Wednesday, March 31, 2010

This Is Jim Hageman

I don't know Jim Hageman.

I know his lovely wife, Tia, teaches kindergarten at my kids' elementary school.

I know they have a happy baby together.

Jim is 30-ish. He teaches PE at Dominic's middle school.

But I want to know him more.

Because yesterday when I picked up Dominic from track, there was Mr. Hageman, dressed in black sweats and a black cap, at 4:40 on the valley floor between the Cascade Mountains and Grizzly Peak, showing one kid how to throw a discus.

It was late. It was cold. Jim had been throwing and dunking and running and batting since 8 AM.

And yet, he was still working. He was still teaching.

Jim Hageman. I don't know much about him, but what I do know is really impressive.

6 comments:

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

aw!!!! cute teacher - none of mine were THAT cute :)

Shannon O'Donnell said...

I hope some of my students' parents think as highly of me as you do of Jim Hageman. :-)

Anonymous said...

Fifty years from now, if you ask #52 to name his middle-school basketball coach he'll correctly tell you both his first and last name. The kid will probably also be able to tell you why the coach was "cool" and two or three particular basketball skills he learned from him. That's what I call "Making a Difference."

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

It's great when a teacher reaches out above and beyond the call of duty. I was blessed with a high school biology teacher that became a role model for life. She's been a part of my life since I was 14...for 30 years. Teachers are so important.

Anonymous said...

sorry to spoil your moment but jim haggeman is spelled with TWO g's

Jennie Englund said...

Okay, HagGeman! I guess I knew him even less than I thought...