Rhetoric Teacher, Instructional Coach, Aspiring Rockstar in Junior Varsity Blues, FORMER Joliet West Running Coach
Joliet, IL
Joined November 2013
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Just walked across the new bridge over 55 on Black Road. Nice and wide. Much safer than dodging cars while trying to sprint across the bridge in years past.
Come see our band play tonight at the Croatian Club in Joliet from 5:30-8:30pm to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Linda’s Pizza with owner (and former Joliet West security guard) Mark Berman. It’s open to the public; kids are welcome. Outside if no rain, inside if it rains.
Playing 8pm-11:30pm at The Studio in Lockport tonight. We are playing some great songs, but their jukebox in the back has some great jams.
When you live within 3 miles of the school you’ve taught at for more than 20 years, there’s a real good chance former students might pull up next to you at a light and watch you quietly rapping along with Eminem’s “Without Me” just before screaming your full name out the window.
And in the spirit of both Track AND Field, a hearty congrats to Tigers athlete Tyler Rothbart on qualifying for State in discus. Not to brag, but of the 6 athletes going to State for Joliet West, I taught 4 this year. #RhetoricVictory
Congrats to the Tigers’ boys track runners who advanced to State today: Freshman phenom Marcellus Mines led wire-to-wire in winning the 1600m at Sectionals in 4:18, and the 4x8 took 2nd and moves on with Luke and Jake Pollack, Oscar Becerra, and Patrick Olson. So happy for them.
Brian Newman retweeted
Don’t forget to stop by Mr Almon’s room on his last day at Jolliet West. He has done so much for his students and athletes and will be greatly missed! We wish him the best of luck!
Today would have been Toni Morrison’s 90th birthday. I’ve taught English for 21 years, and her novel Beloved and short story Recitatif rank as my favorite novel and short story I’ve taught. Her mastery of language is among the greatest of American writers.
6 years ago, the Tigers distance crew would not be denied. We shoveled lane 1 so we could have track practice. “Feed the (Snow) Cats.”
Congrats to the Wolves, Coach, and we are looking forward to hearing about results from Nationals. The Tigers Distance crew is so happy for Julian. Good luck to all of you.
Sometimes when the world is fraught with tension and uncertainty, we need to remember what music can do. Even just for these few minutes....Hopefully we all have some songs that can put us in a good place no matter what else is going on. youtube.com/watch?v=TeYslzY6…
Maybe this list isn’t an affront to your musical sensibilities, but a chance to enter into a conversation, an invitation to listen to new music, or an opportunity to consider music as a history lesson reflecting us and directing us to where we are today. rollingstone.com/music/music…
As an English teacher and lifelong fan of the @NBA, hearing @DocRivers comments about Kenosha reminded me of this poem by Langston Hughes from nearly 70 years ago. poetryfoundation.org/poems/4…
Brian Newman retweeted
Educators, Students, Community Members...join us at Hufford Jr. High on Sat. Aug. 1st @ 1:00 as we march in solidarity with our BIPOC students, families and community members. #BLM #Breathe_teacherstrong @JolietSD86 @J86UnionStrong @Tigersdistance @JTWGirlsTrack @JolietwestU
That’s Abe in the center, #950, after running a PR in Peoria in 2018. When I remember him, it’ll be like this: happy and surrounded by teammates who cared about him.
The Tigers Distance family is devastated to share the news that at 17, Abe Vertiz was killed in Joliet. He ran for a year at Joliet Central and then transferred & ran at West. Abe was a talented runner and great teammate; he will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are w/ his family.
