Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Teacher recognized for impact on early student
Have you heard?
JoAnne Poindexter
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Billy Tresky remembers his first year of teaching, the 2002-03 school year, as being incredible.
He felt like he and his ninth grade world history students at Cave Spring High School connected. In fact, he knew so after being named teacher of the year and after the Class of 2006 invited him to be their graduation speaker even though he had left Cave Spring.
But Tresky, now a William Byrd Middle School civics teacher, couldn't fathom the impact he had on one student's high school years until recently.
Tresky was selected as the first "Hero in Education" for this fall at the University of Virginia. UVa football player Danny Aiken nominated Tresky and wrote a college essay on Tresky's influence.
That essay earned Tresky, his wife, Kim, and son, Jackson, free tickets to Virginia's opening game with the College of William and Mary, where Aiken presented Tresky an award before kickoff.
"I felt like a rock star" as the presentation and Aiken's essay flashed over Scott Stadium's giant video screen, Tresky said.
He was teaching class when he received a phone call from a UVa official notifying him of the award.
"It came out of nowhere. It was one of the best surprises I've had in awhile. I guess you teach hundreds of kids each year and you don't know if you are making a difference," Tresky said.
"For a kid to pick you out -- it's such an honor and it keeps you going," Tresky added.
"I've never had a sharper group ... some years they [students] test your patience. That year I lucked out," Tresky said of his first year of teaching.
Tresky especially remembers the 6-foot-5-inch, 250-pound Aiken.
"Danny was definitely not as big as he is now," Tresky laughingly said of Aiken, who attended Fork Union Military Academy before playing on UVa special teams.
"He was a big puppy. He sat in the front, and I would trip over his feet. He had big feet, and I kept telling him he was going to grow into those feet," Tresky said.
Tresky said he even teased Aiken about "his unorganized binder" but he's really proud of Aiken because he worked hard to get to UVa.
During a recent conversation with Aiken, Tresky said the UVa junior told him "you made it fun."
"We never knew what you were going to do. It made me come to school," Tresky said Aiken told him.
Tresky said he was really touched, though, when Aiken told him, "You motivated me."
Tresky is the first of the 2009 recipients of the hero award. One teacher, nominated by a football player, will be recognized at the seven UVa home football games this year.
