As I reflect on the start of my summer fellowship with the Boys and Girls Club of Columbus (BGCC), I cannot help but think of my experiences in the classroom.  One of the pillars of my educational philosophy was partnering with the community to maximize the potential of my students.  I did this by being relentless in ensuring parents/guardians were involved in the classroom, increasing opportunities for students to advocate for themselves and their community, and affirming my students’ intelligence.  Although I did my best in the classroom, I realized that supporting students 24/7 (which I would have been more than happy to do), may not be feasible nor mentally healthy for one teacher.  Deeply rooted in the mission of the Boys and Girls Club is a dedication to ensuring all students have the tools necessary to be able to prioritize their education.

This mission sets up a collaborative atmosphere where the entire COMMUNITY is educating the “whole child.”  This is the strength of our community.  We do not accept the geographic assignments placed on our students (education levels or socioeconomic status).  We are not content with the status quo.  We are uncompromising in our pursuit of maximizing the potential of our students.

This summer I am most excited about continuing to contribute to the movement described above; but in a role different than a classroom teacher.  My new role is to support the BGCC in their summer programing and offer suggestions to improve the quality of instruction.  This is more of a research/program evaluation role.  With this role, I will be able to produce data that can be used to increase the number of students involved with the various programs.  All children deserve an excellent education; for the next 10 weeks I am prepared to do everything I can to realize this vision.

**Nathaniel D. Stewart is a former middle school science teacher and current Educational Policy PhD student.  His research is focused on critical pedagogy and culturally responsive instruction.  (stewart.1690@osu.edu)