Teacher, Parents Inspire 5th Grader to Become Author

Cindy Weaver was surprised when she received a weekend email from one of her student’s parents. “Ms. Weaver, I don’t know if you’re still at Fort Knox, but if you are, could you please message me back?” Perplexed, she immediately responded that she was still there. Lt. Col. Carla Brown, the mother of then nine-year-old Chance Brown, asked Weaver if she could stop by her home and drop something off. Weaver agreed, and within a matter of minutes, Carla knocked at her door.

For a parent and teacher, it was the culminating moment at the end of a monthslong journey to help a child achieve a dream.

The journey begins in the fall of the school year 2021–2022, when Weaver, a fourth-grade teacher at Van Voorhis Elementary School, gave her students a three-week writing project. Students read a variety of fantasies and fairy tales, and they also developed, created, and edited their own fairy tales, according to Weaver. Chance embraced the opportunity to share his love of writing. “When Ms. Weaver said write a fiction story, a blob was the most fictional thing I could think of,” Chance said. “Then I started looking around my classroom and brainstorming random words to come up with the names for my characters,” he added. Chance’s mother saw a window of opportunity as Chance began writing. “My mom said my story was long enough to be a book, and I said ‘Yes … that’s what I want to do!’” Chance continued writing and eventually his family hired an illustrator to bring his imagination and characters to life.

Chance’s book, “Attack on Blobville: The Return of Bydoom” was published in December 2022.

Chance takes readers through a day in the life of the little village of Blobville, where King Blob, his son Eric, and some of the villagers must attempt to combat the unsuspecting return of Bydoom and Nooloo, a 300-foot dynoblob. “The first person I showed my book to was Ms. Weaver,” said Chance. “Ms. Weaver always taught us good things, and if we didn’t understand, she would pull a few students together and teach us in a small group to ensure we all understood the classwork and homework,” he added.

Carla, and her husband, retired Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Brown, appreciated Weaver’s approach to teaching her students. “One of the first assignments Ms. Weaver gave her class was to list their goals for the year,” said Carla. “Chance indicated he wanted to become an author and maintain an 85% and above on his grades,” she added. Weaver held Chance accountable and, through positive reinforcement, ensured he met his goals for the year, said Carla.  

Weaver, who joined DoDEA in 2019, attributes Chance’s success to various practices within Van Voorhis Elementary School. The principal, Angelique Johnson, encourages the team here to embody the school motto: Whatever It Takes, said Weaver. The whole team, from the principal to the professional learning communities, continuously tries to meet students where they are at, so we can help make them successful, she added.

Weaver also expressed the importance of instilling confidence in students and helping them realize education will impact them for life. “We want to produce students who are going to be positive influences in this world, so we have them affirm that the world needs them, and they are enough,” said Weaver. Lastly, Weaver emphasized the importance of parental involvement in their children’s education. “The fact that Chance’s parents actually took his goals and supported him … it was amazing to see all of that,” said Weaver. “And then when he acknowledged me, it just warmed my heart.”

Weaver scheduled public book readings and signings across Fort Knox after the publication of Chance’s book. Students from Scott Intermediate School, Kingsolver and Van Voorhis Elementary Schools attended Chance’s events. Weaver continues to see the impact on the community.

“Children are walking around with notepads talking about becoming writers and illustrators, so we’re still feeling the positive effects of this whole experience,” said Weaver.  

Chance, now a 10-year-old fifth grader at Scott Intermediate School, continues to work hard and make positive impacts on his community. “This year Chance is on the A/B Honor Roll, and he won Emerging Youth of the Year on Fort Knox,” said Carla. Carla is convinced her family has forged a lifelong bond with Weaver. “Ms. Weaver is no longer Chance's teacher, but she will forever be a friend and a part of our family, said Carla, adding “Chance's book is a byproduct of Ms. Weaver's dedication to teaching—and we are forever grateful.”