Stairway to Success

This is the narrative I shared at our dad’s celebration in reference to the stairs in Thoreau’s halls:

First: As some of Thoreau’s students and staff may remember, ONE of the highlights 6th graders had the fortune to experience, was building model rockets and shooting them off in front of their peers here on the playground every Spring. 

So, when dad read the book The Rocket Boys in 1998, it struck a special cord in him. This true story took place in a West Virginia coal mining town and the memoir recounts a small group of rebels and their youthful pursuit of amateur rocketry. 

AND applauds their supportive teacher- encouraging those young students to pursue their interests and to chase their dreams. (Sound Familiar) The book was soon popularized in the film-adaptation, titled October Sky.

In 1999, the year of the movie’s release, while planning for one of our parent’s classic cross-country ROAD TRIPS, dad intently wanted to stop in the Rocket Boys’ hometown, aptly named Coalwood,  with the hopes of shooting off one of his own model rockets and (as usually happens) as part of his signature social engagement strategy, coincidentally meeting some townsfolk along the way.  

Imagine then, later that Summer, when our folks arrived in that small WV town, in what mom refers to as “A turn of events. We soon found ourselves following a caravan of townspeople”- A procession led by Red Carroll, the father of a Rocket Boy, to the location where Red’s son, Jimmy, and his curious friends, 42 years earlier had launched their own inspirational homemade rockets. 

A launch site now endearingly referred to as Cape Coalwood. I imagine the impromptu caravan heading out of town, a line of cars, and I’m sure trucks, next became his audience, in that open field, cheering him on, as our dad got his wish. 

While it may not have been the Kennedy Space Center, I envision that this was a true American Experience, nonetheless. 

Two curious teachers from Washington State, welcomed by a community of coal miners. 

The provincial rocket that our dad launched multiple times that day, was eventually lost in those West Virginia woods. 

BUT little did our folks know that the local kids would eventually retrieve it and Rocket Boy, Jimmy Carroll, would sign it and mail it back to our dad, with a nice note. 

THIS, is the autographed ROCKET, hung from the ceiling in Mr. Elsworth’s colorful classroom until he retired.

Now, we get to the SECOND part of the story- Let’s go back to Coalwood in 1999. NEXT UP, 9 miles south of their hometown,‘ol Red wanted to show off Big Creek High, the kids Alma Mater. Of course, Up and Over a Holler to the City of WAR they went. As THEY toured the school, dad was moved by a staircase. Stairs, simply with printed words, listing the school’s values, easy for all to see. 

Years later, Dad was so inspired by the power of those daily reminders, for those kids that he proposed to a school committee to have Thoreau’s newly built school have it’s 15 Life Skills, also added to their stairs’ visible risers.

Years later, in 2009, at the culmination of his impactful teaching career AND as I interpret it, a tribute to THE MAN, dad’s proposal was approved.

Outside of these gym doors, in these hallowed halls of Thoreau Elementary The Stairway to Success memorializes him, reflecting his legacy of a  lifelong love of learning and self-improvement.  Dad’s intent was for these powerful words to be constant positive reminders that would take hold in students’ minds and fill their hearts as the kids walked, and continue to ascend the stairs daily. 

On your way out, be sure to take a moment, soak in these words and reflect on his legacy. 

STAIRWAY to SUCCESS

Effort
Friendship
Responsibility 
Initiative
Cooperation 
Courage
Flexibility
Respect
Perseverance
Caring
Organization 
Integrity
Patience
Problem Solving
Curiosity 
Sense of Humor