Bristol's greatest teacher family; the Whiteheads

Imagine being in a room with over one hundred of the brightest young minds in Virginia, all who are about to graduate college and become school teachers.

That’s where I was initially scheduled to travel this past Friday - to the Teachers of Promise Institute, in Richmond VA (a health issue ultimately prevented me, but that topic is not part of this article).

These very smart and capable young people represent the very top of their respective colleges and universities, spanning across the entire Commonwealth of Virginia. They are among the finest future teachers one could ever find gathered together at one setting anywhere. (I am sorry I could not personally be there with them all this weekend.)

For about fourteen years running now, I have been invited to the annual Teachers of Promise gathering - to serve as a personal “mentor” to these about-to-become-public-educators; to attempt to inspire them on their new journey.

The Teachers of Promise Institute (visit: teachersofpromiseinstitute.com) is the creative brainstorm of my dear friend and fellow native Bristolian, Wade Whitehead, who graduated from our local John Battle High School.

Wade went on to graduate from William and Mary, then spent most of his career teaching elementary school in Roanoke.

Wade and I are both past recipients of the McGlothlin Award for Teaching Excellence. Likewise, we are both inductees into the National Teachers Hall of Fame. I’m proud to state that there may well be no other place in all the world (other than Bristol) with two native citizens who have won both of these prestigious awards.

However, I am even more proud to say that Wade has gone on to do more than me. Much more.

But how did Wade’s exemplary career in education come to be?

As with so many of the great things achieved in this world, Wade’s bright mind and empathetic heart were first nourished at home.

Wade’s parents, Ed and Betty Whitehead, attained nearly 100 years (yes, as in a century) of public-school teaching between them - all here locally, in and near Bristol. Ed and Betty are each a monument to American education … and have perpetuated their penchant for pedagogy through both of their sons.

The Whiteheads have another son. His name is Scott.

Scott Whitehead has also dedicated his life to teaching. Whether or not he has received as many teaching accolades as has his more famous brother matters little in regards to his impact on his students and his community. Far more often than not, the greatest good done in this world is accomplished in complete and humble anonymity (which sounds like quite a timely topic for another edition). Not everyone who deserves public applause and recognition in this world receives it. There may not be a better living representative of such a fact than Scott Whitehead.

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There are countless ways for your own child or grandchild to bring good to the world in which we live. However, it would be difficult to find something more meaningful and influential you could inspire your child to be … than to become a teacher.

We would all do well to follow the lead of Bristol’s Whitehead family; that whatever it is your children or grandchildren may wind up doing in this world … inspire them to do it well.