By Dr. Kodey S. Hughes, Superintendent, Juab School District
We live in an exceptional community, a community built on service, gratitude, and courage. On Friday, September 11, schools throughout Juab School District took time to remember an important moment in our nation's history. More importantly, our students were given opportunities to learn about the people who responded with courage, sacrifice, and service when others needed them most.
At Nebo View Elementary, I had the opportunity to watch students come together as a school to sing our national anthem and listen to a few words from Principal Marci Keen about the importance of the day. Standing there among our students gave me a tremendous sense of pride.
The children we teach each day are truly blessings in our lives. They are also the next generation who will carry forward the values, traditions, and lessons that have shaped our community and country. Part of our responsibility as educators and parents is helping them understand where we have been so they can better understand the responsibility they have for where we are going.
At Juab Junior High School, students also participated in an activity centered on September 11 and the story of Welles Crowther and the red bandana. This is the story of a young man who repeatedly entered the wreckage of the Twin Towers to help others and save 12 lives. The lesson wasn't simply about tragedy. It was about courage, sacrifice, and what it means to serve another person when they need you most.
Throughout the day, I walked out hallways and visited classrooms where teachers found their own small ways to recognize the significance of September 11. There were conversations about our military, our first responders, our country, and the importance of individual service.
These don't always have to be big activities to make a difference.
Sometimes a five-minute conversation in a classroom can stay with a child for years. A story about courage can help a student understand what it means to stand up for someone else. A discussion about a first responder can teach gratitude. Remembering an important moment in history can help young people understand that the freedoms and opportunities we enjoy today have often been protected through the sacrifice and service of others. Those are educational moments that stick.
As a father and an educator, there is no place I would rather be than here in Juab School District. Walking through our schools and watching our teachers turn history into lessons about character reminds me of what makes this community special. We are not simply teaching children to know history. We are helping them understand that they have a place in it. We want them to become young people who are useful to others, who step forward when someone needs help, who appreciate the sacrifices of those who came before them, and who have the courage to make their own community a little better.
Thank you to our teachers, staff members, and administrators who make these moment meaningful. Thank you to our first responders, military members, veterans, and community leaders who provide examples of service for our children. And thank you to our parents and community members who continue to partner with our schools in raising the next generation.
An exceptional community. Exceptional courage. And a generation of young people learning what it means to serve.
#JuabProud
Dr. Kodey S. Hughes | Superintendent, Juab School District