Most people remember their fourth-grade teacher for their quirky sayings, colorful bulletin boards, or unshakable love of multiplication tables. My class? We remember Mr. Meeker, the teacher living with narcolepsy.
What’s Narcolepsy, Anyway?
Narcolepsy is a condition that makes people suddenly fall asleep — not the “I stayed up too late watching TV” kind of tired, but the “brain hits the off switch without warning” kind. It can happen in the middle of a sentence, a lesson, or even a laugh.
Now, imagine being a kid in a classroom where your teacher could literally nod off mid-lecture. It happened often and not just in the classroom. I remember seeing him fall asleep during an assembly featuring the high school band. Sounds like the start of chaos, right? But it wasn’t. In fact, it was the opposite.
The Secret Ingredient: Honesty
From day one, Mr. Meeker didn’t hide it. He explained what was happening, why it happened, and what we could do if he fell asleep. We could ask questions — and we did! Once curiosity was satisfied, the mystery disappeared. It wasn’t scary. It wasn’t weird. It just was.
When truth walks in, fear walks out.
Shared Responsibility, Shared Respect
We weren’t just fourth graders anymore; we were part of the system that made our classroom work. If Mr. Meeker dozed off, someone would quietly notify the office. The rest of us kept working or grabbed a book. Nobody misbehaved — not because we feared punishment, but because we understood trust had been placed in us.
He believed we could handle it. And so, we did.
Setting Expectations Changes Everything
The beauty of that classroom was in its clarity. Everyone knew what to expect. Expectations were set, explained, and trusted. No drama, no secrecy — just mutual respect and a shared goal.
When people know what’s expected of them — and believe those expectations are real and reachable — they almost always rise to meet them.
A Lesson That Stuck
Mr. Meeker taught us spelling and long division, but he also taught us something far bigger: leadership isn’t about control; it’s about clarity. People thrive when they understand the “why,” are trusted with the “how,” and know they matter in the process.
So here’s to the teacher who taught us that setting clear expectations teaches responsibility, respect, and the power of trust.
sharing the stairs 