JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND POVERTY PROGRAMS
June/July 2017
A PUBLICATION OF THE 15TH DISTRICT PTA
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Father of the Home Field (Cover) From the Presidents
Awards Banquet Winners
Boyer's Legacy
TM
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Louisville’s 2017 Father to Know What is one thing you know to be true about fatherhood?
Jason Whiting is a proud 1994 graduate of Central High School Magnet Career Academy (MCA) and the son of longtime JCPS educator John Whiting, who served as principal of Shawnee and Seneca High Schools. He’s also the Family Matters summer issue’s Father to Know. Whiting is carrying on his family’s legacy of education and mentoring by serving for six years as an assistant coach on the Central High School MCA Football Team. He also coached youth league for 11 years as well as one year at Farnsley Middle. He has three grown sons, and he is active in his daughter’s elementary school sports. Whiting played football at Central, and he served in the armament division of the U.S. Air Force, producing bombs and missiles for the F15 and F16. Before he was coaching on the sidelines, he could be found with his children in the stands, cheering the Yellow Jackets as they dominated opponents and won state championships. One of Whiting’s sons has two 3A state championship rings, and even Whiting’s wife, Renata, has learned how to spot a 4-3 defense. The Central High connections for the Whitings and its historic role in the city are sources of pride. Whiting’s father was an early and consistent advocate of the pool at Central High, believing that everyone should learn to swim, including inner-city kids. Beginning in August, Whiting loves the magical mixture of a team emerging from the locker room; a hot stadium full of students, fans, and alumni; smoke from the tailgater’s charcoal; and the buzz of the stadium lights. “We want this to be an everlasting memory,” Whiting said. “Our DNA is here.” The work to create memories and championships—and see students go on to achieve success in college and life—keeps Whiting proud of Central’s past and excited for its future. After Whiting has worked all night and all morning for a local trucking company, you can find his red Ford F150 in the parking lot of Central Stadium, where he mows the football field weekly—sometimes twice weekly—throughout the spring, summer, and fall. The same F150 hauls the team’s equipment trailer to away games in Louisville and throughout Kentucky. In between work and family, football season is almost a year-round focus for Whiting. “We go 11 months out of the year,” Whiting said. “We’ve been blessed to go deep in the playoffs.” 4
There are no days off!
Which of your physical or personality traits do you see in your children? Very strong-minded and outspoken as well as when they’re locked in on something—the goal will be achieved.
Who will you be thinking about on Father’s Day (June 18)?
Jason Whiting Hometown
Louisville. Product of Mill Creek Elementary, Brown School, and Central High School MCA
Family Wife, Renata Whiting, and children Terry Camp, 20, Jayson Whiting, 20, Jaden Whiting, 18, and Devan Whiting, 11
Who modeled for you what a father should be? No doubt my father, John Whiting. He spent 30 years in JCPS as a teacher, coach, and administrator.
My father passed away six years ago on June 23, and I have tried to raise my children on the life lessons I learned from him.
What has been the biggest success story so far of fatherhood? I would say that my success story would be that my sons graduated and are progressing and growing in college while working, and one has committed to the military. They stay close to each other, and my daughter sees the world as a blank canvas and will leave a footprint of love and compassion on the world.
What is your source of energy?
Someday, when your children are reminiscing about their father, what type of man do you hope they describe?
My family. I enjoy seeing my wife smile, and I enjoy being a father and supporting them in extracurricular activities, football, track, volleyball, and cheerleading.
A hard-working family man, stern but fair, and supportive, and always with an open-door policy
What makes a special Father’s Day?
What is one thing that you know you did right as a young father?
A special Father’s Day for me is just having my wife and kids around and we are enjoying each other because they grow fast and won’t be at home forever.
Making sure I am accessible and providing for them, being an active father and showing them love regardless—win or lose, good or bad—teaching them it’s ok to fall as long as you get up and not make excuses