CCISD holds ‘Teachers are Superheroes’ convocation

By DAVID J. HARDIN Cove Leader-Press Excitement was in the  ir as teachers, staff and administratorscame together  for Copperas Cove Independent School District’s annual convocation, in celebration of a new school year. There were many smiling faces as friends and colleaguesreunited to welcome a new year. The theme for this year’s event was “Teachers are Superheroes.” Several teachers dressed up in costumes of great superheroes. Batgirl, Wonder Woman, and Superman were all in attendance, and they all were accompanied by the Superman theme song performed  by the Copperas Cove High School Band. Several people shared their hopes and dreams for the upcoming school year. First was Joan Manning, president of the CCISD Board of Trustees. She  called all teachers at CCISD heroes, and pointed out “a hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in the time of overwhelming obstacles,” a quote once attributed to the Superman of the big screen, Christopher Reeve. She went on to tell the au ience that growing up,  we all had our favorite superheroes. Ust as we re-member those superheroes, we remember our favorite teachers, teacher who used their superpowers to make a difference in the lives of their students and made them feel good about themselves. The next speaker was the Superintendent of Copperas Cove Independent Schools, Joe Burns. Burns welcomed everyonewith a big smile and proceeded  to find the Copperas  ove ISD spirit by saying the names of all 11 schools in the district. When each campus was called, the members of that school stood up and cheered. As Burns  continued with his speech, he thanked all teachers and staff who were returning, and told the new staff  members, “You are in theright place, and you are home with family.” He reminded all the teachers that “in the lives of kids, you are superheroes.” He went on to say, “In a few days, parents will send their kids to our schools, some by bus and others by car, many with school supplies and some without. Some children will even come  o school hungry, but you know what? As long as they have you, they have all they need, because you are the difference makers.” The final speaker of the event was Retired Sergeant First Class Dana Bowman. He shared his amazing story of tragedy and triumph. Originally from Ridgeville, Ohio,Bowman went into the  United States Army at 18  years old. He was a member  f Army’s Golden Knights Parachute Team. Bowman loved jumping out of an airplane, but on  February 6, 1994, his life would forever change. On that day while doing a practice maneuver with his teammate Sgt. Jose Aguillon, the two were doing a maneuver called the Diamond Track. The two collided in mid-air, killing, Aguillon instantly and severing Bowman’s legs. The combined speed at the time of impact was over 300 miles per hour, and when Bowman showed the actual video, everyone in the Lea  Ledger Auditorium was speechless. After nine months, of recovery and rehabilitation, Bowman turned this tragedy into a triumph when he became the first double amputee  o reenlist in the United States Army. This achievement is just one example of Bowman’s many successes under adverse circumstances. The message was one of courage and overcoming  obstacles, and henoted that teachers also help their students persevere and overcome obstacles in their lives. The convocation was a celebration of education, and a way to show the teachers of Copperas Cove ISD how much they are appreciated