Redding School District

Partnership Educators,

14-year-old Caleb Prewitt, of Jacksonville Florida, has Down Syndrome.  Caleb never saw exercise as an activity that he would want to do.  He loved video games.  He could barely swim across a pool, couldn't ride a bike without help, and saw the treadmill as little more than a novelty.  So you can imagine that a Triathlon wasn't on Caleb's list of preferred activities.

It was then that Caleb met 21-year-old Chris Nikic.  You see Chris is the first person with Down Syndrome to ever finish the 140-mile swimming, biking, and running race known as the Iron Man.  Caleb's mom states, "if there was a poster with Chris on it, it would be in Caleb's room."  What Chris did next is a testimony for us all.  He took Caleb under his wing and became a mentor to Caleb.  He worked out with him and helped plant a dream.  Caleb's mom again, "Just the fact he was so warm and inspiring, helped Caleb realize that these are things that I could do too."

In June of 2021, Caleb finished his first mini-triathlon.  He very well might be the youngest person with Down Syndrome to ever finish a race like this.  He has also been selected to compete on Florida's Special Olympics Triathlon team.

Hero's come in all shapes and abilities but they all have the same superpower.  To lift the hopes of others.

Thanks for evoking your superpowers every day and lift the hopes and dreams of our students and families by showing up to serve them.   We tell our students every day about the power of yet.  Some of our students don't have the behavior, motivation, level of understanding, or skills to do all that we ask of them "Yet!"  You make a difference and I can't say enough about what you mean to this district, the students, their parents, and this community that counts on us to educate children.  Sometimes seeds that are planted take a long time to grow but that doesn't mean that they won't grow at some point in the future.

Reminder: