As past and future students of Joe Riener we are entitled to a voice in our school community. For years Joe Riener, an English teacher at Wilson SHS, has had a huge impact on his students, the Wilson Players, the Wilson Beacon and the Wilson community. His unique teaching style and dedication to his students and their education has changed the lives of many adolescents. He stressed the importance of teenagers in a democracy expressing their opinions using their own individual voices. His view of our purpose in our world is to be of use. In his classes we addressed a variety of topics ranging from human rights, the human mind and psychology, racism, health and the importance of healthcare in America, etc. These topics educated us and motivated us to think and act beyond the classroom. He transformed classic works of literature, short stories, poems and novels into current renditions that relate to the changing world of teenagers. He encouraged us to write freely and express ourselves in class, in our writing and in our everyday lives. He urged members of the Wilson Players to make their own decisions about what to perform and how to perform it with his guidance. Similarly in The Wilson Beacon he promoted students to voice their opinions about school related issues as well as other issues in our society. Joe Riener is an inspired and dedicated teacher. There was no good reason to fire him. We past and future students, colleagues, friends, co-workers and family are taking a stand and demanding that Principal Cahall rehire Joe Riener. Please sign and pass on this petition to rehire Riener.