Custom comic books transform Tennessee special education students into superheroes

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A group of long-time friends is helping hundreds of kids across the Midstate realize their full potential. The ”Every Kid Is A Hero” foundation makes special education students the stars of their own tailor-made stories.

We first met Jack Buzako inside an empty classroom at Station Camp High School. With blank papers and a box of markers by his side, Jack seemed content seated at a desk.

“I first started drawing when I was six or seven years old. I’m a good artist. I draw all the time,” Jack explained as he expertly used a blue marker to draw himself.

The way that we see ourselves, and the way others see us, isn’t always the same.

Jack describes himself as nice, while others say he lights up a room with a rockstar quality the second he walks in .

“I don’t think he quite understands the impact he has,” his mother, Stacey Buzako, mused.

Like most of us, Jack underestimates the power he holds, but just down the hall at Station Camp High School, social studies teacher Drew Van Huss sees Jack’s strengths as superhuman.

“You can make the world a better place just by being friendly to people,” Van Huss said.

“It’s not that unattainable to be a hero?” asked WSMV News Anchor Amanda Hara. “Absolutely,” Van Huss replied.

He’s a social studies teacher, but one look around his classroom is enough to prove his real expertise is in good versus evil.

“I’m looking around your classroom and it’s covered in comic book stuff,” Hara noted. “Yes! There are a few maps here and there. I started collecting comic books when I was four years old. I’m 46 now, and I still buy comic books every single week when new issues come out,” Van Huss said.

Nearly every inch of his classroom is covered in comic book memorabilia.

“Every kid out there should be able to see themselves as a hero. Every kid should be able to see themselves as somebody who can make a positive difference in the world,” Van Huss said.

On a warm day in September, they did.

A sea of cheerleaders lined the entrance to the Station Camp High School football field to greet special education students as they arrived for the Every Kid Is A Hero parade.

“Good morning heroes of Sumner County! Welcome to Every Kid Is A Hero Day!” Van Huss announced over a loudspeaker.

Students like Jack received hero capes and masks.

“I feel like a real one today!” Jack exclaimed.

Mounted police, officers, firefighters, professional athletes, and musicians gathered around the track to cheer on students led by a marching band.

At the end of the parade, Van Huss called students like Jack down from the stands.

“Jack Buzako, Jack if you could come down. I’ve got something special for ya,” Van Huss announced.

He handed Jack a comic book featuring Jack as the superhero.

“Super Jack. That’s you! This comic book is about you!” said Van Huss.

Jack and the other special education students became the stars of their own custom comic books. That’s when they began to see they weren’t just dressed for the part; they realized the role they already played for the people around them.

“We make the special education students the main hero of the comic book, so they’re able to see themselves as a hero,” said Van Huss.

Britt Maxwell is the President of the Every Kid Is A Hero organization. He came up with the original idea and built on it with friends Drew Van Huss, Lee Colvin, and Matthew Walden. Van Huss and Maxwell write the comic storylines together, Walden does the original artwork, and Colvin handles the fundraising.

Students are asked ahead of time to choose the color of their hair, eyes, and skin to represent their individuality for the comics.

As Jack read his comic book out loud, Van Huss revealed, “This is my favorite moment of this day is hearing you read this comic book. This is something I’m always going to remember.”

As Jack began to see himself the way others do, Drew Van Huss began to see that something good is coming from his worst moment.

“Doug was my dad’s name. I was 20 years old, I was at MTSU in Murfreesboro, and he had a sudden heart attack. That was a pretty traumatic experience in my life,” Van Huss revealed. “We did this as a tribute to him because he was the guy that got me into comics. This was my tribute to him.”

Jack returned to an empty desk inside a classroom and began to draw again. This time, his self-portrait was a little more accurate.

“I’m going to draw myself as a superhero,” Jack said, seeming to have a better understanding of his power and how to use it.

“The world’s a dark and scary place. We all want to go out there and make a change. You don’t have to change the whole world, you just have to go out and change the world around you,” Van Huss said.

The Every Kid Is A Hero Foundation also raises money for special education teachers to support them in the classroom.

It just launched an opportunity to sponsor special education students, so they can receive a new comic book four times a year.

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