A gathering to remember in Wichita

What would bring together hundreds of superintendents and union leaders, school board members and students, policy makers from conservative and progressive perspectives, people from all over the midwest and even Washington, DC? The memorial service for Sherri Yourdon, KNEA's Vice President held just last Friday (the 14th) at Heartland Community Church in Wichita, KS. Sherri was diagnosed almost exactly one year ago with cancer. In that year, Sherri battled. She endured numerous chemo treatments. She fought the complications that came with these invasive and destructive strategies to kill the cancer.

That's not all, though. Sherri continued her work on projects with Kansas Learning First Alliance, Kansas Action for Children, Safe Kids Coalition, Kansas Parent Information Resource Center, and most of all, working with the teachers, support professionals, and other school personnel of Kansas NEA. Sherri's vision of a great public school for every child was evident in her work teaching English and Journalism to high school students, helping prison inmates earn high school diplomas, and also as a counselor for thousands of students at the high school and middle school level in Nickerson School District. Her leadership and passion for the transforming power of public education are a major part of what we will always remember about Sherri.

We will also remember that Sherri was a peacemaker when there was division, a collaborator when a challenge arose, a bridge builder when there was a chasm to be crossed, and most of all, a caring and dear friend to all who worked with her, knew her, were her students. There is a tremendous void in so many lives and yet we are all challenged to step forward and pick up the load in her honor. Only together will we be able to continue the progress she had begun. I am sure that is what she would want us to do, too.