At the center of our work as educators, is our collective belief that all students can learn, grow, and achieve transformative life outcomes. The execution of this belief is thus essential for ensuring the actualization of this mission. Excellent teaching thus requires a teacher to become a humbled practitioner – always willing to accept and internalize feedback for the greater good of his or her students.

The same mindset can be said about each of my 16 advisory boys.

On June 24, 2011 at 10:34 p.m. Central Standard Time, my life forever changed as I received my offer letter to work at KIPP Houston High School, a reward for teaching successfully three years prior in Philadelphia. Little did I know then that my real reward would be seeing each of my advisees grow into such wonderful, young men.

Through the power that is our advisory program – a program dedicated to improving the lives of our KIPPsters through mentoring – I’ve been able to work with these individuals to become the finest selves they can be. Have and will they falter at times? Of course, we all do, yet these men display the characteristics that enable them to overcome any challenge they face - grit, endurance, compassion, intellectual curiosity, and the power of forgiveness.

I only hope that I’ve played a smart part in their academic, character, and social progression as it takes an entire village to raise a child. Yet, I want them to always remember how grateful I am and will forever be for the gifts they gave to me over the past four years together.

Therefore, I want to honor them by presenting them with two, special graduation presents this May 2015.

The first is a kit to play our advisory game that we’ve bonded with over the years spent together – Kan Jam. This game utilizes Frisbees to be thrown towards and in a can (Kan) by which your partner may slam (Jam) it in for points with scoring similar to horseshoes. The pictures you see do not do the game justice for the pure joy it provides my boys.

Lastly, I will use the funds to give each of them a $150 gift card to purchase a tuxedo rental for prom as many times, students do not get to experience prom due to financial stress for them and their families. I really want to take part in their senior prom and walk them through the steps to have an enjoyable experience. I would most certainly love helping them pick out the best one for them as well!

In total, the expected cost is $200 per student to fully fund this project.

I would be eternally grateful for your contribution to ensure that these young men know how much they will forever mean to me.

Wishing you peace, 

John Paul

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