Wittenborn 'gets it right'

Every Sunday morning as I rise, I thank God for yet another day and then I open my door and pick up the Southeast Missourian. I quickly check over Speak Out and FanSpeak to read about someone who usually is not involved in education but who is all to quick to judge and comment on students, teachers and coaches in a most negative way.

Alas, the Sunday paper arrived Oct. 31 and I was treated to the comments about Notre Dame soccer coach Brad Wittenborn and Central soccer coach Tom Doyle. Again, I realized someone felt the need to comment on something they know little about.

To say that Brad Wittenborn needs to "get it" is absurd. Brad has been teaching and coaching for nearly 30 years. In that time he has received many prestigious honors such as educator of the year, coach of the year for the district and for the state, and many others. However, if you were to ask Brad about these honors, he would shake his head and give all the credit to the students and his fellow coaches. So I ask the author of the Oct. 31 FanSpeak comment this question: Have you been to a practice or game where Brad is coaching? If the answer is yes, then you saw him correct in a most gentle way every mistake made by a player; you saw him take a player out and make him sit while he instructed the player on proper behavior. If you come into the school building, you would have the opportunity to see him teach not just physics and mathematics but ethics and morality on a daily basis. You would see him talking to parents about their child's interests and you would see him offering words of encouragement to every student and player he comes in contact with on a daily basis.

Brad believes coaching is an extension of life and makes every effort to teach life lessons. Did you know that his soccer teams have built roofs for families in the city? Did you know that each year he organizes car washes for various organizations such as the MDA? This year he organized two such events for trooper Sgt. Brad Lively and for the Immaculate Conception Building Fund. Did you know his soccer players assist in the local Big Brothers and Big Sisters programs? Did you know that every game begins and ends with prayer?

I have been involved in secondary education for the past 30 years. In that time I have met many students, parents and teachers. In my opinion, Brad Wittenborn stands out as one of the best. He is an advocate for Excellence in Education. He is an advocate for doing the right thing, not the popular thing. There is no doubt in my mind Brad is a competitor, but there is also no doubt in my mind that Brad Wittenborn places honor, values and integrity far above winning a game. This is a man who "gets it right" all the time, even in the face of adversity.

I write this letter for every student, player, coach, teacher and parent who has been judged without ever knowing them as a person.

It is my fondest hope that next Sunday after I thank God for yet another day, I will be able to read FanSpeak and not see another student, coach, teacher or parent judged unjustly again. After all, I do believe that hope springs eternal.

Brother David Anthony Migliorino is the principal at Notre Dame Regional High School.