Raising an Idol

Two years ago, Alabama member Emily Studdard would never have believed she would attend the Grammy's, interview with Oprah Winfrey, or make an appearance on the Today Show. But ever since the second-grade teacher's son, Ruben

Photos by Butch Dill

Studdard, became the American Idol, her once simple life has been turned on its head. "I'm able to go places and do things I never thought I would have the chance to do," she says.

Studdard, a teacher at Chalkville Elementary School in Birmingham, Alabama, has become the unofficial liaison between the public and her son's manager. Now, besides grading papers after school, she delivers speeches, accepts awards for her son, answers his fan mail, and replies to queries on his Web site. Her most memorable experience was appearing on the Oprah Winfrey Show soon after Ruben won the American Idol competition. "That was the tip of the iceberg for me," she says. "Just to be in [Oprah's] presence."

With an easily accessible number, her phone constantly rings with requests for Ruben's appearances. NEA Today caught up with her for NEA's Read Across America Day, when her son donned a red and white top hat and read The Cat in the Hat to her class. "The kids were so excited about having an American Idol come and read to them," says Studdard.

Despite Studdard's exposure to the celebrity lifestyle, her main focus continues to be inspiring children every day in the classroom. "I just tell them, 'be the best you can be,'" she says. To Studdard, all "her" kids are American idols.

—Deitrich Curry

Second Chance at the Game

When Deb Vosler had her leg amputated in 1991, she thought her volleyball days were over.

Photos by USA Volleyball

Now the Minnesota science teacher and high school head volleyball coach has a second chance at the game. In September, Vosler will travel to Athens, Greece, to compete with the first U.S. Sitting Women's Volleyball Team in the Paralympics. "I never thought I would make it to this elite level," says Vosler. "It's awesome."

The Dover-Eyota High School teacher was invited to try out for the team two years ago, after having received her national coaching certificate. At first, she wasn't convinced the game was for her. "My heart was saying if this is not 'real' volleyball—the game I know—then I don't want to play." But Vosler tried out for the team last May and was happy she did. For her, the skills were the same, but everything moved much faster. With the net set at 41 inches, Vosler found sitting down more challenging because it was harder to react to the ball.

The U.S. team, made up of 10 women, beat Brazil in the Para American Championships to win a spot in the first Paralympics to host a women's sitting volleyball competition. Vosler is elated to be on the historic team. "I'm an athlete playing the game I love. I don't think of it as sitting on the floor. I'm playing volleyball and representing my country."

—Deitrich Curry

Bowling for Westfield

For Wisconsin member Jeff Napp and his Pioneer Westfield High School art students, the fight against hunger starts in the kiln and goes right to the kitchen.

Photos by Becca Blunket

Napp and his students run Wisconsin School Bowls for Hunger, an annual soup dinner that raises both cash and food donations for the Care and Share Food Bank in Marquette County, Wisconsin. For the price of admission, diners enjoy their soup from a handmade, one-of-a-kind ceramic bowl they can take home.

"The kids really seem to enjoy the aspect of being able to help other people. We don't have to go out and push kids to do this," Napp says.

Students begin making the bowls about three weeks before the event, always held the first Monday in December, working a minimum of three hours after school, five days a week. Last year, the students turned out 1,000 bowls. A food drive competition is also held at the same time.

Last year's event raised over $6,000 and two and a half tons of nonperishable food, enough to supply the food bank for about two months. Napp estimates that in the seven years the program has been running, over 1,000 people have participated in the meal, with an average of about 100 students per year. Participants also include other Westfield staff and school board members. "Everyone gets involved," says Napp. "The entire community shows up to participate in this meal."

—Chris Kotterman

Tracking Athletes in the Field

Jerry Jenson, an NEA-Retired member from Oregon, has collected over 200 baseball caps while volunteering as a track and field official around the world, and that count's sure to go up.

Photo by Hector Amezcua

Jenson, who still throws shot put, discus, and hammer, began officiating when his two daughters joined their school track teams, and he's since covered events from the high school to national levels. He even volunteered at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Both Jerry and his wife, C. Ann, are USA Track & Field–Oregon certified. Although they admit officiating can sometimes be arduous (C. Ann was once stuck running the wind gauge for nine hours straight without a bathroom break), the pair gets satisfaction through companionship. "It's always a proud moment when the two of us can take the field together," Jerry says.

Officiating has taken the Jensons from Australia to Puerto Rico to Canada and back again, but no matter where they are, they try to treat the athletes as if they were at an Olympic event.

"As an official out on the field, it's easy to get emotional," Jerry says. "When you see an athlete on the field get hurt but keep going because he or she wants to finish the race, it makes it all worthwhile."

—Cheryl Ross

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