Rarely a week goes by that I am not amazed by something that one of my students has accomplished, learned, or attempted.  Today is no exception.  Today I felt proud and inspired as I sat in awe of a courageous, honest, and articulate fifth grader named Shea.  With the help of her teachers, Shea openly shared with her classmates what is like to have cerebral palsy.

As Shea made a presentation and answered dozens of questions, we not only learned about the daily challenges she faces but more importantly we learned how Shea, with the support of family and friends, faces each challenge head on. She openly shared how she accomplishes tasks and activities such as getting dressed, getting into bed and even skiing with a little help and specialized tools and equipment.  Shea sat before her classmates with a huge smile on her face enjoying the opportunity to tell her story and clearly letting her friends know how they can help her during school.

And as proud as I was of Shea, I was equally as proud of her 23 classmates and her teachers for the warmth, empathy and friendship they displayed. Even though Shea talked about having a disability she never really seemed disabled.  She was just a ten-year-old girl telling her story and reminding all of us to celebrate what makes us different and special.

There are many things that make me proud to be the principal of Wilmot School. Empowering students to share and celebrate differences is at the top of that list. The true culture of acceptance that we (students, staff and parents) have created at Wilmot is something we should all celebrate.