I know I'm a bit of a ghost theses days round these parts, but I've always thought of myself as a bit of a lurker anyway, but I felt I had to rep my day job here to pander for some votes.

You see, the high school I teach at, Blue Valley Northwest High School, in Overland Park, Kansas, is currently one of six public high schools in the running to have Barack Obama speak at our graduation ceremony in May. I love my job. I got to teach great kids like Katie, A Princess from this very board. I got to teach a lot of great kids over the last 15 years at Northwest, and They've all become a part of my family. 1700+ students walk though our doors daily, and (for the most part - it is high school for gods sake) they love to be here, and really do look out for each other daily. if you doubt me, check out one of our special needs students right here... http://sunpublications.com/200910283074/sports/he-s-a-one-hit-wonder-autistic-huskies-football-player-fans-relish-weafer-s-single-play-appearances.html

That is the sort of thing that happens daily at my day job. And that is why I'm out begging for your support and help. These folks are worth it.

All I'm asking is for you to go to the White House website http://www.whitehouse.gov/commencement#vote-top and vote for my school, Blue Valley Northwest, check out the videos, vote for them all. They are all great schools in their own right. Help me get the chance to hang with Barack Obama, give Northwest a 5 rating, and pass it on.

We'd all appreciate it.

p.s. I'm actually in it, briefly, (I'm in black holding a rather limp piece of paper I'm reading from to my 7th hour AP European History class). If nothing else, come laugh at the fat guy. Admission is only a 5 vote.

Thanks for letting me street team folks, I promise not to abuse it too much - IF You Vote For Blue Valley Northwest.

voted in your favor


good luck

Just got the email from Barry himself yesterday. I'll vote your way today, if you're the best choice.

Done. And done.
Good luck Jeff.

Oh, and bald suits you!

voted!

hey, jeff...didn't jason sudeikis and paul rudd also go there?

No Bob, Rudd & Sudeikis both went to Shawnee Mission West just ten minutes or so up the road. It had legendary Theater, Forensics and Debate programs lead by two great teachers whom Rudd & Sudeikis both had when the attended there. That debate coach left SMW and came to Northwest as our 1st debate coach when the building opened 17 years ago. I worked with him as the assistant coach for about a decade before he retired. We had a nationally ranked squad during his entire tenure here that was an amazing amount of fun and chaos. I cannot say that working at Blue Valley Northwest has always been absolute fun, sunshine, and rainbows, but seriously it has been pretty kick ass for the majority of the 15 years I've been here.

At this very moment, as I type this, I've got 10 students staying after school to study for the AP European History exam next Friday, and before we got officially started, as we all assembled, we were blasting Passion Pit, LCD Sound System, The Bloody Beetroots, Ra Ra Riot and Cut Copy. I love this place.

Thanks for all the votes, we do appreciate it.

God damn it. That story made me cry. Being a dad has made me so much more emotional.

anyone who is involved in HS debate (esp those who teach it) is good in my book

Hey folks, just a not-so gentle nudge. Voting closes tonight at midnight East Coast. We all here at BVNW would appreciate your vote if you have not yet done so. And if you already have, thank you. Feel free to repeat that process as much as you'd like to in the next twelve or so hours. And feel free to pass it on to as many people as you'd care to.

And seriously, if you didn't read the Kyle Weafer story I linked, you really should. i get misty every time I read it.

Thanks an awful lot for your help here.

again, the address is... http://www.whitehouse.gov/commencement

A 5 vote is the best, and it helps if you actually do vote for all of the high schools.

voted, good luck!

i voted, just forgot to post about doing so

Damn, sorry you guys didn't win.

Dang, I was hoping you or the Cincy school would win.