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FTA celebrates future heroes

10/25/2007

More than 700 future superheroes gathered at the University of Missouri-Columbia on Wednesday morning, but it wasn't a meeting of the Justice League.

It was the annual Missouri Future Teachers of America meeting, bringing together students from 42 high schools across the state. The annual meeting, sponsored by MSTA, featured guest speakers, officer elections and skits centering on the theme "Future Teachers…Future Heroes."

MSTA President Valerie Moats told the group that teaching is a calling and despite the long hours, the primary reward is in the lives of students changed every day.

"Love what you do," Moats said. "Let your passion come through and be the driving force."

Keynote speaker Troy Garrison used oversized beach balls, music and humor to remind students they encounter heroes every day in their teachers and that gratitude is both a way to recognize a hero and maintain a cheerful disposition. He asked attendees to stop and think about three things that they were grateful for.

"After you've gone through three to five things you're grateful for, you can't be in a bad mood," Garrison said. Garrison taught in Ava R-1 and after retirement moved to Lake Arrowhead, Calif. Students were given the assignment of returning to school and expressing their gratitude to a favorite teacher.

Garrison's visit was sponsored by the Person-Abilities Network, a California nonprofit that emphasizes celebrating the capabilities and challenges faced by those with— and without — disabilities.

Many of this year's election skits reflected the superhero theme, with participants showing up in capes and tights. President-elect Catalina Richard, of Weaubleau R-3, chose to imitate a less flashy hero. She quoted Gandhi in her candidate statement: "Be the change you wish to see in this world."

"If you let me, I will lead you, and help you all become the change we wish to see in this world," Richard said in her election speech.

Richard was elected president for 2008-09. Other officers elected were:

  • Vice President Jesse Carter, Humansville R-4

  • Secretary Drew Thornton, Richland R-1

  • Kelsey Fessler, Salisbury R-4


    • FTA officers present and future. Front row, from left, 2008-09 President Catalina Richard, Weaubleau, R-3; Vice President Jesse Carter, Humansville R-4; Secretary Drew Thornton, Richland R-1; and Historian Kelsey Fessler, Salisbury R-4. Back row, from left, 2007-08 President Jonathan McGarity, Richland R-1; Vice President Allana Engelhardt, Ava R-1; Secretary Dawn Carraway, Galena R-2; and Historian Allison Monnig, Salisbury R-4.



    Oversized beach balls drop from the ceiling at the start of Troy Garrison's keynote address.



    MSTA President Valerie Moats joins FTA officers in a stadium wave during Troy Garrison's keynote address.



    Troy Garrison talks about gratitude with the crowd. Garrison is a retired teacher who taught in Ava and now lives in Lake Arrowhead, Calif.



    Kelsey Fessler, far right, gets ready with her classmates from Salisbury for her campaign skit.