Show and Tell

My Mom's Special Award

Hey Everyone! Today I brought in something really special— it’s an award that my mom won!

Back in the the spring of 2015, my mom and her teacher friend, Ms. Rhonda Pugh, were named International Teachers of the Year by the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. It was a big deal—they got the award at a fancy luncheon in Dallas.

But here’s the part that really blew my mind! They were seated at a table wirh Malcolm Gladwell! He is one of my favorite writers and also a favorite of my mom and dad. Honestly, I think I was more excited about meeting Malcolm Gladwell than the fact mom won the award.

She and Ms Pugh started something called the Junior World Affairs Council at their school, James Martin High School in Arlington, Texas. It was all about helping students learn about the world and global events. The students also got to go to luncheons with major guest speakers—like Condoleezza Rice, David Eisenhower Jr., David Brooks, Fareed Zakaria an even Henry Kissinger!

They also took part in a competition called World Quest, kind of like a team trivia game about world affairs. In 2009, their team won the Dallas?Fort Worth region and went to the finals in Washington D.C.

Here is the coolest part; my mom and Ms. Pugh started the very first Junior World Affairs Council in Texas ( it was mom’s idea ). An now there over 50 of them across the state. She’s really proud of what they started, not just because of the award, but she gave so many students a chance to learn, travel and grow.

I am so proud of her too. None of my friends have met Malcolm Gladwell. that was awesome!

Explanation- my son Travis was at the luncheon and had his photo with Gladwell. A litle poetic license here, that my son was 30 at the time and would not have show and tell.