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http://www.wbir.com/life/programming/local/liveatfive/story.aspx?storyid=51563
For nearly three decades, Barry Swafford has been instructing, coaching and befriending students at the Tennessee School for the Deaf in South Knoxville.
It's an impressive tenure, made even more interesting by the fact he also grew up on campus. In fact, his family album is a virtual history book for the school.
"First, my grandfather came here in the early 1900s," says Swafford.
His grandfather and grandmother graduated from TSD in 1912 and eventually returned to the school as teachers. Then, his father, Nolan, earned his diploma in 1947.
"He was very well known, very athletic," says Swafford of his father. "TSD had the first All-American from a deaf school -- my dad."
Next, the school played host to Barry Swafford and his two siblings. He graduated in 1971 and he followed in his grandparents' footsteps.
"I've been working here for 32 years now. The very room that I'm teaching in was the room I was a student in and my father was a student in."
And the connections don't end there; his wife and his sister are also teachers at TSD, while his son is a 7th grader.
"So that means he's the fourth generation deaf member of my family here at TSD. A lot of students ask me, 'Were you here? Was the room the same? Was the auditorium like this?' I'll say, 'yes, it's the same.' I know every corner of this school."
TSD Principal Mark Battle also grew up on campus, but not as a student.
"My family history with TSD begins in about 1935," says Battle.
His father, Neil, came to study at TSD at age four, and attended through graduation.
"He played on some of the greatest teams that TSD has ever had in their history," says Battle.
Neil Battle helped win the deaf national football championship as a player, and again decades later as a coach. Mark Battle's mother and grandmother also worked at the school, and his dad is still involved -- working as a curator for the museum.
"He's very, very proud of the fact that I work here. It's a legacy. This is his home, this is his place and he has a deep connection and ownership of this school."
Mark Battle and Barry Swafford are also connected;they played against each other on the high school football field in high school. Now, they're colleagues forever bonded by history and purpose.
"It's been a very satisfying life," says Battle
"I think that we really help our children be the most well-prepared students and citizens they could be. That's our concern," adds Swafford.
For nearly three decades, Barry Swafford has been instructing, coaching and befriending students at the Tennessee School for the Deaf in South Knoxville.
It's an impressive tenure, made even more interesting by the fact he also grew up on campus. In fact, his family album is a virtual history book for the school.
"First, my grandfather came here in the early 1900s," says Swafford.
His grandfather and grandmother graduated from TSD in 1912 and eventually returned to the school as teachers. Then, his father, Nolan, earned his diploma in 1947.
"He was very well known, very athletic," says Swafford of his father. "TSD had the first All-American from a deaf school -- my dad."
Next, the school played host to Barry Swafford and his two siblings. He graduated in 1971 and he followed in his grandparents' footsteps.
"I've been working here for 32 years now. The very room that I'm teaching in was the room I was a student in and my father was a student in."
And the connections don't end there; his wife and his sister are also teachers at TSD, while his son is a 7th grader.
"So that means he's the fourth generation deaf member of my family here at TSD. A lot of students ask me, 'Were you here? Was the room the same? Was the auditorium like this?' I'll say, 'yes, it's the same.' I know every corner of this school."
TSD Principal Mark Battle also grew up on campus, but not as a student.
"My family history with TSD begins in about 1935," says Battle.
His father, Neil, came to study at TSD at age four, and attended through graduation.
"He played on some of the greatest teams that TSD has ever had in their history," says Battle.
Neil Battle helped win the deaf national football championship as a player, and again decades later as a coach. Mark Battle's mother and grandmother also worked at the school, and his dad is still involved -- working as a curator for the museum.
"He's very, very proud of the fact that I work here. It's a legacy. This is his home, this is his place and he has a deep connection and ownership of this school."
Mark Battle and Barry Swafford are also connected;they played against each other on the high school football field in high school. Now, they're colleagues forever bonded by history and purpose.
"It's been a very satisfying life," says Battle
"I think that we really help our children be the most well-prepared students and citizens they could be. That's our concern," adds Swafford.