The recipient of this week's Ben's Bell is teacher Kevin Odriscoll, who works with special-education students.
He was nominated by his colleague Joene Ames, who said Odriscoll teaches in the Amphitheater School District's El Hogar program for special-education students on long-term suspension. Odriscoll teaches both math and science to students in sixth through 12th grades.
"He treats his students with great respect, and in turn they treat him with respect," Ames wrote in her nomination. "He has high expectations for all his students and spends hours talking to them about the right and wrong way to live. His students work very hard for him and want to do well and reach the expectations that he has set."
During the autumn semester, Odriscoll suffered a great personal loss when his only child died of cancer, Ames wrote in her nomination, but he continued to go to work every day.
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"The strong example that Kevin set for those students while going through the worst time in his life was incredible. He made sure the students knew what was going on each step of the way. It was amazing to watch how the students would try so hard to be good and do work so that he would not have to worry about them, too," Ames wrote.
"I myself have been inspired by Kevin's strength, kindness and ability to work with and teach his students. Not only have they learned math and science, but they have learned from Kevin to take responsibility and how to show compassion. His strength has been amazing for these students to watch."
The project
Ben's Bells promote kindness and community. Each week a person who betters Tucson is "belled." Go to www.bensbells.org/BellingForm to submit a name. Go to www.bensbells.org or call 628-2829 for information. Recipients also are featured on Friday's Morning Blend on KGUN 9.
Contact reporter Kimberly Matas at kmatas@azstarnet.com or at 573-4191.
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