Boyd

“The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.” Luke 6:40 NIV

“Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” James 3:1 NIV

A lot of these posts are written to someone I love. If names are removed, anonymity can still exist even though I want to say something to someone I care about. In this case, I really wanted to use the name, so I asked for permission. She may be nervous but has nothing to worry about. Anything I say about DiRae Boyd is based in absolute gratitude for God placing her in our path. I want people to know her name.

She has spent 27 years teaching around 300 of the most challenging students in the district. She poured herself into our son for 4 years. In doing so she changed the course of his life. I must say that since the day the word “autistic” was attached to Korbin’s name we have had a literal parade of teachers and para’s perfectly designed for him. Boyd is certainly not the only one. I could and may write about all of them. But she is the only one I heard was retiring. My wife told me about it last night. We just sat there trying to pretend we weren’t crying.

Autism is called a spectrum disorder. One of the first things I remember reading when we first suspected it said to remember that if you have seen one kid on the spectrum, you have seen one. They are each unique pieces of glory. Most people assume that people with autism have some unique high functioning ability and in some cases that is true. However, most struggle.

What I have learned is that teachers are spectrum creations themselves. There is no one like DiRae Boyd. You may wonder about the title. It is what Korbin always called her, not Mrs. Boyd, just Boyd. All efforts to correct that failed. He still refers to her that way.

The first time I ever met Boyd we were scared. Every parent is nervous sending their elementary school aged child to a larger and sometimes scarier middle school. I understand that we are not unique in that. But we were having transition meetings where the elementary team and the middle school team got together and strategized. I remember some of it like it happened this morning. After listening to a group of elementary teachers who absolutely loved him, she made it clear she was going to look at everything new. She told us she was not going to assume anything. She did not want to hear limitations as much as she wanted to explore possibilities. In our very first meeting, this person I had never met looked me square in the eye and said, “I’m going to drag you kicking and screaming if I have to.” God, I love Boyd.

She knew we were nervous, but she set the tone early – she was going to push our son, and us. We spent many meetings sitting across the table from each other. I have heard her tell of triumphs. I have heard of failings. I am an emotional man and have shown that emotion to her. We have sat at the table with all of us in tears. I have seen her with bruises and cuts. I have seen her eyes reveal that she was stumped. But I have seen a tenacious desire to reach our son.

I asked Mary what she would want to include in this post. Korbin left that school years ago. But Mary said it still gives her comfort knowing that her friend is across the street. We don’t know the students any longer, but we know their teacher.

One of my best memories is that when Boyd walked out the door with him, we were about to hear about something he had done. He used to work her so hard when that happened. He would hold her hand. He would get in front of her to catch her eye. One time I saw him lay his head on her shoulder. It looked like an ASPCA fund raising commercial. What happened? He dropped the “F” bomb in class. When she asked him what he said, he replied “Truck”. Korbin what did you say “Stuck”. Korbin, “Puck”. Korbin? “Boyd, WHY?” I still laugh at the memory. She had to make him write it so she could tell him not to say it.

On his last day of his last year at that school he did not walk home alone. The whole team accompanied him. All of them were crying. Korbin tried his best to maneuver this emotional minefield. He finally gave up and just walked in the house. This portion of his journey was complete.

Who has poured into you? It’s not corny, just thank them.

Who have you poured into? I guarantee that you have more to offer than you realize.

Challenge: Look at everything new. Assume nothing. Don’t remind yourself of limitations. Explore possibilities. You might just change someone’s life.

DiRae, from the bottom of our heart and soul, thank you.

Korbin, Mary and Rick Claiborn