John R. Passarini Ed.D.

Disney Outstanding Teacher of the Year, 2003

 “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” Author Unknown

Set goals, love what you do, stay focused, and pursue your dreams with passion and perseverance.  Never quit no matter how many obstacles challenge you.

I grew up in a bi-lingual home that had lots of love, lots of support, good food, but few books.  My mother Dorina was born in Italy and was able to attend school only through the third grade. My father Adolpho was born with cerebral palsy, and contracted polio at age 6. Because of his physical challenges and his learning challenges, my father graduated from high school when he was 20 years old.  He never once complained.  My parents taught me how to be a good person and how to love life.  However, language skills, especially my reading skills were very poor.  In 1955 I repeated the second grade and remember feeling extremely disappointed, and confused. Nobody ever explained to me why I repeated, and for several years I felt sad and self-conscious. Despite my challenges and disappointments I maintained a positive attitude and continued to think about my possibilities.

In 2000 I was named the Adapted Physical Education National Teacher of the Year.  In May of 2001 I earned my Doctor of Education degree in Special Education from Boston University.  In 2003, from a pool of 185,000 nominations, I was named Disney’s Most Outstanding Teacher of the Year.  What inspired me to survive my academic challenges and reach the top of my profession?  My strong athletic skills and my good social skills carried me through elementary school.  I was embarrassed by my poor academic skills, but I had good self-esteem, lots of friends, and a positive attitude. Most important, I had clear goals and a strong desire to be successful and to help people.  My academic struggles continued in Junior High school until I met Warren E. Priest.  Warren was an English and Social Studies teacher who recognized my potential and appreciated my desire to improve my academic skills.  When I met Warren I was “ready” to learn. Warren gave me extra spelling tests.  He gave me extra writing assignments then took out the dreaded red pen to make corrections.  My papers gradually went from a sea of red, to very few corrections. 

At Newton South High School my reading skills remained challenging so I read my assignments 3 and 4 times.  Warren taught me study skills that helped me break down and manage large amounts of information. I continued to have Warren test me for spelling long after it was required.  I can’t imagine anyone loving high school more than I did.  With a clear mental picture of what I wanted to achieve, I was able to stay focused and achieve my goals and more.  In addition to being elected to the National Honor Society, I was elected captain of three sports.  At 5 ft. 9 inches and 175 lbs., I was not an imposing sports figure.  However, with the same desire and determination that helped me overcome many academic obstacles, I played sports with the same passion, perseverance, and resolve that I had for my studies.  I have a strong kinesthetic intelligence. I love physical contact. I love competition and good sportsmanship. As a result of my efforts, I became a Boston Globe first team All-Scholastic Fullback; I won the New England Wrestling Championship in the165 lb. weight class; and I was invited to a tryout with the New York Yankees.  However, one of the proudest moments of my life was winning the Boys Senior Cup at graduation

It was at the University of Connecticut that I met the late Dr. Hollis Fait.  Dr. Fait was a prolific writer with many scholarly papers and several books on the subject of adapted physical education.  Most important, he was passionate about children with disabilities, especially children with mental retardation.   He was a beautiful blend of academics and love.  I remember vividly traveling with Dr. Fait to the Mansfield Training School, an institution for individuals with mental retardation.  When Dr. Fait entered the children’s ward, he was tackled by nearly 20 excited and happy children.  Even the children who were blind found their way to Dr. Fait.  They laughed, they kissed him, he tickled them, he laughed, and I was in awe.  As he rolled on the floor and played with these children I can remember thinking,” What a wonderful man, and I want to be just like him.” I believe I became a teacher because of Warren.  I believe I became an adapted physical educator because of my father’s condition.  I believe it was Dr. Fait who taught me how to truly love and enjoy teaching, children with disabling conditions. Dr. Fait reached into my soul and touched the very essence of my spirit.   

            During my first semester at UConn I achieved a 2.85 grade point score and was awarded a scholarship.  One of the happiest moments of my life was telling my parents they did not have to pay for my college education.  My mother cried. The goals I set, my ability to love what I do and my ability to remain focused, my innate desire to be successful and help others, and my passion and perseverance literally paid off at the University of Connecticut. I played football and wrestled for all four years at UConn. I achieved Dean’s List status my junior and senior years and finished with a 2.95 quality point average.  It was now time to begin my career.

            In 1970, I was hired to teach physical education at the elementary and junior high school level in Waltham Massachusetts.  I was also hired to start a wrestling program at Waltham High School.  It was in Waltham that I learned many sound teaching skills and made many friends. Some of the families I worked with remain my closest friends today.  It was in Waltham that I met my wife Gloria.  We have three outstanding sons, John, Tom, and Michael.

            My life changed forever in September of 1988 when I began teaching in Wayland Massachusetts and met Katie Lynch. Katie was born with a connective tissue disorder.  She was 28 inches tall and her arms were 7 inches long.  Although Katie was capable of walking for short distances with the assistance of a custom built “Mini” walker, she used a motorized wheelchair for the majority of her mobility.  In 1990, Katie and I worked 6 months to prepare for her version of the Walk for Hunger.  She collected pledges that sponsored her by the foot instead of by the mile.  She walked 200 feet and raised $1,700.00.  When Katie graduated from Wayland High School she surprised her parents by walking across the stage to receive her diploma.  We worked 3 months to prepare for that event.  In April of 2000, Katie walked the first 26.2 feet of the Boston Marathon to raise $28,000.00 for Children’s Hospital in Boston.  Katie trained 6 months and sustained several injuries in preparation for this event.  I was one of Katie’s coaches for her marathon walk.  Katie survived 13 life-threatening surgeries and was in constant pain before she died in October of 2002.  Katie was the epitome of mental toughness.  For a newspaper interview, Joan Lynch Katie’s Mother said, “To me, Coach Pass personifies the truth that each child is worth it, and it was his incredible faith in Katie that set her spirit free.”

Katie taught me that we are limited only by our thoughts, and that the human spirit has unlimited potential.  I bring this spirit to every part of my life, including my teaching.  Katie has helped me to be patient, to be confident, to be hopeful.  I believe my family, my friends, my colleagues, and my students have benefited from my relationship with Katie Lynch.  I am a better teacher, I am a better father, I am a better human being because I knew Katie Lynch.  I believe that Katie was packaged like she was to help us all understand the power of the human spirit.  When I think of Katie, I feel hope and a chance for peace in a world that at times appears chaotic.   Katie nominated me for the Disney American Teaching Award.  Katie is “My little Angel.”  When I need help in my life, Katie sits on my shoulder and gives me strength.  I honestly believe that my Disney award is a gift from Katie. 

             You have met some of my heroes.  It was these people and some others that believed in me and loved me for who I am.  These and other individuals helped me sustain a deep confidence in my abilities despite early periods of academic failure and confusion.  Warren appeared in my life when I was ready to become a scholar. Not everyone will have a mentor like Warren, however, if you set goals, love what you do, stay focused, and pursue your dreams with passion and perseverance, your teachers will appear.  Good Luck.