As the chalk dust settles and another Bike Rodeo season comes to a close, we begin to reflect on what we’re thankful for as Safe Routes to School educators.
I think I can speak for all of us and say that the number one thing we’re thankful for is the kids. Seeing their excitement, working with them through their nervousness and insecurities and seeing pure joy on their faces when they do something that they’ve never done before on a bike is amazing.
Every season, we work with many students who come to us not knowing how to ride a bike, and lately that number is growing. This season, we started giving students who don’t know how to ride some extra instruction time before the rodeos so they can practice before the whole class comes out to ride. One fourth grade teacher noticed this and wrote:
“I had 5 non-rider students who were pulled out in advance to gain personal training and practice. Their faces lit up our room when they returned to class announcing, “Now I can ride a bike!” I loved this change that was made this year. I know it probably meant even more work for the team, but the benefits were noticeable to all.”
Another thing that I’m thankful for is the teamwork that our entire SRTS staff conveys at every rodeo. When we have challenges — and there are many — we work together to ensure that we overcome any hitches. No matter what, we greet all the kids with a smile when they arrive with their bikes early in the morning and we make sure everyone has a great time, even when the weather does not cooperate.
Lastly, and certainly not least, I’m so grateful for how much I love my job and how much fun we all have, no matter the circumstances of any given day. I wake up early, pack my lunch and happily get myself to whatever school is on schedule that day. I find my way to the school’s blacktop, arm myself with a handful of chalk and some colorful cones and get to work. The work of a Safe Routes to Schools Educator is not glamorous but the smiles and laughter are abundant and I get to end my day feeling like I made a difference in a kid’s life.
–Alison Zander, SRTS educator