Edgewood High School, El Corral, 2014

Description:	Years in Education;a Lifetime Impact...just live life andhave fun-Mr. AtkinsonBv Raehael CreechHcofbeat EdiXor-rtChiefThe 2014 El Corral Staff would like todedicate this yearbook to Mr. Atkinson andthank him for his 39 years of service.Impact on studentsMr. Atkinson started his career at RBB as ahistory teacher at Edgewood Junior High School in1975, but gradually he became a PE teacher andeventually taught health classes at Edgewood HighSchool. Mr. Atkinson became an administrator atEHS in 1995 and even though he was out of theclassroom, he still helped many students with theirtransitions through high school.I think Mr. Atkinson made any transition andproblem here easier for any student here. Anyproblemyou have,he wouldmake iteasier,juniorDestinyFergusonsaid.Mr. Atkinson shows off his goofy sideas he does his dance with the healthyfoods mascot.Impact on facultyOverall, the faculty has said they will miss Mr.Atkinson for his kind-hearted nature, student-centered focus, goofiness and his ability to keep thefaculty in perspective.We will miss his antics, but even more than that,there is just something special about having himaround. He reminds us to keep things inperspective, English teacher Mrs. Van Allen said.Roy D. MercerMr. Atkinson had a goofy side to him. Roy D.Mercer, alias for Mr. Atkinson, wrote letters to justabout anyone that usually gave people a prettygood fright until they saw the ol Roy D. Mercersignature on the bottom. Why does Mr. Atkinsonwrite theseletters?Simply,because heenjoysmakingpeoplelaugh, whichis the point ofeach andevery letter.Mr. Atkinson poses next to the EHSsign that highlights his alias Roy D.Mercer.CoachingThrough Mr. Atkinsons 39 years at EHS, Mr.Atkinson coached junior high wrestling, track,football and girls basketball.As a coach he was a hard-nosed competitorwho pushed athletes to be better than theyimagined they could be. The greatest thing I learnedfrom Coach Atkinson was to stick with the program,commit to my teammates, and play on, even whenfaced with a humiliating loss, EPS assistantprincipal Mr. Pittsford said.Through the laughter, coaching and teaching,Mr. Atkinson said he hoped he made his biggestimpact on the students.I hope my biggest impact is that I was able toget through to some students the value of their highschool diploma, but most importantly the value ofthem as an individual to use common sense and todo the right thing. Also, to change things that canbe changed, but not worry about things that are outof their control and to just live life and have fun, Mr.Atkinson said.
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-edgewood/id/7967
Collection:	Edgewood High School

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