“Doing right by kids” is something many of us would certainly identify as a worthy target, but not all of us are able to lay claim to the daily level of commitment to that notion we see from educators. In that simple act, doing right by kids, teachers in Momence are making a profound difference in not only the lives of hundreds of young people, but in the future life of this community. It is something that John Cherry and his wife, Sarah, have been doing for more than 20 years, through their work as educators. It is something that John’s grandfather, Jack Cherry, did as well, right here in the Momence community, and it is something toward which, John’s voice inspires me to redouble my own efforts. I wonder what kind of community we could have; what kind of world we could have, if we all put in just a little extra effort doing right by kids and helping them to be the best versions of themselves they can be. To me, it feels like maybe the ultimate ‘pay it forward’ opportunity. Certainly something to think about.