Rockingham County Public Schools

Chris Dodson’s "Special Stars," his severe and profoundly disabled students, have assembled a rock, gem, and fossil collection that would be the envy of most museum curators. Classrooms across Rockingham County visit their exhibit in order to learn about Geology. And they leave having learned even more about life.

Coach Dodson’s idea of developing a gem, rock, and fossil collection for his classroom stemmed from the need to help his students achieve their VAAP (Virginia Alternate Assessment Program) Science goals. So, he began to network with people all over the US through connections made via eBay and other online avenues. In no time, packages started arriving containing dinosaur bones, rocks, gems, ancient plant fossils and other incredible specimens. Newly developed friends of the classroom from Arizona sent packages and provided helpful factual information to the students about the various items they offered to the classroom collection. As a Christmas present to the class, the Arizonans sent a tub of sediment worth hundreds of dollars along with tools necessary to allow the students to pan for gold. Through panning, the students were thrilled to find gold and now keep their precious treasure in small vials to display to visitors.

Amazingly, every specimen in the collection is a donation. Generosity was extended to them from all parts of the country. Students even received copper obtained from the Statue of Liberty.

What also makes the entire collection particularly attractive and unique is that everyone is allowed to touch all of it, everything from the 150-million-year-old Moqui Marbles to the dinosaur teeth to the fluorescent specimens seen under black light. There are no “Do Not Touch” signs to be found anywhere, for the hands-on nature of the learning is critical to their success.

Elementary students in a recent visiting class passed around a few ancient-looking, hard, round specimens and were asked by Coach Dodson to play an identification game with the pieces. Of course, their guesses varied wildly but none correctly identified these particular unusual items. Students were shocked to learn that they had handled Coprolite [and for the majority of us who have no idea what that means, it translates as fossilized dino “poop!”] Naturally, that news generated a variety of predictable responses from the young elementary students!

Visitors are treated to an inviting atmosphere as they step into Coach Dodson’s and fellow Special Education teaching colleague Coach Tim Leach’s room. Students are busy while teaching assistants, SHS student mentors, and other school personnel tend to the various needs of the students. Yet none of them are surprised as newcomers step into the room and immediately raise their eyes and drop their jaws at the unbelievable displays on the walls. Wallpapering the classroom walls and ceiling are autographs and memorabilia from a huge array of sports heroes, politicians, actors, comedians, television stars, and many other celebrities. One entire wall is dedicated to Survivor® and hanging are autographs and actual props used in the CBS series. Coach Dodson estimates that there are over 5,000 pieces he has received for his classroom and these, just as the rock and fossil donations, come as a result of his networking with people from all over the world. He says that unsolicited packages routinely arrive with a note to this effect, “We heard you were looking for things for your kids.”

His "kids" - they ARE different than most other students in RCPS. THEY have panned for gold. THEY have met Rupert and Big Tom from CBS’s popular Survivor® series. THEY own personalized autographs from celebrities all over the world ranging from Margaret Thatcher to Tiger Woods. And all this because they have Chris Dodson as their mentor. THAT'S the difference. Anyone who knows him clearly understands his devotion to his group of "special stars." The memorabilia, Survivor® wall, geological displays, his incredible efforts to network with people all over the world are intended to help his students in ways that go beyond VAAP requirements or any testing objectives. They serve to invite visitors, both children and adults, into their world. In this way, Coach Dodson seeks to foster a better understanding of students with disabilities.

Visit their classroom website at http://specialstars2006.googlepages.com/ You can also learn more about their geology project at their web page: http://specialstars2006.googlepages.com/lifescienceanyone%3F But Coach Dodson and Coach Leach would invite you to meet them personally, as well. A visit to this classroom will not disappoint.

See more about their incredible autograph collection at their own website: http://specialstars2006.googlepages.com/autograph%27sequalfun