Jim Tressel Visits Beachwood City Schools Staff Convocation

welcomed Jim Tressel as the guest speaker at their staff convocation this morning.

The former football coach at The Ohio State University and current vice president of strategic engagement at the University of Akron drew on the recent summer olympics to motivate the staff for the coming school year.

Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook

“I would challenge you, today as we go into this school year, let’s make sure it has that feeling of the Olympics: that ‘Wow, this is a team,’” Tressel said. “Let’s make sure that every one of those young people know that our focus is on caring for them.”

The Olympians strive for excellence, he added. “And of course what we’re seeking as we head into this year is that excellence, like that excellence of the Olymipian, trying to be the best that you can be.”

He added, “Excellence in everything that we do: demanding it in the classroom, demanding it in the lunch room, demanding it on the bus, demanding it in the hallways, demanding in the athletic fields – that’s what Beachwood’s about. That’s what our country’s about. That’s how we help our young ppl become the best they can be.”

He talked about the value of an “attitude of gratitude” that he said he saw in our Olympic athletes: “If you begin your day counting your blessings, then those things that are going to be a headache and the things that aren’t going quite like you would like them, you’ll realize that that list of blessings is a whole lot longer than our hardships.”

here was no fee for Tressel's appearance at this morning’s convocation, said school spokesperson Doug Levin.

Beachwood City Schools start the new year Wednesday. Watch Beachwood Patch for more back-to-school coverage, and click here to see all of our school news!