No sub for this one

For almost as long as Estancia High School has been in existence Rem Champion has been a charismatic, funny and uplifting presence in its classrooms, students say, but the Marine-turned-teacher hasn’t been around as much lately because he has been taking care of his wife who is sick with cancer.

A group of students and teachers, organized by history teacher Jon Williams, put on a benefit concert Wednesday in his honor to raise money for him and show support. Hundreds of students squeezed in and stood on their tiptoes to watch fellow students and teachers sing, dance and play music on the stage in the middle of campus during their lunch hour.

After joining the Estancia faculty, Champion worked full time until the late 1990s, when he retired his post and began substitute teaching.

“We just did it to help him out, get him through the summer and let him know we love him,” Williams said.

Most of the performances were from student rock groups, but one of the most popular acts was foreign-language teacher Christine Payne, who danced a coquettish flamenco, strutting across the stage in a black dress and bright red shawl.

One of the things that made the event possible was the immediate willingness of appreciative students to get involved, Williams said. Pupils universally said that Champion’s classroom demeanor made him unlike most substitute teachers.

“He earns respect, but it’s not like he lays down the law. He’s just fun-loving and you know he wants what’s best for you,” said junior Jeana De Arakal, who says she doesn’t usually like subs.

When De Arakal and fellow junior Amanda Wilson heard about the benefit concert for Champion they eagerly volunteered to help by walking from class to class, collecting donations and making posters.

A few alumni also showed up to the concert. Michael Golden and Karla Rios, who both graduated in 2004, remember an amusing song Champion used to sing at the end of classes that the students dubbed the “Champion Song” and requested by name.

“A lot of subs seem uncomfortable and out-of-place, but he seemed like he belonged,” Golden said.

Williams arranged the concert in just a couple of weeks after a few students approached him during a recent trip to Washington, D.C., and said they hadn’t seen Champion around much and he looked a little weary. Before becoming a teacher, Williams was in progressive rock and blues bands for 20 years and he appeared Wednesday in a Slayer T-shirt and sunglasses and sang along with a band of three students and another teacher.

For Champion, being able to teach is “as much a financial necessity as just who he is,” Williams said. “Rem Champion is Estancia High School.”

How To Help

For information on how to help, call Estancia High School at (949) 515-6500.