Willow Run teacher/counselor David Blinn, that was so cool

David Blinn is and or WAS a guidance counselor at Willow Run high school who has his professional life turned upside down in August when the Willow Run school district bumped him to teaching sixth grade English and sixth grade Social Studies. Certainly not anything he asked for. Both he an another school counselor sued the school district over the change in assignments.

Fast forward to Thursday night. Superintendent Doris Hope-Jackson and the school board, who helped create this mess of moving qualified high school counselors to the newly created position, done solely for the benefit of WIllow Run, "high school placement and career guidance facilitator", told everyone they were awarding Mr Blinn a Silver Star award. These are awarded to an employee who has gone above and beyond in their day to day work.

In his speech, Mr. Blinn began to relate how he speaks with his students all the time about character. He tells students their character is one of the few areas they can have full control over in life. Mr Blinn obviously lives his words.

Instead of accepting the award, he told Hope-Jackson and the rest of the board:

"The way I've been treated this year ... it would be unprofessional for me to accept this award"

As he went back to his seat he received a standing ovation from his fellow teachers.

And Doris Hope-Jackson and the rest of the Willow Run School Board got a hard lesson in character.

We think what David Blinn did was outstanding. Too often people are afraid to stand up for their beliefs and simply play along with the powers that be. We could all learn a lesson in standing up for our beliefs from Mr. Blinn, the WR School Board sure did.