Professional Partner of the Month: January 2009
David Aboud
"He always has a smile for everyone and there is nothing that he won't do to help the cause. In other words, his passion for the profession of education and working with kids is apparent to all who know him."
- Katrina Brown, English Department Chair, Altoona Area High School
"This fall we had the honor of joining David and some of his students for a community park clean up day. It was amazing to see nearly 100 students show up on an in-service day to help. Immediately you can see how much he has invested in the kids at Altoona High School, and how appreciative the students are to have David as a role model and support."
- Jeremy Fegert, Program Director, The Second Mile
"When so many teachers nearing retirement are counting the days until they can leave, David Aboud is constantly talking about how many more years he plans to work. No matter what event I attend with David, in or outside of the city of Altoona, there will be someone who knows him, had him as a teacher and makes positive remarks about their experience at Altoona Area High School because of him."
- Kimberly Morgan-Shope, Social Studies Teacher and Department Chair, Altoona Area High School
If you walked down the hallway of Altoona Area High School and saw someone painting a paw print on the wall, you might think it was a custodian. Chances are better that you just saw David Aboud promoting Mountain Lion spirit. As the Community Service Coordinator at Altoona Area High School (Blair County), he encourages, manages, and leads students – essentially teaching them how to lead in their community. But Mr. Aboud does so much more, as he gets involved and stays involved in so many facets of school life, from serving as Student Council Advisor, to working as the school representative to the Music Parent Organization. For all he does to improve the climate at the Altoona Area High School, and positively impact the lives of local students and families, The Second Mile is proud to recognize David Aboud as its Professional Partner of the Month for January.
Mr. Aboud's primary responsibility is to serve as the high school's Community Service Coordinator, which involves teaching a class that seniors may take in order to volunteer in the community up to two periods a day. While not required, usually about 160 students sign up, and David's job is to screen applicants for good attendance and discipline; to arrange the sites; and to check on the students' work ethic and progress at the site. Katrina Brown, English Department Chair, notes that Mr. Aboud's greatest gift is his ability to relate to and deal with people in such a way that everyone feels important and valued, and that as Community Service Advisor:
| | "He deals with many sites that require a person with tolerance, flexibility, and good communication skills. Dave exhibits all this and more as the community consistently opens its doors to our students because they trust in Dave's competence from both ends of the program." |
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This example clearly shows the case of how one person can make a difference.
Further, David Aboud practices what he preaches, not just encouraging students to lead and get involved in the community, but doing so himself and thus serving as the example. Kimberly Morgan-Shope, Social Studies teacher and Department Chairperson elaborates:
| | "He is always willing to help out someone in need if he can, and when students come to him with concerns or needs, he helps or gets them to someone who will help. Everyone in this high school turns to him when they need something done, or they need direction on a project." |
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While perhaps not part of his official job description, Mrs. Brown concurs with this description, adding that David Aboud is basically in charge of anything that needs to be done in the name of "education beyond the classroom."
This education might include chaperoning school dances, announcing at girls basketball games and marching band events, serving as both Student Council Advisor and Senior Class Advisor, raising awareness and money for the Humane Society, working for and raising money for the Children's Miracle Network, cleaning up community parks and cemeteries, holding blood drives, coordinating the SAT and ACT Test Center (and calming anxious students), organizing and holding two annual "proms" for local senior citizens…..and the list goes on! Ultimately, these are all examples of Mr. Aboud providing students with opportunities to grow and learn. The exact event may change from week to week, but the vehicle for teaching and developing leadership, communication, teamwork, and citizenship skills is always there and always utilized.
Given the nature of his work, it's not surprising that Aboud takes great satisfaction watching the students in his course or in Student Council work to help others in the community. "It is always very satisfying when I hear from individuals or groups commenting on the appreciation they have for the students who have helped them out or sponsored an activity." As for motivation, this satisfaction, along with the chance to work with many fun and caring students, easily do the trick for him.
The Second Mile fits right in with Aboud's work, as he attempts to get students to cooperate in planning and carrying out community service activities, and learn how important it is to be a part of the community in which one lives. A recent project in Altoona involving some Second Mile staff members brought out over 100 students on a day with no school – even with a 9:00 am start! And students still ask him when the next project will be. Aboud is preparing to bring a team of five sophomores to The Second Mile's Leadership Institute March 29 – April 1, and then focus in the coming year on ways to improve the climate in the high school.
Working as an educator for over 30 years, David Aboud has witnessed many changes, shifts, and challenges. Some of the more significant challenges facing teachers today that he's experienced relate to technology, parents, and standardized testing. Teachers have a more difficult time keeping students motivated when cell phones, MP3 players, computers, Facebook, and MySpace are competing with the teachers' instructions and assignments. Mr. Aboud feels that some parents have made education more challenging as they believe that their children never do anything wrong, that essentially any problems are the fault of the school. In addition, he thinks PSSA standardized tests have hurt education in Pennsylvania, and that something needs to be done to radically improve how the state handles these tests. "Our students are missing out on very important life skills because passing a test is seen as more important." Fortunately, David Aboud is doing more than his share to focus on the life skills part of this balance sheet.
What makes him tick? Certainly a positive outlook on life doesn't hurt. Aboud says he always tries to be friendly and easy to get along with, because he realizes that it's vital for students to feel welcomed at school, and further, they'll be more inclined to come to him with a problem. He comments, "I always believe that students will strive harder for someone who treats them with respect and smiles." His colleagues describe him as genuine and professional, and committed to whatever he does. Katrina Brown imagines that if someone could create a painting representing Mr. Aboud, it would be of a man who is relaxed with open arms, basically conveying, "I am here to serve!" And of course, there would be a big smile on his face.
Married for 33 years, he and his wife have two sons. Perhaps a new part of their life that energizes him is their new (and first) granddaughter, prompting Aboud to exclaim, "It is all that people say it is! Gosh, the smile you get from her warms your heart, and the smile and satisfaction we get when we leave to go home and let the parents handle the screaming at night warms the heart even more!"
This sense of humor and positive attitude have certainly gone a long way to keep David Aboud engaged and satisfied, even after over three decades of service to the Altoona Area High School. For all the energy and community-building he has been doing in conjunction with his work as an educator, The Second Mile salutes him as its Professional Partner of the Month for January.
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