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For the graduating senior who best embodies the spirit of Whitney teacher Joel L. Avant Sr. A veteran of the Korean War, Mr. Avant was a founding faculty member when the school first opened in 1976 (and before that was also a founding faculty member at Wittmann Elementary). He taught in ABC schools for more than three decades, and served as a Master Teacher in the CSU Teacher Education Program. At Whitney, Mr. Avant was a comforting presence and an encouraging teacher who made math approachable for those who hated the subject. He served as the advisor for the Class of 1987 and the founding advisor for Club Kaibigan, and was respected by everyone as an all-around nice guy who advocated for his students while being a mentor and friend.
From son Carlton Avant (edited to highlight main ideas):
My dad had very difficult struggles growing up in South Georgia. He’d seen some things. And returning home after serving as a Corporal in the Korean War only added to those struggles. But he found true inspiration and purpose when he became a teacher, and the love he expressed to his students saved his life.
The shock that he’d seen growing up, compounded by the PTSD from the war, should have been too much for anyone. But he knew he could change the world through his classroom, and he taught with a passion for a better America, a better people, and a better world.
Thank you for being his students and colleagues. Thank you for allowing his classroom to be the brightest light of his day. Thank you for loving him and doing what he taught you most: to be courageous and stand up to correct a wrong. Thank you for saving his life.
For its inaugural year, The Joel L. Avant Sr. Memorial Prize comes with a grant of $1000.
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