Kathy Cox and the Million Dollar Lesson Plan

Kathy Cox and the Million Dollar Lesson Plan. Kathy Cox appeared on the Fox TV show, Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader? and failed to prove that she is smarter than a fifth grader, despite being the first contestant to take home the one million dollar top prize.

Technically, she only proved that she is as smart as a fifth grader, since she answered no questions above that grade level. But we know shes smarter, because she had a plan and a message, and the courage to carry it through that her political detractors in Georgia dont have the imagination to conceive or the guts to carry out.

Kathy Cox is the Superintendent of Schools for the State of Georgia. When word got out she would be on the show, she was publicly criticized; how foolish it would be to risk her own professional reputation and that of the state school system. After all, she would be representing by association 140,000 Georgia teachers. Georgia State Representative Rob Teilhet (D - Smyrna) even ran advertising DURING THE SHOW criticizing Cox for appearing on TV while problems persisted in classrooms.

Critics are so worried about never being wrong, about showing vulnerability and appearing perfect they cant conceive their own purpose in humanity. Kathy can. Kathy Cox is a truly a Trouble Breaker, someone who goes for it and breaks past trouble because she knows she can. She understood exactly what she could control on the show, what she could and couldnt do, and used that to inspire students (and more than a few adults).

We heard Kathy say more than a few times, Im doing the best I can. Isnt that a great message for students? For us all? And Kathy Cox taught millions of people that its OK to be wrong. She accepted that she might miss a question and go home empty-handed. She wasnt afraid to try and keep trying.

With $500,000 in the bank she earned the right to deliver the Million Dollar Lesson. She was faced with a decision other contestants had faced before, but they lacked the vision and conviction of a Kathy Cox. Cox was there for the kids; she had committed to donate her earnings (its demeaning to say to say she won the money) to three Georgia schools. A lesser person would have settled for the $500,000 and missed the chance to deliver a much more valuable prize.

With the eyes of millions of young people on her, she proclaimed with force and conviction, DONT DROP OUT OF SCHOOL. The short-term gains associated with dropping out pale in comparison to the huge lifetime rewards of staying in school. Kathy Cox effectively paid $475,000 to say that -- the difference between the $500,000 in the bank and the guaranteed $25,000 shed keep if she missed the question.

Im convinced she came into the show with a Million Dollar Lesson Plan to teach us:
- Always do the best you can. Thats all anyone can ask, and thats always enough.
- Go for it. The worst that can happen is you might be wrong. So what?
- Finish what you start. That includes STAY IN SCHOOL.

That plan works even without the million dollar question. All through the show, we saw Kathy Cox go for it and do the very best she could. Yet if she ever met a question she knew she couldnt answer, she would prefer to knowingly fail and go home sans money than drop out of school.

Lucky for us all she made it to the top so more people would listen to her message.

Some Georgia politicians dont know now lucky the Peach State is to have Kathy Cox as Superintendent of Schools. In just one hour, she taught us all a lesson that is worth far more than a million dollars to the future of this country. From coast to coast and in every state, were all richer today from her Million Dollar Lesson Plan.

Copyright 2008 Paul Johnson.

Kathy Cox appeared on the Fox TV show, Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader? and failed to prove that she is smarter than a fifth grader, despite being the first dissident to take home the one million dollar top prize.

Technically, she only proved that she is as smart as a fifth grader, since she answered no questions above that grade level. But we know shes smarter, because she had a plan and a message, and the courageousness to carry it through that her political detractors in Georgia dont have the imagination to conceive or the guts to carry out.

Kathy Cox is the Superintendent of Schools for the State of Georgia. When word got out she would be on the show, she was publically criticized; how foolish it would be to risk her own professional person reputation and that of the state school system. After all, she would be representing by connexion 140,000 Georgia teachers. Georgia State congresswoman Rob Teilhet (D - Smyrna) even ran advertizing DURING THE SHOW criticizing Cox for appearance on TV while problems persisted in classrooms.

Critics are so disturbed about never being wrong, about showing vulnerability and appearance perfective tense they cant consider their own purpose in humanity. Kathy can. Kathy Cox is a truly a fuss Breaker, someone who goes for it and breaks past trouble because she knows she can. She understood exactly what she could see on the show, what she could and couldnt do, and used that to inspire students (and more than a few adults).

We heard Kathy say more than a few times, Im doing the best I can. Isnt that a great message for students? For us all? And Kathy Cox taught millions of people that its OK to be wrong. She accepted that she might miss a question and go home empty-handed. She wasnt afraid to try and keep trying.

With $500,000 in the bank she earned the right to deliver the Million buck Lesson. She was faced with a decisiveness other contestants had faced before, but they lacked the imaginativeness and conviction of a Kathy Cox. Cox was there for the kids; she had committed to donate her earnings (its demeaning to say to say she won the money) to three Georgia schools. A lesser person would have colonised for the $500,000 and missed the chance to deliver a much more valuable prize.

With the eyes of billions of young people on her, she proclaimed with force and conviction, DONT DROP OUT OF SCHOOL. The short-term gains associated with falling out pale in comparison to the huge life rewards of staying in school. Kathy Cox effectively paid $475,000 to say that -- the difference between the $500,000 in the bank and the guaranteed $25,000 shed keep if she missed the question.

Im convinced she came into the show with a one thousand thousand Dollar lesson Plan to teach us:
- ever do the best you can. Thats all anyone can ask, and thats always enough.
- Go for it. The worst that can happen is you might be wrong. So what?
- end up what you start. That includes STAY IN SCHOOL.

That plan works even without the meg dollar mark question. All done the show, we saw Kathy Cox go for it and do the very best she could. Yet if she ever met a question she knew she couldnt answer, she would prefer to knowingly fail and go home sans money than drop out of school.

Lucky for us all she made it to the top so more people would listen to her message.

Some Georgia politicians dont know now lucky the Peach State is to have Kathy Cox as Superintendent of Schools. In just one hour, she taught us all a lesson that is worth far more than a one thousand thousand dollars to the future of this country. From coast to coast and in every state, were all richer today from her Million Dollar object lesson Plan.

Copyright 2008 Paul Johnson.

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Article title: Kathy Cox and the Million Dollar Lesson Plan By: Ben Needles

About the Author (text)

Paul Johnson the Trouble Breaker is a keynote speaker who works with organizations to convert trouble into double and triple digit performance breakthroughs. Discover breakthrough concepts at www.ShortcutsToResults.com. Visit TroubleBreaker.com for presentations on leadership.