Avon Magazine January 2023

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THE HEALING POWER OF YOGA

LOCAL WOMAN BRINGS YOGA TO TEENS TO INSPIRE SELF-CONFIDENCE, RESILIENCY & PEACE

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

The first thing people say to Alli Louthain when they hear she teaches yoga is, “I’m not flexible enough to do yoga!” The truth is that anyone can practice yoga—and will invariably improve over time.

“If your coach tells you to lift weights, you wouldn’t say, ‘I’m not strong enough to lift weights,’” Louthain says. “Strength comes from lifting the weight. Flexibility comes from doing the yoga.”

Louthain has been a yoga teacher for more than two decades, having taught all over Hendricks County and the Indianapolis area. She has also lead family yoga at Monumental Yoga, the largest annual yoga event held every June on Monument Circle.

In September 2021, Louthain felt a tug in her heart to pray about who, specifically, she should be impacting with her yoga prowess. Soon thereafter, she experienced an a-ha moment.

“I’ve been working with teens for years and have done yoga in schools, so when God made it clear that I’m supposed to be targeting this specific niche, that made sense,” Louthain says.

When a friend’s 18-year-old son, Jesse, died by suicide, Louthain’s mission came into sharper focus.

“My friend told me that her son had recently gotten into yoga and mindful meditation, both of which brought him so much peace,” Louthain says. “She said that it was where he felt confident, but she felt like he found it a little too late.”

That’s when Louthain vowed to introduce yoga to teens in hopes of helping them work on their mental health and wellness by feeling grounded, peaceful and hopeful. In February of 2022, she launched Isha Warriors. Isha is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘ruling god or goddess; one who protects.’ Louthain wanted everyone who practices yoga to own their story and feel protected in their space.

When it comes to life, there is no quick fix. Just as you can’t take one pill to forever repair an ailment, a session of yoga will not magically correct your problems. However, Louthain encourages people to give yoga at least five chances before writing it off. For one thing, there are so many kinds of yoga (vinyasa, slow flow, chair and yin, to name a few). The type you choose may depend on your fitness level or goal. The key to seeing change (physically, mentally and

emotionally) is to practice yoga consistently.

“If you don’t love yoga, you’ve not met the right yoga yet!” Louthain says. She has done a whole yoga series for teen athletes, most of whom had never practiced before. Afterwards, the consensus was that they felt much better.

“There’s a release with yoga that’s like taking a heavy backpack off your shoulders,” Louthain says. “Yoga shows teens what it feels like to be relaxed, to be unplugged, and to be focused on one’s own body and mind rather than on a teacher, coach, friend, or social media person. Practicing listening to your own self is huge.”

Louthain has friends who have lost children, siblings, spouses and other family members to suicide.

“I think people feel so alone, and I want people to know that they are not alone,” Louthain says. This is why she started an annual event, which takes place in September during National Suicide Prevention Week. The two-hour evening event, which is called Not Alone, incorporates a beginner yoga class, teen speakers who have lost a loved one to suicide and a lantern lighting ceremony in which attendees float their lanterns out onto the pond at Washington Township Park.

“I wanted to do it locally right here in Hendricks County so that people could make those human connections in person,” Louthain says.

Almost 40 people came to the 2022 event— all survivors of a suicide loss. One of Jesse’s friends attended and brought along some

of his buddies. A grandmother came and lit a lantern for her son, who died in the 1980s. She told Louthain that she was grateful for this event because 40 years ago suicide was a taboo subject that no one discussed. She told Louthain that she hopes to see this event and more like it in the future. Louthain promises that she will host the Not Alone event every September. The event this year will take place on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023. It will be held at the Washington Township Park outdoor pavilion.

Louthain also hosts a worldwide weekly podcast called Monday Mindset with Isha Warriors. It’s all about creating a positive mental mindset for the week. In one of her podcasts, Louthain discusses ways yoga helps teens with anxiety and depression (though the tips apply to all ages).

“Yoga helps us feel and process emotions,” Louthain says. “It’s a safe space to be vulnerable.”

In an interview she did about suicide awareness, she spoke to a teen whose brother had taken his life three years ago. She was real about how hard it was to heal from that loss, but she shared that one can be both shattered and beautiful—like a mosaic.

“If you’re a survivor, your dreams are shattered, but through the brokenness, you learn to see life in a different way,” Louthain says. “Following heartbreak, one can still go on to live an awe-inspiring life.”

Every yoga session focuses on breathing because breathing is the fastest way to connect with your emotions. This is why yoga is a great activity for anyone who is struggling to regulate their feelings. Last year, Louthain began practicing yoga with a 13-year-old with a great heart but a short fuse.

“His parents came to me because he kept getting into fights and got expelled from school,” Louthain says. “He’s on the spectrum. He’s very high ability, but he feels kind of broken. He doesn’t know how to connect with other people because he feels

Alli Louthain

threatened so we do breathing exercises. He feels he can be completely himself when he’s in this space with me. It’s a place of acceptance and confidence.”

After several weeks of yoga, his parents began to see a difference in their son. Not only had his anger diminished but his selfconfidence had grown. The incorporation of yoga is the only thing that changed in his life.

“This is why I want to shout from the rooftops, telling principals and athletic directors, that if you want to see less fighting in your school, bring more yoga into your school,” Louthain says. “When kids feel like they have worth and are loved for exactly who they are, inner confidence and inner peace follow.”

Louthain will be teaching Yoga 101 for Teens at the Avon Township Library on January 17th, 24th and 31st at 4:30 p.m. If you’d like to sponsor a teenager to

become a member of Isha Warriors so that they can work to develop compassion, self-confidence, and resiliency, visit ishawarriors.com.

HANGING UP THE WHISTLE

AHS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH MARK BLESS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

Writer / Kevin Carr Photographer / Amy Payne

Avon High School (AHS) Varsity Football Head Coach Mark Bless has announced that he is retiring from coaching. He hangs up his whistle after 13 years at AHS and 38 years overall. Bless’ teams won more than 66% of the games he coached. He accumulated a 92-56 record at AHS and a 241-123 record overall.

Beyond the wins and losses, Bless’ greatest success is leading the AHS program with integrity.

“Mark Bless exemplifies the pillars of Avon Football – Tradition. Passion. Honor,” says AHS Principal Matt Shockley. “Mark built a respected football tradition based upon student athletes’ love for the game and each other. Mark is a man of integrity, and he expected his players and staff to conduct themselves in a manner that honored themselves, their families, the program and our school.”

Bless graduated from Greenwood High School, where he was a state champion wrestler, a standout track and field athlete, and, of course, an accomplished football player. Bless’ college football honors included a Heartland Conference Player of the Year Award and Division II All-American recognition at the University of Indianapolis (UIndy). He is a 1984 grad and a member of the UIndy Athletics Hall of Fame. His head coaching career included tenures at North

Vermillion High School (1990-1994) and Mooresville High School (1995-2009) before he began leading the Avon Orioles. His teams have won numerous conference and sectional championships.

“For the last 14 years, Coach Bless has been a fixture on the AHS Athletics landscape,” says AHS Athletic Director Joshua Larsh.

“His accomplishments will be appreciated and remembered for years to come, and his presence will be missed. We thank him for his years of dedication and efforts on behalf of student-athletes. We wish him all the best.”

“My son played for Coach Bless,” Shockley adds. “I am proud and grateful that he – and many other players – had the privilege to be part of his program. He and his wife Nancy, herself a fierce supporter of Avon Football, will be missed.”

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

Linda McElhiney was never heavy as a kid or young adult. It wasn’t until she began taking fertility drugs when she was 30 that the pounds started to creep on. Then, after giving birth to her son, Steven, the weight didn’t come off. She remained between 220 and 240 pounds until her mother got sick in 2011.

“That’s when everything imploded,” Linda says, a Hendricks County resident. “The stress of all that really took a toll on my health.”

She developed diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, tendonitis, and gout. All these ailments added up to her taking eight different medications. Linda, a pharmacist at Indiana University Health, knew better and wanted to do better.

“Here I am telling people to get healthy and I’m not taking care of myself,” she says. One day, she was at a pharmacy conference and was seated beside a man who told her he had undergone weight loss surgery. He went from 450 pounds to 180 pounds. Linda began researching the differences between gastric bypass and gastric sleeve surgery. The gastric sleeve is a relatively new procedure that didn’t start

taking off until 2006.

Both surgeries reduce the patient’s stomach from its regular size to a small pouch. In a gastric bypass, doctors make a little pouch out of the patient’s stomach, leaving the stomach in that is not attached and then rerouting that pouch lower in the intestine. In gastric sleeve surgery, the surgeon permanently removes 80% of a patient’s stomach.

Prior to having surgery, most insurance companies will require the patient to attend seminars, support groups and counseling sessions. They also must commit to dieting for six months and are usually required to lose a certain amount of weight to safely endure the surgery. Linda was told to get her A1C down to an eight prior to surgery.

“Once insurance approves the surgery, you can’t gain weight,” Linda says. “It’s a test to see if you’ll stick with a healthier lifestyle.”

Linda, now 61, had gastric sleeve surgery in 2015. She dropped weight quickly post-surgery, losing 70 pounds in the first six months. It took a year to lose another 30 pounds. In total, she shed 120 pounds, going from a size 2XL to a size 8.

Initially following surgery, Linda participated in water aerobics to get in daily exercise as that was easier on her joints.

She was making great strides finding her groove with a regular exercise routine until tragedy struck in November 2018 when her 29-year-old son, Daniel, died by suicide. The heartbreak rocked her world and, for a time, broke her spirit.

“I quit tracking everything, quit going to the gym and gained back ten pounds,” Linda says.

Though she was mired in grief, she knew she had to get her health back on track,

BEFORE AFTER

so she decided to engage in the ‘year in miles’ challenge. In 2019, she committed to walking 2,019 miles between January 1 and December 31. To help her reach her goal, she downloaded an app called RunSignUp to help her find weekend races in the area. For instance, she did the

ASMBS Walk from Obesity and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Out of

ID Theft Smart

Susan G. Komen More Than Pink run because her aunt passed away from breast cancer three months after Daniel died. She also began participating in other fundraising walks like

the Darkness walks. She registered for fun, themed races like wine tasting or costume runs. Before long, she was participating in 5Ks, 10Ks and other races every weekend.

During the week, Linda typically walks two miles before work, 30 minutes during her lunch break and then if she’s not met her step goal by the time she gets off work, she’ll walk at the park in the evenings.

“I try to do 7.5 miles a day, Monday through Friday,” she says. The first mini-marathon Linda ever did was at Purdue University, which was a hilly route.

“I thought it was going to be fun, but it turned on out to be really hard,” Linda says, who came in dead last. “It was so embarrassing. Here’s the policeman following behind me on his motorcycle. But I finished! And people were still clapping for me!”

The experience didn’t deter her from signing up for other minis—like the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon, which she has now done twice virtually and once live. She’ll participate again in person this May.

“The first time I did it I was amazed,” Linda says. “There were people all along the route cheering the whole 13.1 miles!”

This year, Linda has been chosen to be one of the 2023 Indy Mini-Marathon Ambassadors. She was selected not only for having shed 120 pounds, but also for participating in walking challenges and races since 2019. She estimates that she’s completed more than 100 races in the past four years. Though she usually signs up to do them solo, she has gotten to know others who regularly participate in these weekend races. She’s motivated to continue to remain active because when she’s moving, she feels better.

“Since working out more, I’m starting

to do daring things I never would have done before,” she says. This includes indoor skydiving, ziplining, and taking a raft volcano exploration in Alaska. Her confidence has also been boosted ever since she’s dropped weight. She became president of the International Pharmacy Organization and she’s spoken at the Purdue AFSP Out of Darkness walk in April of 2022.

“I’ve become more outspoken and outgoing,” she says.

She has, however, been taken aback by how differently she’s been treated since losing weight.

“When you’re heavy, you’re often ignored,” Linda says. “But when I started losing weight and would walk into a clothing store, salespeople engaged with me a lot more.

Or when walking down the aisle of a plane, when I was heavy, other passengers looked at me like, ‘Please don’t sit next to me.’ Now I don’t get that look anymore.”

Linda estimates that it takes roughly 18 months to two years to figure out what you can’t eat following gastric surgery. For her, she can’t tolerate potatoes, bread, rice, pop or pasta. If she consumes those things, she feels awful.

“If I eat too much sugar or too much fat, it’s like a mixture of food poisoning and an anxiety attack. I’m sick and sweating,” Linda says.

The best advice she would give to others looking to lose weight and keep it off is to track everything—especially what you’re eating and how much you’re exercising.

“When I’m starting to stray, I can see why,” she says.

To register for the Indy Mini-Marathon, visit indymini.com. People who register can receive a $7 discount if they enter McElhiney23 into the promotion box.

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Tips for New Year’s Resolutions

Writer / Stanley Hewson Photography Provided

It’s resolution time. It’s the time of year when we look to better ourselves. The attempt to better oneself is a worthwhile pursuit.

People make these attempts through myriad ways. One of those ways is the well-known New Year’s resolution. Is there something magical about making a decision to better yourself on January 1, compared to any

other time of the year? Probably not, but the symbolism behind it may provide a little something extra to help you succeed with your goals.

Regardless of what your resolution may be for 2023, it’s important to realize that there are certain things you can do to increase the probability of success. Maybe your resolution is wanting to eat better, or maybe it is to exercise more often. Maybe it’s

specific to relationships. Maybe you want to be a better friend or parent. Maybe you’d like to learn a new skill, or some other bit of knowledge that will help you live your life in a more productive and meaningful way. Maybe it’s just a resolution to spend your time more wisely by watching less TV, and to spend more time with friends, more time outdoors, more time reading, and more time doing things that aren’t just an attempt to numb and distract yourself.

WHATEVER YOUR RESOLUTION MAY BE FOR THE COMING YEAR, HERE ARE A FEW SUGGESTIONS AND TIPS TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS:

SET REALISTIC GOALS.

Micro-goals that lead to your big goal. If your focus is on a goal that is too big, you’re more likely to give up. However, if you have a series of micro-goals leading up to a bigger goal, then your likelihood of persevering increases. You’ll eventually reach the big goal by focusing on all the small goals in between. Figure out what those stepping stones for your resolution are and focus on one at a time.

BE HERE NOW. Reside in the present more often. Stop dwelling on past failures. Stop obsessing over how far you have to go. Make a conscious effort every day to be in the present moment, and meditate daily on what your objective is for that specific day. Don’t lose sight of why you made the resolution to begin with.

DEVELOP

EXTERNAL ACCOUNTABILITY

through a friend or family member.

STRENGTHEN YOUR INTERNAL ACCOUNTABILITY, OR GRIT. Grit is the biggest determining factor for whether you will succeed in your goals. Take steps to learn how to strengthen and develop grit.

STAY POSITIVE. A negative mindset can derail even the most successful people. Be grateful for all the things you have, and for all the opportunities you have. Make the best of every situation as you move forward in the progress towards the achievement of your resolution.

BE ACTIVE, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY. With more activity comes more focus and more energy. Move your body and engage your mind. In turn, you’ll be better equipped to reach your goals.

What to Expect as a First-Time Mom

The joys and excitement of a new pregnancy and becoming a new mom can lead to lots of questions. Having a supportive doctor and care team can help alleviate stress. Here are a few things to expect as a firsttime mom and how your care team can assist you.

Know what to expect from your care team

Your care team can help you through this exciting time of unknowns, so it is important to talk to them about any questions you may have. Throughout your pregnancy journey, you can count on them to provide aroundthe-clock care. Your care team during pregnancy may consist of an OB/GYN, childbirth and lactation educators, maternal fetal medicine specialists, nurse practitioners and ultrasound technicians.

Include your care team in pregnancy planning

You should start taking a daily prenatal vitamin before attempting to conceive. If you are planning to become pregnant but are not yet expecting, your care team may suggest a prepregnancy exam to help you be as healthy as possible before conception. During this exam, your care team will look at your overall health and can also note possible risk factors that may complicate your pregnancy.

Expect care throughout pregnancy

Once you are pregnant, prenatal visits are checkups to watch your baby’s growth and development. Your care team will help you learn about proper eating habits, exercise, weight gain and other factors. They will also test for and treat any complications that may arise. Pregnancy ultrasound is a test that uses sound waves to create an image of your baby in the uterus. An ultrasound does not use radiation and is completely safe.

Childbirth can be one of the most meaningful times in life not only for parents, but for extended family and friends as well. To help prepare for this experience, ask your care team about childbirth programs and offerings designed to educate and enlighten those waiting to welcome new life into the world.

Writer/ Dr. Travis Richardson, OB/GYN at IU Health West Hospital Photography Provided

A DAY OF HOPE, A DAY OF HEALING

exchange of that ‘knowing’ that can begin to dismantle the isolation, shame and guilt.”

Turo-Shields spoke about EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a therapy that helps the brain process memories and reduce negative feelings about the memories. Alli Louthain, founder of Isha Warriors, an online yoga community for teens, talked about the healing benefits of yoga during the grief journey.

“The body benefits from movement and the mind from stillness,” Louthain says. “Yoga provides a physical space to process past trauma, let go of toxic thoughts and create wholeness—body, mind and soul.”

Brandon Puszkiewicz,

Indiana Programs

Manager for AFSP, says that when someone dies by suicide, there’s so much emphasis on the individual who died.

“What society tends to forget is that there are people left feeling a range of emotions, including guilt, anger, depression, confusion and sadness due to the sudden loss of their loved one,” Puszkiewicz says. “ISOSLD provides an opportunity for discussion, connection, and internal and external exploration to create a new perspective and way of thinking. For many, it’s the start of their healing journey.”

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

Grief is a difficult journey no matter how and when you face it. But grieving following a suicide loss is deemed ‘complicated grief’ because there’s so much guilt, shame and hurt wrapped up in the death. This is why the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) supports the annual International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day (ISOSLD). It’s a day where suicide loss survivors gather at local events throughout the world to find connection, understanding and hope through their shared experience.

AFSP hosted ISOSLD on November 19. The day involved a combination of panel discussions, breakout groups and support groups.

“For those who are impacted by the shame and guilt of suicide death, which is often so isolating, coming together and looking into the eyes of another who knows the depth of pain you’ve experienced is like none other,” Christine Turo-Shields says, co-owner of the Kenosis Counseling Center. “To know that they know allows for healing on such a deep level without saying a word. It’s an

Such was the case for Teresa Youngen, who has attended ISOLSD three times since her son, Matthew, died in 2017.

“Last year we heard from a young man who assured the survivors that it wasn’t their fault. I so appreciated his words,” Youngen says, who likes the breakout sessions that are divided based on your particular loss (loss of a child, spouse, parent, sibling). “I like the share groups because you don’t have to edit, filter, or pretend anything. This year there was a couple who have been grieving for ten years. The husband had been holding back tears for some time, but the dam broke, and he wept openly.”

AFSP team who coordinated the recent ISOSLD event in Indianapolis

Turo-Shields notes that grief isn’t linear but rather elliptical in nature. It’s like a spiral where you touch the grief repeatedly. When you have these touchpoints, you may feel like you’ve made no progress in the grief journey, but this is part of the healing.

“You’re never back where you started. You’re always at a deeper level,” TuroShields says, who recommends the book “The Unique Grief of Suicide” by Tom Smith.

Puszkiewicz hopes that individuals walk away from ISOLSD with a sense of relief and not feeling the weight of guilt they’ve been carrying.

“People tend to feel so alone in this journey,” Puszkiewicz says. “But the community that’s been impacted by suicide can offer some help or encouragement for those that are just getting started on this healing journey.”

Amy Alt helped organize the ISOLSD this year.

“This day is important for survivors because it connects you with others who have experienced the same kind of loss,” Alt says, whose brother, Rex, died by suicide. “That may not seem important to someone on the outside looking in. However, to a person who lost someone to suicide, it’s vital to begin the healing.”

ISOLSD offers several valuable resources, including literature and support group information.

“After my first survivor day, I left with hope and the realization that I wasn’t alone in this,” Alt says. “I knew my grief wouldn’t go away, but now I had some tools and other people to help me walk through it.”

HRH’s suicide survivor support group meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 6-7:30 p.m. For more information, contact Sharon Samsell at 812-494-7783 or text 988 for mental health support.

Music Matters

AHS BAND DIRECTOR KEVIN WELBORN IS HAPPY AND HUMBLED TO BE ON BOARD

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided by Amy Payne & Brad Poreda

Ask any individual who was ever involved in band for the name of the person who most influenced their life, and nine times out of 10 they will say it was a middle school or high school teacher. For Kevin Welborn, that person was Artie Adams, his band director from fifth through 12th grade.

“He really motivated me to watch how he did everything because back in those days he had no assistance,” Welborn says. “Every

instrument, color guard, percussion - he handled it all by himself, which is pretty remarkable.”

Adams inspired Welborn to not only play music, but also become a music educator. He participated in drum and bugle corps during the summer, with percussion as his principal area. While in college he realized that while he loved teaching percussion, he longed to become a band director.

“I

“I

After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, he taught for two years in Texas, then went back to Southern Miss to earn his master’s degree in music education and conducting. He landed a job as assistant director at Clinton High School in Mississippi, then later became director in charge of percussion. He took the opportunity to work as associate director of athletic bands at the University of Alabama, which he enjoyed since he’s a huge sports enthusiast.

“My job there was to have one foot in the door with the athletics department and one foot in the door with the band, so I was the liaison between the two,” he says. Though he enjoyed his time there, he missed the competitive aspect of band. For years he had been friends with several people at Avon High School, with his pulse

on the tradition of excellence that the Avon band program has held for so long. The Avon Marching Black and Gold, and related ensembles, have amassed 55 state championships and 16 world and national championships throughout the last three decades. Therefore, when the opportunity arose for him to be part of the program, he couldn’t pass it up.

“So many people asked me why I came back to high school, but what they don’t know is that in the band world, most people view high school competitive marching band as actually a step above some collegiate ensembles,” Welborn says. He notes that at Saturday college football games, you only have six minutes on the field to play music that is recognizable and crowd friendly, or else you might risk alienating the audience. In the high school competitive scene, on the other hand, you can play serious arrangements.

“It’s just entirely different,” Welborn says. “One is not better than the other, but I just really enjoy this environment.”

Each year approximately 250 students participate in band. Welborn notes that following the pandemic, a lot of bands suffered declining numbers. Fortunately, that was not the case at Avon.

“This school did a great job of keeping students engaged as much as possible so the band didn’t take as much of a hit in areas, in terms of numbers and skill sets,” Welborn says.

Band is unique in the way students bond. While friendships are formed in any team or club, band members form a special camaraderie for a number of reasons. For starters, it’s typically the largest activity on campus. Secondly, unlike a sport where there is an offense and a defense, in band all 200-plus people are on the same page trying to achieve the same goal. That creates a connection. The countless hours of rehearsal time bring students closer too.

“Everybody is just trying to be better than they were the day before,” Welborn says. “I know that sounds like a classroom poster,

Andrographis

but seriously that’s all we have to do.”

This is why the staff videotapes the band during rehearsal and sends it out to members to review, similar to the way a football team reviews game footage.

Welborn always looks forward to the first competition of the season because for new band members, the day brings purpose into focus.

“When you’re at rehearsal standing in an empty stadium, it’s easy for students to ask themselves, ‘Why am I doing this over and over?’” Welborn says. “But when you see people your own age pulling into the parking lot in buses, that’s when it gets real. That’s also when it gets fun.”

As a result, the Monday after that first competition, Welborn sees a different type of student at rehearsal.

“Once they have seen why we’re doing this, they’re motivated to work even harder,” he says.

The camaraderie in band extends to other schools as students root for their competitors. While that may sound unusual, Welborn points out that it’s not the same as sports where the goal of one team is to do all they can to make sure the other team performs poorly.

“There’s no way you can prevent another [band] from doing well, so why wouldn’t you tell them to have a great show?” Welborn says. “If you’re a football player, on the other hand, you can absolutely prevent your opponent from doing well.”

Echinacea

Astragalus

Welborn and his wife, Karen, who works for a law firm and is also a color-guard teacher and designer, love to travel.

“We could care less about the size of our house if it means putting some money aside to go on a cruise or to the Caribbean,” he says. “We love being close to the water, so our honeymoon to Saint Lucia was amazing.”

Their bucket-list travel destinations include

Bora Bora and Iceland.

Though he loves to teach, right now he feels that his job needs to stress being supportive and helping to lead the program from a supportive standpoint, as opposed to doling out directives. Therefore, this year he’s getting to know the staff, the students and the process.

“I view my job as supporting the people here to try and make their lives easier,” Welborn says. “I am the new person, but I just want to make people’s lives easier. All of these teachers are absolutely top notch. They work their butts off every day, so if there’s anything I can take off their plate on the logistical side of things to help, I want to do that. The Avon High School band program has a storied tradition of excellence. I’m honored to be a part of it.”

For more on Avon High School bands, visit avonband.com.

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