08/21/2026
BES 4th grade classes had the honor of welcoming a very special guest speaker today: Mr. Lerry Zink, grandfather of 4th grade teacher Ashley Zink!
Recently, our 4th graders have been reading excerpts from Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio by Peg Kehret in their Amplify curriculum. Today, the story came to life as Mr. Zink shared his personal journey of contracting polio at just 3 years old and living with post-polio syndrome.
Despite the challenges, Mr. Zink brought a powerful, uplifting message of positivity and perspective, sharing:
"Did polio make my life worse? No. In some ways, it might have made it better. I couldn't do everything everyone else could do, but I could do some things that others couldn't do."
As a sweet bonus to an already unforgettable day, Mr. Zink was accompanied by his lovely wife as they celebrated 56 years of marriage together today! 💕
Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Zink, for spending your special day with us and leaving our Braves with a lesson in courage, gratitude, and strength that they won't soon forget.
