California Educator

December / January 2017

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season, he received a grant from CTA's Institute for Teaching, which paid one- time costs for equipment and uniforms so the league could expand to include flag football, volleyball and softball. All sports are coed. At first Collins wasn't sure how stu d ent s w o ul d re sp on d w h en given the chance to play ball. " We h a v e k i d s w h o b a t t l e depression and anxiety," he says. "Some are parenting themselves. We have one who is currently living in a car with his grandmother. ey have bad habits and defense mechanisms that can get in the way. Our students have both fear of failure and fear of success." Despite significant challenges, many students signed up. But the league's suc- cess, Collins explains, is due to coaches taking a different approach. "Unlike teams at comprehensive high schools, anyone with good attendance and grades can play. And if they cuss or act out, they don't get cut from the team. They are told to sit down, and then we figure out how to get them back on the field. We understand that these kids don't always have the best social skills. Our goal is to let them know we value them. We correct the action and value the child to get them back in the game." During a break from coaching an all- day flag football tournament at Roseville, Collins says he isn't at all surprised that team sports positively impact students beyond the playing field. "Attendance has improved. Students put out more ef for t to keep th eir GPA up so they are eligible to play. And it has fostered connections and relationships between students and teachers." Shon Davis, a junior, considers Col- lins a role model. "He cares about us and tells us the truth, even if it's not pretty. He's taught us how to come together as a team. I feel more moti- vated." Junior Destiny Ramsey says playing flag football and other sports makes her feel a sense of community. "I'm hav- ing fun and enjoying the connection with everyone on the team. I enjoy this pro- gram because it feels like family." Collins says the league is changing the way his community views contin- uation students — and the way students view themselves. "Sometimes these kids are vili- fied," he explains. "But when they do well in sports, success leads to more success. Kids start to believe they aren't bad, and that they can learn things. They understand that they have intrinsic value and something to offer, like every human being." "WE UNDERSTAND THAT THESE KIDS DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE BEST SOCIAL SKILLS. OUR GOAL IS TO LET THEM KNOW WE VALUE THEM." Above, Chris Collins coaches students before a game. At right, he gives direction to a player during the break. "When they do well in sports," he says, "kids start to believe they aren't bad, and that ... they have instrinsic value and something to offer." KNOW AN INNOVATOR? W E ' R E A L W A Y S on the hunt for educators doing extraordinary work. If you know someone like this, send us their name and a summary of what they 're doing at editor@cta.org. 33 D E C E M B E R 2 017 / J A N U A R Y 2 018

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