As you may know, Men IN Action is built on a set of 40 positive supports and strengths. Many of these supports revolve around family, friends, and community coming together to support our youth.
As a school administrator, I get an opportunity to see first-hand how dedicated adults can impact student lives. These adults are not just teachers, they are secretaries, custodians, bus drivers, food service workers, and daily volunteers who recognize that we are all responsible for the care of our kids.
While there were many adults outside my family who made an impact on my life, a particular pair of dairy farmers named Bob and Barb Anslinger certainly stand out.
Bob and Barb drove bus 18 for South Gibson School Corporation. Each day for about 10 years, my fellow riders and I would be genuinely greeted by one of them. Riding a bus can be scary. Having someone on the bus who cared about me made a big difference. For a time, Bob made sure I got to ride close to the front so we could have conversations about dairy farming and tractors.
As I grew older, they checked in about basketball and baseball games, school, and even “girl issues”. I am not sure how many bus drivers attend high school graduation, college graduation, and a wedding, but it seemed so natural because they were more than bus drivers; they had become a part of my family.
Not all of us have stories like this, but that doesn’t mean we can’t help write one for a student who could benefit from positive adult interaction. On March 21, you can volunteer to be a part of Men IN Action Read across Hendricks County. It is simple, it is fun, and you never know what type of impact you will have on a student’s life.
Kevin Gray
A Man IN Action
Principal, Cedar Elementary
