Inspirational speaker and teacher awards highlight SBCOE annual dinner

Photo at left: Joe Ehrmann, former NFL football player speaks at Annual School Board Meeting.

On March 7, 2006 the San Benito County Office of Education Superintendent and Board of Education hosted the annual School Board Meeting.  This annual event has a lot of things going on for one evening.  It is the official annual meeting of the School Boards in San Benito County.  It is a social occasion where Board members and Administrators from all over the County get together, compare notes and share a meal.  It is also an occasion to honor accomplishments.  This year the group honored the San Benito County Teacher Of The Year, Tami Ortiz, from the Hollister School District.  She presented a challenge to the audience to step up and make education a priority.  Also honored was Dan Quinn, the San Benito High School District Teacher of the Year.

Photo at right: San Benito County Teacher of the Year, Tami Ortiz

Finally, the meeting is an occasion to find a little inspiration, to see how others are doing it differently.  The guest speaker was Joe Ehrmann, former Syracuse College and NFL football player.  Ehrmann spent thirteen years in the NFL, eight years with the Baltimore Colts.  Currently Ehrmann is a pastor, child advocate, professional speaker and high school football coach.  His message is simple for the most part...we are doing it wrong…we are raising young men and women with the wrong set of values.  Consciously or unconsciously we are telling young men it is OK to be athletically aggressive, to rack up sexual conquests, to measure success financially.  We tell young women to be pretty and sexy, to be subservience and to value male aggressiveness, sexuality and financial success.  His topic for the evening was Building Men and Women for Others.

Photo at left: San Benito High School District Teacher of the Year, Dan Quinn, with his wife, Cindy Rusler.

Our job as educators, parents, coaches and friends is to help young people see themselves as part of the whole and contribute something to others.  Ehrmann takes this a step further in his role as a highly successful high school coach.  His approach has moved players for the egocentric focus of professional sports to a team focused, relationship based, effort maximized success story.  In 2004 Parade magazine said he was the most significant coach in America.

As players prepare for practice or a game the following exchange takes place.
            “What is our job as coaches?” asks Ehrmann.
            “To love us,” the boys yell.
            “What is your job?” Ehrmann counters.
            “To love each other.” The team responds.
“Is this a football team?” you wonder?  Yes, and a very good one.

Ehrmann’s message is clear and backed by conviction and action.  He walks the talk and is building a non-profit network to transform the culture of sports and life.  The foundation is simple and based on two things: relationships and having a cause beyond oneself.  For more information go to www.buildingmen.org

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