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Our students return to schools and classrooms across Leon County in just a few days. This year is no different–our teachers, staff, and administrators are already prepared to meet our students on the first day. Our children are eager to learn, teachers are anxious to teach, and staff is eager to serve.
Since my election in 2018, radio personalities Joe Bullard (96.1), Darius Baker, and Michael Cork (both 95.3) have all asked me to do a “Back-to-School” Prayer during their broadcasts for our students, teachers, staff, and school sites. It is a privilege for which I am most humbled. Every year I pray for school safety, teacher wisdom, loving school climates, and academic success for our students.
This year, my prayer will be different — I will also pray that our students and teachers be spared or ignore the hateful political rhetoric that creates alienation, breeds bigotry, and spreads lies about indoctrination. This year, I will also ask God to send our schools a loving army of genuine “champions for children.”
Recent hateful anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and policies, the devaluing and misrepresentation of African American history, and even crusades to end mental health services for our vulnerable student populations have all been recent headlines. If slavery was a workforce training program, why didn’t white folks sign up for slavery too?
This madness would make our children and teachers believe that our schools should be places bankrupt of truth, compassion, empathy, and love. That’s not who we are in Leon County, nor who we have been. At the beginning of the pandemic, the natural character of our community was evident—individuals and community-based organizations quickened to support children and vulnerable families without hesitation. Despite recent headlines and public comments at school board meetings, I remain convinced Leon County is still “the light of the world…that City on a hill.”
This Sunday column is an invitation for people who have goodwill, love all children, and care about the future of our community. Please come and spend a few hours a week or month with our students and be a champion for children. We need volunteers, mentors, and substitute teachers. Retirees — I’m talking about you too. Your wisdom is especially welcome in our classrooms and at our school sites.
We need businesses, community-based organizations, and our local anchor institutions (the governments, hospitals, banks, universities, and colleges) to forge even stronger connections with our elementary, middle, and high schools as champions for children. Consider adopting schools or a classroom. Connect with our principals. I am confident that the answer to so many of our community’s challenges can be realized with intentional linkages between our school district and community — grateful for what we are doing. However, we must and can still do more.
I need real champions for children and parents to come to school board meetings, advocate for our children and teachers, and not ban books from our library shelves while children have access to so much worse on their cell phones.
The superintendent has intentionally marshaled resources that make a difference in serving our most vulnerable student populations. Our teachers are excellent, our parents are engaged, and our schools are amazing places to learn. Why? Because every day, our teachers “love first and teach second.”
There are sobering facts that can’t be ignored. Mental health challenges are a genuine concern and are authentic barriers for children and their learning and maturation into adulthood. National statistics inform us that the highest incidence of suicide is among LGBTQ youth. Locally, our school district is teaching nearly a thousand students who are either homeless or in foster care, while parent groups are arguing the necessity of mental health care in our schools. Ridiculous! Leon County Schools is committed to meeting the needs of all children and creating an environment where ALL children thrive and learn.
The New Testament affirms that God is “no respecter of persons.” God loves all children — black, white, Latino, Asian, rich, poor, disabled, and yes, LGBTQ kids, too. Scripture reminds us that a horrible judgment awaits those who mistreat children. This Sunday, I am reminded that my love for children expresses my love for God. Our children deserve the best champions so they can be champions. Leon County, our students need you to model adulthood and love in our schools.
So my prayer next week on the radio will be that our students and teachers will feel the love this community has for them with increased community support and presence. That support comes from our parents and the entire community. Be a champion for children.
Darryl Jones is the co-chair pro tempore of the Board of Stewards at Bethel AME Church in Tallahassee and a member of the Leon County School Board, representing District 3.
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