Bianca Sharp is a fifth grade teacher at James I. Dawson Elementary School. While participating in the Super Citizen Program and watching her students learn about liberty and freedom, Sharp wanted her students to have a first-hand experience with a soldier who fought for our country. She hoped that this would engage the students even more about what they were learning as Super Citizens. Sharp encouraged her husband, United States Army’s Sergeant First Class, Benajmin Sharp to meet her class.
“She likes to bring me in and have lunch with the kids and talk to the kids,” said SFC Benjamin Sharp. “And since we’ve been doing that, I’ve formed a little bond with the class.”
When it came time to do the project based learning activity called Torch Teams, where students nominate and honor local heroes from their community, the fifth graders immediately chose SFC Sharp as one of their heroes.
“I felt very honored for them to choose me out of all the people in the community. It shows that our bond was growing and it’s a good bond that will stand the test of time,” said SFC Sharp.
COLSA Corporation donated the funds for Liberty Learning Foundation to deliver free Super Citizen Kits, train teachers, execute high-energy kickoff performances and facilitate today’s emotional graduation celebration. More than 70 students graduated from the 10-week program and received graduation certificates onstage. SFC Sharp and Dawson Teacher Mrs. Whitecomb were honored as Torch Team Heroes on stage. The students awarded each hero with a Liberty Replica and shared with the audience why their class felt they were heroes.
SFC Sharp says he knows the students have learned a tremendous amount throughout the lessons in American history, civics, financial literacy, character, and career readines saying, “I hope that they take that into the future and teach their kids and their grandkids. Maybe even go home and teach their parents.”