A quarter of a million is a bunch. In cold, hard currency, it would help someone’s dreams come true. In population, it would be a good-sized city, and in miles, it would take you all the way to the moon.

But what if you’d spent a good part of your professional career reaching as many kids with a message of hope and promise as you possibly could? One of Craig’s own passed the quarter million mark this past week, and we should take a few minutes to read about his journey to help so many kids all across the country.

I’ll admit I’m a little biased, because I have had the honor of being a part of the unstoppable force — namely, “The Unstoppable You” — which has swept across the United States and made a lasting impression on many students and educators. I explain to my students all the time that we all have biases, and we can either inform or adjust our preconceived notions. My bias toward Craig Conrad’s, “The Unstoppable You” has continued to be informed through the past 20 years, as I’ve had a unique opportunity to tell some of the stories that have made his book of the same name a part of so many schools across the country.

Every story in “The Unstoppable You” is about local kids who attended Moffat County High School or about experiences Conrad had as a teacher, community member and sportsman through a 26-year span. I use his stories every Friday in my classroom and have experienced just a fraction of the thousands of emotional responses he receives out on the road doing his motivational seminars. He is still active today, though retired from teaching, and is actually busier than ever.

Celebrating the success of reaching the quarter million mark would be something Conrad would share with anyone who would listen, because he is the first to admit that, while he began the program to help kids, they have had a greater impact on him. Sharing stories from his book at schools across the country, Conrad has kids laughing and crying and always challenges students and educators, alike, to believe in one of the most powerful forces in their lives — themselves.

When a local teacher who dedicated his life to building a world-class high school Woods program and a highly successful motivational program reaches the quarter-million milestone, we should all stand up a little taller and walk with our heads up a bit higher, because great people doing great things is an integral part of Craig, Colorado, and “Craig from Craig” will tell you that his favorite part of Craig has always been the people.

Give yourselves a pat on the back Craig — you deserve it.

Lance Scranton is a teacher and coach at Moffat County High School.