Ernie Sigler smiled when he read my recent column about one of LeBron James’ elementary school principals.
When LeBron and his buddies kept playing a pickup basketball game long after the bell rang to signal the end of recess, Portage Path Principal John Ross ordered them back to the building, yelling, “Ain’t one of you is going to make it to the NBA, so put the ball down and get back to school!”
That tale triggered a flashback for Sigler. He remembered a different Akron Public Schools employee making a far more accurate prediction.
In January 1991, LeBron’s kindergarten teacher, Edith Bowers, named him Student of the Month. She posted his photo on a school bulletin board along with a note, in pristine printing, that read:
“LeBron is always a polite and courteous young man in our room. Crosby School is very fortunate to have a student who tries his best every day.”
Why does Sigler have the photo and the note? Because it was his first year of teaching, and he saved all kinds of stuff for souvenirs, including every Student of the Month post.
Sigler taught second grade that year. He has since retired, but LeBron’s kindergarten teacher is still at it, today guiding youths at Resnik Community Learning Center (known to some of us as Resnik School).
Says Sigler: “John Ross may have erred in predicting LeBron’s future in the NBA, but Edith made no mistake identifying the character traits of LeBron that really count.”
Bob Dyer can be reached at 330-996-3580 or bdyer@thebeaconjournal.com. He also is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bob.dyer.31