitute teacher and teacher remembers you as the man who "treated us like adults" and "respected each and every one of us", and with all the love in the world.I miss you so much and send my love to the above. -- Nicole Marrero

Mr. Dale, you were my favorite art sub! I love you! and I will miss you! -- Jessica Hamilton

Mr. Dale you were my favorite sub EVER. Every time I'd go into a class and see you id would be like YESSS! MR. DALE ARE YOU GOING TO DO MAGIC TRICKS FOR US?!?!?! and you would say maybe when you all are done! Man Mr. dale I'm going to miss you thank you for brightening up my life and others as well. -- Adam Toudjine

i remember one time he "forgot" to give us the work that our teacher had left for us, and he did the trick where he blew some bubbles and caught one, then turned it into a glass ball. RIP Mr. Dale, you will be greatly missed at Ravenwood and i'm sure everywhere else as well. you were truly an inspiration to always do the right thing, i thank you for that. -- Taylor Francis

I remembered he was subbing for Mr. Sliva one day and he got out his magic beans and did the trick and then told us that one day when he subbed for Page High he did the trick and one of the students wanted to try the magic beans trick so he passed them over to the student. When he tired the trick he didn't catch them on the paper so the students got down on their hands and knees,crawled around on the floor looking for the beans... haha.I thought it was really fun and would share it with yall. -- Mandy Burton

R.I.P. Mr. Dale you were an inspiration to us all. You taught us that we shouldn't take life so seriously that we miss out on new opportunities. Every now and again we need to just enjoy the magical moments in our lives. -- Quinton Harris

I never was able to do the magic beans trick. And I always wanted to punch people in the face when they tried to explain how he did all of his magic. I remember once he was our sub in theater and I was talking about a Cyanide and Happiness comic I saw that (basically) said "I have to stop having phone sex. I have hearing aids!"I said it pretty quietly to, but always on his Game Mr. Dale leans in, looks mildly confused, and says "You know..i just don't understand that phone sex."We all almost died. All 5 of us. I wish more people were in the room to hear it.-- Meagan Dwyer

Services are Thursday at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home, 660 Thompson Lane, in Nashville (more specifically Berry Hill, between I-65 and Nolensville Road. Get off at the Armory Drive exit as though you are going to Baja Burrito. Turn right onto Thompson. Funeral home is on the left). 

To understand why he had such an impact, check out his website, www.jimdale.net

So much news, so little time....

I've been out of the "home office" all day and am supposed to be breezing down to Cool Springs as I type. But here are a few morsels and links to read until I have time for a proper post:
Roger Shirley, a fellow Emory & Henry College alum, passed along this email to constituents from school board member Terry Leve:

On another note, I am pleased that my expressions of concern to the Central Office have led to the immediate removal of the Young Adult Library Services Association's (YALSA) Best Books for Young Adults list as the recommended summer reading guide at both Ravenwood and Brentwood high schools. YALSA's list does not reflect the recommended reading list published by Williamson County Schools. To be perfectly blunt, many of the selections were extraordinarily salacious, sensual and sensationalistic. Out of deference to those who do not wish to be burdened with more specific particulars, I choose to refrain from providing greater detail; however, for those who are concerned, I will provide examples of titles, authors, publishers, ISBN numbers, summaries and/or selected passages to those who individually request such information of me. There is no secret here. Rather, I believe many would prefer not to have such information sent to their home or work e-mails.

I have definite opinions on this but no time to share them at the moment. Stay tuned. In the meantime, Maria Giordano, Williamson A.M.'s ace education reporter, has already posted a story on it. Check out the link:
tennessean.com/article/20090520/COUNTY09/90520032/+Salacious++book+list+removed+from+school+web+sites


Also, Mitch Kline has this update on Timothy McGowan, the Ravenwood senior killed earlier this week in a car crash:
tennessean.com/article/20090520/COUNTY09/90520017/Update++Funeral+set+for+Ravenwood+student+killed+in+crash

And finally, I understand Ravenwood had another loss today, a beloved substitute teacher. Again, let's keep that entire community in our prayers.

Update on Ravenwood loss

Staff writer Mitchell Kline at Williamson A.M. has just posted a story on the death of Timothy J. McGowan, 18 (see my earlier post for details):

"NOLENSVILLE — A Ravenwood High School student crashed and was killed while being pursued by police last night.
Timothy J. McGowan, 18, died shortly after the Toyota Camry he was driving sideswiped another vehicle and flipped into a ditch on Rocky Fork Road, near Nolensville Road, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol."
For the entire story, visit www.tennessean.com/article/20090519/COUNTY09/90519005/Ravenwood+senior+killed+in+crash+during+police+pursuit+www.Tennessean.com

No stimulus needed for teen talent bank

Wow.
While many in Brentwood were listening to Brentwood's own Dave Ramsey's nationally simulcast Town Hall meeting (wish I could have been in two places!), I attended the Brentwood High School Choral Department's "Mainly a Capella" concert.
I never cease to be amazed at the level of talent our high school students possess. Did you see Beauty and the Beast at BHS or Footloose at Ravenwood this spring?
After the Beauty curtain closed in March, my brother, in town from Virginia, made the statement: "This was better than most of the theater I've seen in Richmond the past few years."
Thursday night's concert was just another example of the incredibly talented youth that live here. Taylor DeFore's take on "Superman" left me speechless. Brett Rosenblum totally rocked "You Raise Me Up." In the spirit of full disclosure, my son Thomas had a solo as well (which is why I wasn't at the Town Hall meeting). Believe me, he doesn't get his pipes from his mother.
If you've missed this spring's earlier productions or concerts, don't despair. Just plan to head to Brentwood Academy this weekend for Into the Woods.
Shows continue Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Reserved tickets, available online only, are $12. General admission tickets are $8. Visit brentwoodacademy.com for details. Hope some talent scouts have been in the audiences this spring. If not, they've missed a fine opportunity to discover some amazing young talent.
Maybe we could add a local teen talent show to the always popular but growing tired lineup at Crockett Park this summer. Now that could be amazing.

Teens, rules and the ALC

For weeks, the alleged actions of several Ravenwood High School students at an off-campus, YMCA-sponsored event have kept tongues wagging, parents in an uproar and resulted in an increased law enforcement presence on the campus. They have also brought to light questions about the county's Alternative Learning Center.
And for the record, Ravenwood's not alone. Several Brentwood High students have been arrested in recent months for off-campus activities as well.
Today's Williamson A.M. features a story on the ALC from the perspective of its teachers and students. The section also has a Letter to the Editor from a friend of the students who were reassigned to the ALC after the incident.
Here are links to the stories:
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090423/COUNTY090101/904230321/1164/COUNTY09
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090423/COUNTY09010501/904230323/1164/COUNTY09
If you have experience with ALC, positive or negative, please share your thoughts. If you are a parent, student or law-enforcement officer with an opinion on the recent events or related topics, please share. If you don't want to post a comment, send me an email at brentword@comcast.net.
I'll write more on this, and share my thoughts, in the next few days.