Well, my saga with Jaramis continues...FINALLY, in this second blog.

"Nikki, there is this kid that you need to meet."  Mr. Lenny Carson, the math teacher on our 7th grade team, shared this with me during our many conversations about our students after school one day. 

"He's smart, competative, and he can hold a conversation with an adult". 

"But, he's got a bit of an attitude that you've got to get through; he's tough".   "His name is Jay Whitaker."

While his name didn't ring a bell, I trusted Lenny and his judgment.  We knew one another's strengths as teachers, and we constantly tag-teamed with students to try to get the best out of them. 

Lenny invited me to stop by the Friday Afterschool Basketball Game that he and our Social Studies teacher, Mr. Lane, coordinated on their own.  They created this after school event to give students a "reason" to behave in school.  Students who wanted to particpate had to have a positive week of behavior.  In addition to a game, Mr. Carson and Mr. Lane provided pizza.  It was a hit with all the guys and several of the girls....especially those who tended to have behavioral problems.

When I stopped by the game that Friday, I saw several familiar faces and a few I did not know.  I instantly zoomed in on the young man with whom I'd had the "confrontation" in the hallway.  Hmmmm, how did HE get in?   Then I heard Mr. Carson call him "Jay," and I dropped my jaw...inside my head. 

I saw how easily Mr. Carson and Mr. Lane interacted with this young man with whom I'd had such a negative experience.   When Jay got rough, they called him out on it, and he got back in line.  He smiled with them and genuinely seemed to enjoy playing basketball with them.  There was no back talk or disrespect.  There was just a good game of basketball. 

When I left, I wondered what Mr. Carson saw in Jay.  He seemed like an ordinary student to me...with a smart mouth, of course.  But, why did Mr. Carson think I needed to get to know him?  Jay and I did not get started on a good note.  I thought...what can I learn from these white men who seem to have been able to connect with a young, competitive, African-American male when I could not?

Next Blog:  Super teachers are for television! It's teamwork we need!