By MaryHelen Swanson
Kevin Seekon is a North Branch third grader diagnosed with Pervasive Development Disorder (on the autism spectrum). 

Kevin loves football. 

The following story, with Kevin at the center, will show you there’s more than one way to win on a football field.

Kevin’s mother
Kevin’s teacher, Mrs. Read-Slaughter,  knowing that Kevin loves football,  contacted the high school football team and asked if Kevin could attend a practice, because the actual game could be too loud and overwhelming for him. 

“Head football coach Justin Sawyer was very kind and allowed him to attend, and more. Kevin did not just simply sit and watch from the sidelines, but also was allowed to be a part of the football tunnel and huddle,” Kevin’s mother shared. 

In addition, the football players taught Kevin about the different positions on the team. 

Jennifer Seekon said her son had a smile from ear to ear and will never forget the night he spent with the North Branch Vikings football team.

Kevin
“The first thing at the football practice was that I thought practice was too long, said Kevin, who had been dressed in his Minnesota Vikings gear for the practice.

“Then a coach from the Vikings wanted to see me. I got to help with the boxes to turn in to the other coaches. At the end of practice the boys made a tunnel, I ran through it, and I slapped them a high five!”

The Teacher
Sheryl Read-Slaughter, Kevin’s third-grade teacher, said she met Kevin last year when he was Mishelle Forestrom’s student.

“The two of them would come to our class each Friday to read a comprehension story and ask questions of my students,” she said.
Read-Slaughter said Kevin demonstrated excellence in reading with expression,. “When my class list came out this year I was delighted to find out I had him in my class.”

Read-Slaughter said Kevin told her how he loves football. That’s when the idea was born.

Read-Slaughter’s son, Alex Read, plays on the North Branch Varsity football team. So Read-Slaughter e-mailed Coach Sawyer to see if Kevin could sit on the practice field and watch Alex and the team practice. Coach Sawyer agreed.

And that’s how Kevin came to have his great football adventure that was capped off following the practice by a to McDonald’s with Read-Slaughter, Alex, and two other players.
The next day Kevin wrote a thank you note to Coach Sawyer (see letter at end of story).

The coach
 “It was a great experience for our team to have Kevin come to practice,” said  Justin Sawyer, an eighth-grade math teacher in the NB school district.

“We were happy to help make it a special day for him.  The players were great with him, cheering him on and giving him high fives without ever asking why.”

 “ I was very proud of how they acted and I realize how blessed I am to coach such great kids.”

“I will never forget the smile on Kevin’s face,” said the coach.

The bucket

Read-Slaughter said there was one point in the day that was especially touching for her. 
She said in her class they read a picture book called “How Full is Your Bucket,” by Tom Rath.

She explained that it’s about a boy named Felix who wakes up one morning with an invisible bucket floating overhead. A rotten morning threatens his mood. Drop by drop his bucket empties until almost nothing is left.

Luckily Felix’s day turns around as his interactions become more positive. Felix then realizes that everything he says or does to other people fills or empties their buckets.

Read-Slaughter said, “As we walked off the field that day Kevin said, ‘Coach Sawyer added a drop to my bucket, and I added one to his.’ Kevin understood the story and what it means to show kindness toward others,” she said.

And she added, “Reflecting on that day, I can see how many buckets were filled by a short interaction on a football field. Coach Sawyer’s bucket must have been overflowing as he observed his players taking time to interact with a little boy so he could feel 10 feet tall.”

She went on, “ My bucket overflowed as I watched my son and two other high school boys volunteer to go to McDonald’s and teach Kevin about the game of football. It filled more as I thought about Coach Sawyer teaching more than just football, but a valuable life lesson. And even though the football players may have not realized it at the time, their interactions with Kevin will certainly be remembered by him and most likely the players too.  Kevin fills my bucket every day and makes me realize how lucky I am to be a teacher.”

 Read-Slaughter noted that Kevin’s passion is now creating a community of bucket fillers. Teachers have arrived in her classroom with Viking souvenirs in hand. Kevin’s circle of companions has grown and his impact on others is uplifting for all, she said.

“Kevin is an amazing boy.”

Dear Coach Sawyer,
Thank you for bringing us to practice. I just heard that the boys were playing at Princeton on Friday. You are my new best friend now. Ky, Scott and Alex went to Mcdonalds’ with us yesterday before we went back home.  At practice I liked watching the center hike the football to the quarterback. There is something going on in our classroom today... two kids are having a birthday!!!!!! We are working on Cristina’s card right now. Diontez’s card was done this morning. I was so excited that yesterday I walked down the boys’s tunnel. [ And I thought that was fun.] There is one thing you want me to know about football postions? well I’ll tell you one postion. [Quarterbacks, they throw the football.]
Have a good afternoon    
Kevin Seekon

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