To inspire greatness among teachers – and by proxy, their students – Union County Schools welcomed staff members to the annual Welcome Back Convocation on July 31, with breakfast from Chick-fil-A courtesy of River City Bank and some inspiring words of wisdom to start the new school year right.
“‘Success for All’ – that includes you,” pointed out Superintendent Dr. John Hill, addressing the teachers and staff that gathered in the Union County Fine Arts Center before Jerry Helton administered an invocation.
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Hill then recognized individual departments, including but not limited to educators, principals, administration, lunchroom and nutrition management, sanitation, transportation, maintenance, technology and even the Union County School Board. All groups met with applause.
Each year, a motivational speaker is invited to attend the convocation just before the new school year begins. In 2026, that honor went to Kevin Atlas, who has earned honors such as serving on the board of the Special Olympics and playing in the NCAA as a legendary basketball player.
Atlas had to overcome adversity from the moment he was born; his left arm was amputated below the elbow after his umbilical cord cut off blood flow to the limb. Later in childhood, he struggled with reading comprehension; dealt with a speech impediment and ADHD; experienced the fallout of his parents’ divorce; and lost his father to cancer when he was in fifth grade.
“This is just basic psychology, but if you guys can understand that you have a higher purpose and actually believe that, you won’t need constant motivation,” Atlas noted at the beginning of his presentation, utilizing humor to hold the attention of the audience and win them over.
Not only that, but he also sought audience participation at certain points. While describing his own journey to overcoming a defeatist attitude, Atlas demonstrated how he learned his “nub” was not a detriment to his athletics, but a weapon.
Calling up Weight Training Coach Curtis Turner, Atlas had a little fun by jabbing Turner with the nub, proving how painful a hit from the site could be. This, along with a heavy dose of tough love and a number of coaches and teachers believing in him, all helped Atlas learn that he was more than his perceived setbacks.
In fact, the two huge things that helped Atlas change his view of the world were points that he asked the audience to repeat back to him multiple times, if only to make sure they understood as well.
Firstly, Atlas learned to always ask “how.” For example, how could he better himself and how could he impact others? Second, studies show that it takes 21 days to develop new thought patterns in the human brain. But what can school staff do with that information?
Always ask how one can motivate and uplift their students, how one can do better on behalf of their students. Atlas challenged teachers to go out of their way to show meaningful kindness to their students for 21 days – and that goes beyond just complimenting them on their appearance.
“Here’s the quote I hope haunts you at night,” Atlas said. “‘When kids are loved at home, they come to school to learn. But if they’re not loved at home, they come to school to be loved.’ How is that working?”
To demonstrate, he picked out one of the new teachers in the audience and had the entire room erupt in applause and smile at her as they welcomed her as part of the team. Radically, he thanked her for existing, for choosing to make a difference in someone’s life with what he hoped would be a warm and storied career. It made her feel invigorated and inspired, and so too should the proper support make students believe in themselves.
“The stupidest kid in your classroom is one of the most intelligent kids in their age bracket in the entire world … and maybe if they actually understood that perspective, they’d apply themselves more,” Atlas said. “You matter, you are more important, and the impact that you can make is more than you can possibly conceive.”
Atlas warned that anyone who is “waiting” because they’re close to retirement or tired of their position should “move out of the way” to make room for people who are passionate about being in the classroom as positive role models who can make a difference in the lives of their students.
“Make sure you can make that difference in a kid,” suggested Chief Academic Officer C.T. Hussion after Atlas spoke, adding that when he and other administrators heard Atlas at a past conference, he reminded them of why they chose their occupation.
Hussion then read a text he received from a former student who attributed their success to him believing in them.
“You can make a difference, and people will remember you years from now,” Hussion said. “You never know which one of these is a Kevin Atlas. So, I appreciate y’all; we’re going to have a great year.”
Union County students head back to classrooms on Wednesday, Aug. 5.
