Good News About Polk County Public Schools

Ridge Career Center (RCC) student Lindsay Cheek was recently named best speaker of the 2012 Florida Future Educators of America (FFEA) state conference in Orlando.

Five students from RCC attended the annual conference Jan. 27 to Jan. 29, along with Teacher Assisting Instructor Jill DePew.

Ms. DePew said the experience was inspiring.  Competition speeches are presented only to the judges, but those attending the conference did have a chance to hear Cheek speak, DePew noted.

“When her name was called during the Awards Presentation Ceremony,” said DePew, “Lindsay presented the speech to the full FFEA convention room with pride and passion.  She has a gift for public speaking; I sincerely believe this is only the beginning.”

According to FL Department of Education Program Specialist Allyson Adolphson, about 440 students and chapter advisors attended the conference from 51 Florida schools.  During the conference, students compete in seven voluntary competitions: Chapter Display, Chapter PowerPoint, Chapter Public Service, Chapter Spirit, Essay, Lesson Plan and Speech. Students also pick the conference theme for the coming year. ‘Teachers Plant the Seed of Knowledge’ was the 2012 theme.

“Lindsay won first place because of her creativity, eloquence and conviction,” said Adolphson.  “Not only did her speech personify the conference theme, it evoked an emotional response in all who were present.  Lindsay’s words were able to capture the importance of teaching – to impart knowledge but also to impact young lives.”

Along with the competitions at the conference, students also participated in educational workshops and listened to guest speakers.

 FFEA 2012 1^st place winning speech

By: Lindsay Cheek

“Teachers Plant the Seeds of Knowledge.”

I am the warm smile offered on the first day of school. I am the friendly call to your home to make sure everything is all right and to offer any needed help. I am the chalkboard that solves a difficult problem for everyone to see. I am the museum where you fell in love with science. I am the high school play that made you laugh and then made you cry. I am the first book you read because you appreciated literature, not just because it was assigned. I am the patience offered when things just seemed too difficult. I am the vision that looks past the troubles of today and sees the potential of tomorrow. I am the late nights spent studying for finals when you could be at a party. I am the integrity you kept when tempted by others. I am the recognition of a small task that meant the world to you. I am the persistence to keep going and never let life’s trials slow you down. I am the straight “A” report card that is clipped to the front of a refrigerator because someone took the time to study with you after school. I am the trophy that sits proudly upon a mantle because you were told never to give up. I am the diploma that seemed unachievable but through perseverance and faith became a reality.  And I am the satisfaction of knowing you now possess the greatest treasure this world has to offer.

I am the sayings of Confucius. I am the logic of Sir Isaac Newton. And I am the symphony of Beethoven. What am I? I am the seed of knowledge. I was planted in the minds and hearts of every student. And through patience, compassion, and above all, love, I grew and I blossomed into a forest of wisdom. And I was planted by you, a teacher.

Never think that your efforts are in vain. Seasons will come and go, but the knowledge and wisdom you plant in your students will stand the test of time. And never give up on your students for they are our future presidents, inventors, doctors, lawyers, scholar, authors, and teachers.