JACK WRIGHT - From Crops to Counselling (Part 1 of 2)
In this first of a two part episode, we meet Jack, a Kansas farm boy who grew up on his family homestead and becomes Mr. Jack Wright, an inspirational educator and both a literal and figurative bridge builder. Mr. Wright is a retired high school college and financial aid counselor from Franklin High School, in Los Angeles, CA. Our Co-host Sal Holguin was a member of Mr. Wright’s last graduating class of Panthers in 1992. No introduction does Mr. Wright justice.
In Part 1, Mr. Wright takes us on a virtual auto-biographical journey, including how his family was among the first homesteaders, through the worst day of his life as a 10 year old boy, to establishing himself as a teacher and later a counselor in the 1960’s and early 70’s. The social and equity issues of those days influence him to find that all students and their families must be treated with respect.
Thanks to his beloved high school coach, Kayo McGilvary, Jack visited, applied, and attended the Fort Hays campus of Kansas State University. We learn that on his journey, building bridges in the summer motivated Jack to do his best in college. We hear our friend Sal connect the words he often read inscribed in Mr. Wright’s college office, “If you don’t like the smell of sweat, go to college,” to his counselor’s inspirational life story. Well-founded and long lasting relationships are key in Jack’s success and keen ability to help others.
In Part 2, Building Bridges For Brighter Futures (Part 2 of 2), we will learn more about Mr. Wright’s relationships with former students and now well-known individuals, who helped establish and fund the Franklin Education Foundation’s endowment of now over $4 million dollars, which awards a number of annual scholarships to graduating Franklin seniors.
Sin Cuenta has commissioned a Loteria inspired card depicting Mr. Wright, supporting the iconic Franklin High School bridge, titled “El Bridge Builder.” The image evokes Mr Wright’s days of building bridges in Kansas and reminds us of all of his work to support current and future Franklin Panthers.
We hope you enjoy this episode. Esperamos que este episodio sea de su agrado.
