Today, you’ll hear from someone who has been shaped by the Momence community in profound and fundamental ways. From his work ethic to his love for community, Ted Petersen credits Momence for the incredible journey he’s had in sport, in life, and through the people he’s met along the way. The owner of not one, but two Super Bowl rings, with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ted remains Momence Humble and takes on much more of a philosopher’s tone than the self-promotion we so often hear from professional athletes today. This was a conversation I was very much looking forward to having and if you already know Ted, you understand why. But if you haven’t yet met Ted, it is my genuine honor to introduce him to you here.

A few words can make such a difference in the life and trajectory of a young person. In fact, I don’t think it’s any kind of stretch to say that a few words from a trusted adult may well have made that difference in the trajectory of Ted Petersen. Those of us who remember the Pittsburgh Steelers of the 1970s will remember Franco Harris and Terry Bradshaw. We can still see the adoring fans in the stands on TV waving those gold towels. And we’ll remember Charlie Daniels’ homage to those fans in his 1980 hit, In America. But without guys like Ted Petersen, and the coaches, mentors, and community members from right here in Momence who helped him see the possibility of it all, it’s hard to know what might have—or what might NOT— have happened. This we know for certain: Hard work, love for community, and a belief in possibilities are universal positives and will go a long way. Ted is exhibit A in making that case.

Today, I have the privilege of speaking with a remarkable educator who makes a difference in the lives of young people every day, as a reading specialist. Sandi Trubach is one of those educators who not only has a heart for teaching and for the kids in her classrooms, but for the advancement of her craft. She is a tireless researcher and continues to seek out new ways to reach kids at all different levels with ideas and techniques that connect.

Full disclosure, we recorded this episode on St. Patrick’s Day amidst some technical difficulties, which were further compounded by an out-of-the-blue upper respiratory condition-slash- cold that impacted my voice for the next three weeks, making it more than a challenge for us to drop this episode in March, when we had intended. That said, Sandi gave a remarkable interview, and you can even hear the voices of many of the children with whom she shares her days throughout our discussion, and I just think it is a very special interview with a rockstar educator. I hope you’ll enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed the conversation.

“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. 

Today, I have the privilege of speaking with a professional educator who has been making those kinds of differences in individual lives for more than a quarter of a century. He has taught in widely ranging environments, has served in several unique administrative capacities, and now very capably leads Momence Schools. I first met Shannon Anderson shortly after we recorded this podcast remotely, and I immediately sensed that this was someone who knew how to get things done; who had a demonstrable track record for doing so, and who really cared about kids and their families.