Stories And Inspiration

To be honest, Don Pissillo wasn’t too excited about the club he inherited with his new job as PE teacher at Madison’s Dillard Elementary School in January 2013. He thought the race at the end of the season would be more of a public relations thing.

“After one or two practices, I thought, ‘This is awesome,’” he said. At the race he saw how the kids pushed themselves. It was a good feeling.

Seeing the results made Pissillo realize this GO FAR club was something to get excited about. “Yes they get a medal, but…one thing I saw after they completed the road race is this intrinsic reward,” he said. “There’s such a satisfaction. That’s a life skill, to be a good teammate, to start something and finish it. That’s probably the heart and soul of this program as far as benefits go.”

As Dillard Elementary’s GO FAR coach, he and other volunteers lead 25 third- through fifth-grade participants in 20 weeks of practice instead of the usual ten called for in the program. His group meets once a week instead of twice. It works for his group. “Just being part of something, there’s a commitment, there’s a sense of team, they’ve been part of something for some time—that’s a plus.”

There are many pluses. Pissillo has seen students struggle with behavior in class, seeking attention. It’s decreased. “They’re learning to do something to feel good about themselves without accolades,” he said. With this club, they also learn to support each other.

The students also see the staff members who participate with GO FAR in a different setting. It enhances relationships. “Now you’ve got parents and teachers working together. Now the kids know that parents and teachers are on the same page.”

That hard work will pay off for all of them April 26 at the Rockingham County GO FAR 5K.