By Reggie Clinton - Superintendent ISVI
March 20, 2008

Once I announced that I was coming to ISVI, and I was still the superintendent of the Arcola School District, I had many of my colleagues and community members ask me "how do you work with blind students?". My response, as it has always been, was that "kids are kids". I don’t care what various conditions any student may have, they are still the same as anyone else their age. Every student has dreams, hopes, desires and the need for a friendship group that they belong to. They also all have unique and special talents. This last statement brings me to my focus for this article.

I had the pleasure of attending the ISVI Talent Show last night. I even got to make a guest appearance as an alien. Thanks to two young men inviting me to do this bit part, I am sure that I will be greeted as the alien superintendent as I meet students around campus today. Last night we had the majority of our student body participate in this talent show in some manner displaying their unique and awesome talents. Acts ranged from singing, to playing musical instruments, to dancing and to joke telling. The neat part is that it was a festive atmosphere and everyone was enjoying the performances. To sit their and take in these performances makes a person realize, and appreciate, the abilities our students have. We aren’t saying that these acts are going to produce the next American Idol. But each act gave the audience an insight into the abilities our students have. For anyone who has ever participated in a show of this nature you realize the courage it takes to get up in front of a crowd and have everyone’s attention focused on you. The butterflies start in your stomach, your mouth gets dry and your knees start to shake a little. Yet our students one by one got up in front of the audience last night and gave their best performance and effort! It was something I wish everyone could witness. It was truly entertaining and displayed the heart of our student body. If an act stumbled on a line or part of their performance, they picked right up where they left off and performed like nothing ever happened while doing so with a smile. Yes, for me it was an enjoyable evening watching these students share their unique talents.

Having said all of this, as I sat there last night a couple of times I remembered that question I was asked by my colleagues "how do you work with blind students?". What I would like to do now if I am ever asked that question again is to provide that person with a copy of the video from the show last night and tell them "watch this. After you are done you tell me how you would work with our students". I know my answer. Kids are kids and you work with them like you do any student. You challenge them, you encourage them, you set examples for them, you give them opportunities to grow, you love them, you nurture them and you discipline them. Then when the time comes you let them go and watch as they blossom into a vibrant display of the talents they have. At that moment you sit back and you enjoy their performance. At the same time you realize that everyone has talents, they just need the opportunity to share them. I am proud to say that at ISVI our staff work hard to make sure our students get those opportunities.

Thank you to our students for a wonderful performance last night and thank you parents/guardians for allowing us to be a part of your students lives!

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