GOING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM ROUTINE AND FOCUSING ON THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUAL STUDENT...

     THAT DESCRIBES OUR EDUCATOR-OF-THE-WEEK. HELPING KIDS EXPRESS THEMSELVES ON PAPER AND IN SPEECH. AND ALTHOUGH      THERE'S SOME HURT, THE JOY'S IN IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM...WITH A SOLUTION.
MOST OF THESE 8TH GRADERS CALL HIM COACH JOHNSON. NOT ONLY DOES INSTRUCT THESE STUDENTS ON WRITING AND SPEECH, BUT HE ALSO COACHES 7TH GRADE FOOTBALL AT CRAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

STUDENTS LIKE THE WAY HE RELATES TO THEM.  HE ADMITS THAT HE WHEN HE WAS A STUDENT, HIS GRADES WERE BELOW AVERAGE. HE OFTEN TELLS THE KIDS THAT IF HE CAN MAKE IT, ANYONE CAN MAKE IT.

<"He gives us examples of what's comming up in life. He helps us understand things. Helps us communicate with people alot better."  >Joshua Baca\Student
<" He's helped me by being there for me, and when I need it. And when I'm in a mood, he'll ask me what's wrong....And he'll try to cheer me up."  >Samantha Azualda\Student
COACH JOHNSON ENCOURAGES KIDS TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS ON PAPER. HE FINDS THAT AFTER THEY TRUST HIM, THEY WILL SHARE SUCH PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT SOME OF THE HURT THEY FEEL INSIDE.

<"He's made me a better person by showing me how I feel on a piece of paper."  >Donovan Luna\Student
<"I'm gonna remember coach Johnson, the most because he was nice to me. He taought me how to encourage myself to do things."  >Kody Casares\Student
 JUST 6 YEARS AGO, JOHNSON WAS ON LIFE SUPPORT IN A HOUSTON HOSPITAL. HE HAD TO LEARN TO WALK AND WRITE AGAIN. NOW HE REALIZES WHAT HIS MISSION IN LIFE IS.

<"I know God put me on this earth for a reason. And I think it's these kids. I know it's these kids. I get up in the morning, thanking him, hey let me be around them."  >Troy Johnson\Educator Of The Week
<"Coach Johnson, you influenced my life. I used to be scared to get up in front of the class. Now I'm open. I can read my speech in front to the whole class. Your just really a great teacher."  >Manuel Duran\Student