Meet Jenn Regruth, a dedicated 4th-grade teacher from Seymour, Indiana, who’s been inspiring students for over 34 years. For the past decade, she’s partnered with Classroom Champions, connecting her students with Olympic and Paralympic athletes to teach valuable social and emotional skills. These athletes have helped her students learn important life lessons that extend beyond traditional schooling.
Paralympic Medalist Lex Gillette Brings Joy and Inspiration to Seymour
Jenn first encountered Classroom Champions through Twitter over ten years ago. Since then, Athlete Mentors like 3-time Olympian Emily Cook, World Cup Bobsled Athlete Nic Taylor, and 5-time Paralympian Lex Gillette have been pivotal in shaping her students’ experiences. These athletes brought inspiration, motivation, and personal stories that deeply resonated unlike anything else.
One standout memory was when Paralympian Lex Gillette visited Jenn’s school, sparking a community celebration. Over the years, Jenn and Lex had developed a strong bond, and when Lex was able to visit her school in Seymour, Indiana, it turned into a community-wide celebration. Lex's visit was no ordinary day. The Mayor of Seymour, Indiana, Craig Luedeman declared it “National Lex Gillette Day.” Local police and fire departments escorted Lex to the school with lights and sirens blazing.
This day left such a strong impression on Lex that he dedicated six pages to it in his book, No Need for Sight When You Have a Vision: What Blindness Can Teach Us about Risk and Leadership, calling it one of the best days of his life.
Jenn’s students wrote letters to Lex, which were then typed out in Braille so he could read them all when he visited.
The day I spent in Seymour, Indiana with Mrs. Regruth’s class, was a day of no limitations, no boundaries. Nobody said, “You look like this, or you look like that.” There was no discrimination. There was none of that.
We were just all human beings having a good time, enjoying each other, understanding each other, and learning from each other. It was a culmination of open discussions about the skills needed to live our best lives.
It was a celebration of what can happen when you genuinely want to learn about somebody, when you genuinely want to help someone. It was the realization that we’re all here viewing the world with our different perspectives, and when we put them all together, we’re all able to see more.
Jenn and Lex’s relationship remains strong, and she continues to be inspired by the way he engages with her students, year after year.
Life Lessons Beyond the Classroom
Classroom Champions has transformed Jenn’s teaching style, offering her and her students a broader perspective on life skills. The program has become more than just a tool; it’s a teaching partner.The live chats are great, but the Athlete Mentor’s lesson videos linger, and being able to refer to that while you’re teaching is like having a partner in your pocket.
Jenn and Lex.
For Jenn, the program reinvigorates her approach to teaching, reminding her of the joy in discovering new methods to help her students grow. “It’s not just for the kids; it re-inspires me, too. We’re all learning together. It’s life skills for all of us.”
Building Personal Connections
One of the most touching moments in Jenn’s Classroom Champions experience involved a student named Faithe, whose life was profoundly impacted by her connection with Lex Gillette. When Lex came to visit, he sat in front of the class, and began reading the letters the students wrote him in Braille. One student’s letter in particular caught his attention. It was Faithe’s.
Without seeing her, Lex recognized Faithe’s voice through her letter, and when he spoke her name, her face lit up.“He’s one of the best humans I know. Lex has a heart of gold,” Jenn says. “His story resonates with our kids and they’re so interested in him. He shows them that they can overcome anything.”Through Classroom Champions, Faithe not only learned about goal setting and perseverance but also developed a personal connection with Lex that transformed her perspective on her own capabilities.Jenn noted that many students in her classroom learn to face their own big issues with resilience, thanks to the tools provided by Classroom Champions lessons and stories shared by their Athlete Mentors. Whether it was learning to manage emotions or tackling academic hurdles, these Athlete Mentors give Jenn’s students the strength to push through their struggles.Jenn reflected on how her involvement with Athlete Mentors helped her build stronger connections with her students too, many of whom face challenges outside of school.
These people have hard things in their lives and it’s important to validate that and let them know they’re heard. This is a safe spot. It doesn’t matter how you got to this classroom. You show up at the door, you’re mine. And we’re going to go through these life skills trying to show you different tools that will help you when you’re older. I’ll have kids come back and say they remember when they had this. The memories stick with the kids too.
Tips for Creating Meaningful Interactions
Jenn’s advice for teachers new to Classroom Champions is simple: foster real connections with your Athlete Mentors. Encourage students to ask thoughtful, open-ended questions that go beyond simple “yes” or “no” during your one-on-one live chat experience with your Athlete Mentor. This deepens the conversations and helps students practice communication skills.The Power of Ongoing Mentorship
For Jenn, Classroom Champions isn’t just about the occasional boost of inspiration. It’s about building a lasting partnership that leaves a meaningful impact on everyone involved.
Through this partnership, Jenn is able to bring her students mentorship from World-Class Athletes, lessons that teach them valuable life skills, and experiences to last a lifetime.With dedication and passion, Jenn continues to create a learning environment where her students gain not only academic knowledge but also life skills that will serve them for years to come.
