The Visionary

For a teacher, a classroom becomes more than four walls.

It is where names are learned, personalities begin to shine and trust is built day by day. It is where students start to understand that this is their place, and this is their teacher.

Melanie Dirig had spent the first three weeks of school creating exactly that for her kindergarten students at Haley Elementary.

Then, everything changed.

A need in third grade meant Ms. Dirig would make the unexpected move from kindergarten. In a matter of days, she had to leave behind the classroom community she had carefully built, prepare a completely different space and start again with a new group of students who needed her just as much.

There could have been frustration. There could have been disappointment.

Instead, there was Ms. Dirig.

She packed up, moved classrooms and opened her heart to another group of children.

She learned new names. She built new routines. She began earning trust all over again.

That is what teachers do.

They give pieces of themselves to their students every day, often in ways most people never see. They adjust, sacrifice, encourage and keep showing up because the children in front of them need someone who believes in them.

Ms. Dirig’s story is a reminder that some of the most meaningful moments in education are not found in a lesson plan. They are found in the quiet decision to put students first, even when doing so means starting over.

Her third-grade students may never fully know what it took for Ms. Dirig to begin again, but they will know what it feels like to have a teacher who shows up for them with patience, care and an open heart.

by Scott Murray

Northcrest Elementary’s annual Title I Knight Around the World celebrates the many cultures and traditions represented throughout the school, where more than 20 languages are spoken by families.

After this year’s event, one grandmother shared words that captured what the night meant beyond the activities.

“I was so impressed by the event for students as well as parents. We all learned something about other cultures. My grandson, Kingsley, is so proud of his school and his teachers.”

She went on to say the event showed how much Northcrest staff care about their students and work to create a welcoming learning environment for everyone.

Then came the words that stayed with staff.

“It gives me hope for our country to learn to accept all people!! This was a fine example of how to make our world a better place.”

For one grandmother, Knight Around the World was more than a school event. It was a reminder of what can happen when students and families come together to learn about one another, celebrate the cultures represented in their school and feel like they belong.

And for Kingsley, it was another reason to be proud of his school.

When Sammie Vance was 8 years old, she had a simple idea.

She wanted to help kids feel less alone.

That idea became the Buddy Bench Project, an effort that started with bringing a buddy bench to her school and grew into a movement that has reached far beyond Fort Wayne.

Now, more than nine years later, Sammie is a senior at Snider High School and is sharing her story with a new generation through a new edition of her book, Inspire the World: A Kid’s Journey to Making a Difference.

Sammie first wrote the book when she was 9 and updated it at age 17. The new edition includes added pages and an updated biography, giving readers a chance to see how one small idea can continue growing over time.

Through stories about recycling, community, giving, determination, bravery and helping others, Sammie encourages young people to understand that age does not determine their ability to make a difference.

Her message is one she has lived herself.

What began with one student wanting to fight loneliness became years of service, advocacy and connection.

Amp Lab students are making their mark on one of Fort Wayne’s most iconic landmarks. Forty students partnered with the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum to research its history and create four new murals for the 200 Level Concourse focused on history, sports, music and veterans.

The project gave students an authentic, real-world challenge combining art, research, collaboration and storytelling, with each mural featuring symbolism tied to the Coliseum and the community it has served for generations.

Watch the video to see how students turned what they learned into artwork that will be part of the Coliseum’s story for years to come.

For sixth-grade students at Towles New Tech Middle School, Sept. 11 became more personal when Army veteran Andre Easley shared his military service and connection to the events of 9/11. As he spoke, students listened closely and asked thoughtful questions about his experiences and the sacrifices of those who served. His visit gave them something a textbook cannot, the chance to hear history through the voice of someone who lived it.

Each year, Do it Best brings together store owners, vendors and partners from across the country for its annual Market, an event built around relationships, new ideas and helping independent businesses succeed. For the founding corporate partner of FWCS' Study Connection, those relationships go far beyond products on a shelf.

Companies including Milwaukee Tool, ScottsMiracle-Gro and Sherwin-Williams work closely with Do it Best to support stores across the country. At the Market, those partners also shared how they are investing in communities and helping prepare the next generation.

That same commitment to people and community can be seen close to home through Study Connection.

Former Do it Best CEO Don Wolf founded the weekly after-school tutoring program with Fort Wayne Community Schools 1989. Do it Best employees have continued supporting Study Connection for decades, helping create relationships that give students encouragement, consistency and another trusted adult in their corner.

That commitment was celebrated at the annual Study Connection Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast, where keynote speaker Gian Paul Gonzalez challenged volunteers to be “All In.”

Gonzalez shared a message centered on the power of showing up and being fully committed to another person. For Study Connection volunteers, that message reflects what happens every week as they give students their time, attention and encouragement.

For a student, that time can mean help with an assignment, a conversation after a difficult day or simply knowing someone will be there again next week.

The Do it Best Market shows the strength of relationships in business. Study Connection shows the difference those same values can make when they are invested in students.

Week after week, volunteers continue to show students through their actions that they matter and that they are worth the time.

Hear ye, hear ye!

From the halls of Northrop High School came a sight worthy of the royal court: Prince Charming himself, Princ👑pal Robb Robison, riding proudly atop a mighty Bruin and, much to his dismay, dressed in teal. Robison will have to explain his strong dislike of teal another day.

The “Prince Charming” nickname dates back to 2013, though exactly how Robison earned it remains a bit of Northrop lore. Was it the golden locks of flowing hair? The regal smile? The kind heart? Perhaps all three.

Whatever the reason, the name stuck.

For homecoming, a group of teachers found a new way to bring the nickname to life, creating about 150 buttons featuring Robison riding Northrop’s Bruin mascot. They quietly distributed them to adults throughout the building, and when students arrived at school, nearly everyone was wearing one.

Students laughed. Staff laughed. Robison laughed right along with them.

And that is where the real story begins.

Strong school culture is built on relationships, trust and sometimes a willingness to be a little vulnerable. At Northrop, that can mean conversations in the hallway, long-running traditions or a Princ👑pal willing to ride a Bruin into the kingdom.

Brentwood Elementary students are putting effective collaboration into action as they work together to maintain the school garden. Through Schools of Success, students are learning that teamwork, listening and shared responsibility can help something grow, both in the garden and in themselves.

School is underway, but there’s still time to join the FWCS team! We’re hiring teachers, bus drivers, support staff, lifeguards and more. Whether you’re looking for a career in the classroom or a role that supports students behind the scenes, there’s a place for you at FWCS.

Find your opportunity and apply today!

https://fwcs.schoolspring.com

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