#1 Leave a student in another town on a field trip

Yes, I actually did this.  And no, it wasn't premeditated. Although, we've all thought about it, right?!  I took my band students to Northwestern Oklahoma State University for a competition and football game.  When we got back on the bus I took roll.  I though everyone said, "here" when their name was called.  I didn't do a head count, and we took off down the road. About 40 minutes later (five minutes from home) a boy came up to the front and said, "where's my brother?  I haven't seen him since we left?" 

We quickly realized we'd left him behind. I remember thinking, "Holy crap! I've done it now!" As soon as we got to the school I called his Dad and was preparing myself for a well-deserved verbal thrashing.  However, he was very calm, gracious, and forgiving.  It turned out, that as soon as the student realized he was left behind, he went back to the football game and found some people from our town and asked if he could ride home with them, and then he called his Dad.  His Dad also happened to be the Methodist minister in town.  I remember thinking, "This guy really practices what he preaches." Even though he son ended up getting home safely, he was well within his rights to file a complaint with me and the school, but he didn't. 

There have been a few times in my life that I've experienced forgiveness and grace from another human that reminds me of the forgiveness and grace God expresses to me, and all of us, all the time.  This was one of them. "But you, my Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy; you are very patient and full of faithful love." Psalm 86:15

So in retrospect, my students never let me live down this incident and were always trying to hide when I did head counts on the bus to give me a hard time...but I never did it again.  I make lots of mistakes...but most of the time I only make the same one once!  In fact, if any of my students see this and read it, feel free to add comments or details I may have forgotten or left out!  Luckily my prestigious principals and superintendent didn't fire me for this or other fiasco's I'll post later!  Thanks guys!