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Former OSU BBall Mark Baker Paying it forward

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toad1204's picture
October 16, 2014 at 3:45pm
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However, two people made a difference in his life by showing him the potential of what he could become. Because of those two people pumping in positive support and encouragement to him, Baker is establishing Connections, a 21st century Connect initiative for student, parents and teachers to connect in promoting academic success.

“Relationships, not curriculum, changes students,” he said. “21st century students want to be seen, heard and valued and it’s our responsibility to make that happen.”

As the district’s 21st century college and career consultant, Baker is in the process of training teachers and identifying and selecting 100 students in grades 6-12 from diverse backgrounds and learning abilities who may need that positive role model in their lives as he did as a student.

Baker, who is also the Middies varsity basketball coach, recently presented the initiative at a recent Board of Education meeting, and credited a woman who left her neighborhood every day to go pick up Baker to take him to school as well as Richard Gates, superintendent of the Jefferson Twp. Schools.

He said he constantly received positive encouragement from Gates who saw something in him and pointed him to the future to see what he could become. Baker also said Gates did not allow him to make excuses.

http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/coach-creates-initiative-promoting...

 

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