What would you do
if you were labeled
00:00:01.06\00:00:02.45
a functional
illiterate in Grade School
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and you took five years
to graduate from High School?
00:00:04.47\00:00:07.28
Would you give
up... or would you
00:00:07.31\00:00:09.15
dare to dream of
something better?
00:00:09.18\00:00:11.24
Stay tuned to
meet our special guest
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and find out what he did...
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My name is Yvonne
Lewis and you're watching
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Urban Report...
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Hello and
welcome to Urban Report
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my guest today
is Dr. Marco Clark
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CEO and Founder of the
Richard Wright Public Charter
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School of Journalism and
Media Arts in Washington, D.C.
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Welcome to Urban
Report Dr. Clark...
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Hi... how are you?
I'm fine... I'm so glad
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you are here... it's
wonderful to have you...
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I am blessed to be here...
very glad to be on your show...
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Thank you... thank
you... first of all...
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I want to say,
Happy Birthday to you...
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How did you know?
Ah... you see... you see...
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we find out things
here at Urban Report...
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Ah man... so this
is a very blessed day
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I tell you... I was
greeted with my entire
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staff and my students
today... they sang to me...
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made a cake for me...
it's just been an awesome day
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and now I get an
opportunity to talk with you
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about what I love...
which is children and education
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and learning... so
I'm just so excited
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I thank God for this
privilege. Praise the Lord...
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you know... in talking to you...
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and I've had the
opportunity to talk to you...
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on a few occasions...
and I just love your
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passion for the students...
you have such a passion...
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you... you... it's like you eat,
sleep and drink your students...
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and this is what we
need... this is so important...
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I want our viewers to
know about your journey...
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I think that...
that plays into...
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why you have such
passion for these students...
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tell us about your
journey... Well, first of all,
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I want to say is...
it was a journey that was
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very heartfelt...
something that took me
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a long time to want to share...
and so, I always start out
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by saying...
individuals that share the
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same story that I'm
going to tell you guys...
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I want them to be able
to tell other folks as well
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because it's going to
be able to help them...
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I was ashamed...
for a long time...
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to tell folks
that I was labeled as a
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functional
illiterate... at 11-years-old...
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I was ashamed to tell
folks that it took five years
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to graduate from
High School, and you know
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that journey in
itself took a while...
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so that's something that
I really had to pray over
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so, I wanted to put that out
there and really challenge folks
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that had
challenges like I've overcome
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and be able to share this,
so.. to share a little bit about
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my journey... at 11-years-old...
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I was brought into a
Guidance Counselor's Office
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and I was asked, you
know, to just sit still...
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and for that moment I
worked really diligently
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to be a good student...
I was excited about words
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I could spell but
I had a problem with
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comprehension and I didn't
know that... at that time...
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but... 11-years-old... I
was brought into this office
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and the Guidance
Counselor didn't mumble a word
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she just asked me to
sit down and to be still and
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called my mom...
and it was interesting
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because I was looking
for something positive
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to happen for
me... and then my mom
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came to the School
and inside of that moment
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I saw this look on my mom's
face and I'd never seen that
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and I started to
wonder what did I do wrong...
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you know... what was going
on when I initially thought
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they were talking to me about
something that was going to be
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very
positive... I took that same
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feeling home that evening
and my mom didn't talk to me
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it was interesting that
she didn't fuss at me...
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so, it was like...
I was still wondering
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what did I do... the
Guidance Counselor really
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didn't say anything...
but they gave me this long
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word that said, "You
are a functional illiterate"
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and at 11-years-old... I
had no idea what that meant
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it wasn't until
dinner time at night
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my mom... waited
on my dad to get home
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and they sat me
down and explained what
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functional
illiteracy was and in that...
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it sort of took my
high-note about School
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to a very negative
low... and that negative low
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carried me... all the
way through High School
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and that negative
low pushed me until
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when I was about 15-years-old
I started to steal cars
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I was... on those
corners... because that label
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made me feel as though... I was
different than everybody else
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that label... made me
feel like I could not achieve
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what others...
would achieve... and so..
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with that... I carried
the burden of never, ever
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receiving an
award... outside of sports...
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never receiving
another certificate for doing
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anything academically...
I can honestly say that I
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finished High School
without ever receiving an award
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for doing anything
academically well...
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that label did something
to my life and I carried it
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honestly for...
since 11-years-old up until
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now when I'm 43-years-old...
Wow, OK, Oh, Dr. Clark...
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you just said such
rich such rich things...
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the fact that...
that you lived up to..
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the label... the thing that
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they gave you.. they labeled
you functionally illiterate...
00:05:34.45\00:05:37.81
and so... that did
something to your head...
00:05:37.85\00:05:41.14
that made you feel like
"Well, I can't dare to dream,
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I can't break through anything
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because I'm basically illiterate
I'm functionally illiterate...
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so... let me go out
here and steal cars and
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let me go out here
and not try... because
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I'm functionally illiterate...
" by putting that label on you
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it actually pulled
you down into a place of
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negative self-esteem,
of feeling as though...
00:06:05.25\00:06:09.61
you can't achieve... and
so... why try... why try...
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I had the feeling, you know,
every child wants their parents
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to be proud of them... Yes...
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and being the
youngest child in my family...
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it really did something to
my feeling towards academics
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at that moment,
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having to have my parents
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explain what
functional illiteracy was...
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I began to blame myself
I didn't blame anyone else
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I started to
question whether or not
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I put all of my
energy into academics
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whether I did, you know,
the work like I was supposed to
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did I listen in class...
and I really, really became
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very hard on
myself... my own worst critic
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that label itself really
did a lot for my self-esteem
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and when I say... a
lot... it hurt the self-esteem
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that I had... a
person who, you know,
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you got to
understand... I thought I was
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the bark in the dog,
and the cat's meow...
00:07:03.85\00:07:05.53
you got to understand...
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you couldn't tell me
that I was not a winner
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and at that moment I
felt a real low... and so...
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what I started to
do was... to excel...
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and what I've learned
you know, now, looking back
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is that... a
child will be successful
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whether it's a
positive or a negative...
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they are going to find something
that's going to allow them
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to have a winning opportunity...
and that's what I did...
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and so I turned to the negative
side because it seemed like
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that I can have a
very positive outcome...
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I got praise from my
friends I got praise from people
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in the
Community... I was being praised
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for doing things... but...
doing things that were wrong
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by individuals that were
a part of that... and so...
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so that made me
happy... Yes... look at that...
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you just said something
else... that was really deep...
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that basically... a
child is going to seek
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some kind of positive outcome...
something that's going to make
00:08:01.62\00:08:05.56
him or her feel
better about themselves...
00:08:05.60\00:08:08.52
even... if it's
within a negative context...
00:08:08.55\00:08:11.59
so... that's what
you were trying to do...
00:08:11.63\00:08:14.60
you were trying to
find something to hold on to
00:08:14.64\00:08:17.86
that would make you feel
better about who you were...
00:08:17.90\00:08:20.70
because at that
point... you felt so low...
00:08:20.73\00:08:23.59
as though you had
let your folks down
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I think that's what I'm
hearing, that you feel as though
00:08:26.96\00:08:30.14
you had let them
down... and that... well...
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you might as well get...
some kind of positive accolades
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from your friends...
because you're parents
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were let down now...
disappointed in you...
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Absolutely... absolutely...
and I was trying to figure out
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some way to compensate for
that which I didn't do in School
00:08:44.35\00:08:48.32
and it was really,
really... that your peers
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will give you that... you
know, that help in the direction
00:08:52.21\00:08:56.93
that you're looking
for in a positive direction
00:08:56.96\00:08:59.56
if the adults that you
see everyday don't do it...
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Yes... yes... now... did you
come from a spiritual background
00:09:02.15\00:09:05.86
were your parents
Christian people...
00:09:05.90\00:09:08.00
You know what's interesting...
I grew up as a Pastor's son...
00:09:08.03\00:09:11.62
so I'm a PK... Pastor's
Kid You're a PK... what...
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Oh... see... I didn't know
that. I am a PK and you know...
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they all... and so... I had that
label to deal with as well...
00:09:19.17\00:09:22.07
you know... you're a PK
00:09:22.10\00:09:23.81
which they all say...
you're the worst children
00:09:23.84\00:09:26.33
and so... you know... with
that that was a label that I had
00:09:26.36\00:09:31.16
so... it was me feeling that
you know, here was a guy... that
00:09:31.19\00:09:34.66
I had to go to Church...
we were at Church every week
00:09:34.70\00:09:38.42
and... but... there were
all the kids that were getting
00:09:38.46\00:09:42.11
accolades even in Church.. so...
I didn't get accolades at School
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I didn't get accolades at
Church it was embarrassing
00:09:45.76\00:09:48.94
to have a father
that was the Pastor
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and his son... never got
an accolade for doing academic
00:09:50.68\00:09:53.96
things well... so
it was really, really
00:09:53.99\00:09:56.31
a challenging
situation and I could not wait
00:09:56.34\00:09:59.34
until my parents
said, "You don't have to go
00:09:59.37\00:10:01.62
every Sunday...
just every other Sunday"
00:10:01.65\00:10:03.72
so at least I could
plan out my strategy
00:10:03.76\00:10:05.72
not to be there when
the awards came out...
00:10:05.75\00:10:07.65
Oh... bless your heart...
how heavy that must have been
00:10:07.68\00:10:11.07
for you... to carry that...
00:10:11.11\00:10:12.72
It was a very heavy load
and just to give you a few
00:10:12.76\00:10:18.05
items of things that I endured,
you know... 15-years-old...
00:10:18.08\00:10:22.57
school really didn't
mean much, I played football
00:10:22.60\00:10:25.82
did well in football, and
after the season, you know,
00:10:25.85\00:10:28.85
I went back to the streets...
00:10:28.88\00:10:30.07
I realized there were some
things that I'm thankful for...
00:10:30.10\00:10:33.99
blessed about...
is that I had parents
00:10:34.02\00:10:36.41
that I was accountable
to... but during the time
00:10:36.44\00:10:39.13
that I was out... they
didn't know what was going on
00:10:39.17\00:10:42.04
so, in that freedom that
I had, I was doing things
00:10:42.08\00:10:44.88
that I wasn't supposed to...
and with that.. I got in trouble
00:10:44.92\00:10:49.55
for, you know, lifting a car...
and got caught and, you know,
00:10:49.58\00:10:53.97
got in trouble inside of School,
and got put out of School
00:10:54.01\00:10:58.37
for actually
drinking a beer, you know,
00:10:58.40\00:11:02.20
I was caught drinking a beer...
just to be with my friends,
00:11:02.24\00:11:07.88
you know, and got
expelled from School...
00:11:07.91\00:11:10.32
I had to go to
Night School for a year
00:11:10.35\00:11:12.64
which caused me to have to be
in High School... an extra year
00:11:12.68\00:11:15.57
so it took 5 years to
graduate from High School
00:11:15.60\00:11:19.04
and I was just doing any
and everything that I could
00:11:19.08\00:11:22.41
to try to find some peace
and happiness within myself
00:11:22.45\00:11:25.83
and everything that I did
seemed to turn into a dead-end
00:11:25.87\00:11:29.22
a dead-end... no matter
which direction I was going
00:11:29.25\00:11:32.84
my grades clearly weren't
there, 5 years in High School
00:11:32.87\00:11:37.02
and I wind up graduating
with a 1.6 grade average
00:11:37.06\00:11:40.83
and so I had... no
grades... I took the SAT
00:11:40.87\00:11:43.40
I scored 480 on the SAT
and they give you 200 points
00:11:43.43\00:11:48.37
at that time for
signing your name
00:11:48.41\00:11:49.91
so, you're talking about
a kid that really, really
00:11:49.95\00:11:52.73
was challenged by
Public School so much that
00:11:52.77\00:11:55.83
when I graduated...
and I finally got a diploma
00:11:55.87\00:11:58.87
I burned the diploma...
Oh, yeah, that had to have been
00:11:58.90\00:12:04.80
so painful for you to carry
00:12:04.84\00:12:07.95
that load in your heart
00:12:07.99\00:12:11.04
of under-achievement...
in your heart of hearts
00:12:11.07\00:12:15.54
you probably
knew... "Hey, I'm not slow,
00:12:15.57\00:12:18.54
I have a good sense
of the world around me...
00:12:18.57\00:12:23.51
I'm not slow... so why is
it that I'm not achieving...
00:12:23.54\00:12:27.46
that had to be...
so hard for you...
00:12:27.50\00:12:29.69
So... at what point did
things turn around for you?
00:12:29.73\00:12:32.85
What happened was...
00:12:32.88\00:12:34.75
after I graduated
00:12:34.78\00:12:36.58
from High School... you
know... in the midst of that
00:12:36.61\00:12:38.32
I met a
Counselor... the last year...
00:12:38.35\00:12:40.86
so, you know, this is
where it is a great thing
00:12:40.90\00:12:43.93
God steps in and puts you
in places and times and spaces
00:12:43.97\00:12:47.15
when it needs to happen...
and now... looking back
00:12:47.19\00:12:49.81
I recognize that the
5th year was necessary...
00:12:49.84\00:12:52.39
I was there for that 5th year so
that I could meet that Counselor
00:12:52.43\00:12:55.94
because she wasn't
there during the four years
00:12:55.97\00:12:58.08
that I was in High School...
that 5th year... she came...
00:12:58.11\00:13:00.95
new to the School and
she said there's something
00:13:00.98\00:13:02.95
about you...
that... I'm going to help...
00:13:02.98\00:13:05.55
you know... and I
said... well... whatever...
00:13:05.58\00:13:08.07
if you could perform miracles...
then let's just do it...
00:13:08.11\00:13:10.45
she said... "No matter what
happens... we're going to find
00:13:10.49\00:13:12.76
a way to get you in College...
and we're going to work together
00:13:12.79\00:13:15.13
and make it
happen... " so... I tell you...
00:13:15.16\00:13:17.78
I had a 150 rejections
from Colleges and Universities
00:13:17.81\00:13:21.10
all across this Nation
that I was trying to get in...
00:13:21.14\00:13:24.39
and there was a Dean at
Clark Atlanta University
00:13:24.43\00:13:28.38
that I contacted over
and over and over again
00:13:28.41\00:13:31.68
about trying to get
into Clark Atlanta University
00:13:31.71\00:13:34.90
and he finally talked with
me and I was able to give him
00:13:34.94\00:13:38.78
my story...
well, his response was
00:13:38.81\00:13:41.97
"This story sounds great...
I've heard a lot of these
00:13:42.00\00:13:44.25
kinds of stories...
but I need you to write it
00:13:44.28\00:13:46.62
and if you can write this
story, let me read over it...
00:13:46.65\00:13:49.37
and I'll think about it and I'll
see what I can do for you... "
00:13:49.40\00:13:52.91
well, I wrote him a letter...
I got help from my Counselor
00:13:52.95\00:13:55.54
we wrote a letter... and
I was able to really talk
00:13:55.58\00:13:59.78
about my
challenges very explicitly
00:13:59.81\00:14:02.27
and talk about where the pain
and issues were happening...
00:14:02.30\00:14:05.39
from age 11 and
how I got to this point
00:14:05.43\00:14:08.21
and I sent him a letter...
and that wasn't good enough...
00:14:08.24\00:14:11.73
it took some
perseverance as well because
00:14:11.77\00:14:13.76
I called him...
religiously... every Friday...
00:14:13.80\00:14:17.51
until I finally got
him on the phone again...
00:14:17.54\00:14:21.30
and it was just happenstance
00:14:21.34\00:14:24.16
that, you know, he picked up
the phone... trying to dial out
00:14:24.20\00:14:27.08
to call someone else... and
I happened to be on the line
00:14:27.12\00:14:30.86
within that whole dialogue
00:14:30.90\00:14:37.34
I was able to say...
"Listen... this is Marco Clark
00:14:37.37\00:14:40.02
I'm really trying to get
in... if you would just give me
00:14:40.05\00:14:43.21
an
opportunity... I promise you...
00:14:43.25\00:14:45.27
I will not let you
down... I promise you that...
00:14:45.30\00:14:47.77
he said... "Well,
I read your story...
00:14:47.81\00:14:49.69
it was very
compelling... " and he said...
00:14:49.73\00:14:51.54
"You have been faithful
enough to call me over and over
00:14:51.58\00:14:54.87
and over again... and actually
I wasn't planning to talk to you
00:14:54.90\00:14:58.18
right now but there has to
be a reason that we're talking
00:14:58.21\00:15:01.03
so I'm going to
give you an opportunity
00:15:01.06\00:15:02.78
and I'm going to
put you on probation,
00:15:02.82\00:15:04.46
and I'm going to check on
you and you're going to check in
00:15:04.50\00:15:07.31
with me every two weeks
to let me know your progress
00:15:07.34\00:15:09.84
and I'm going to give you one
Semester to ship up or ship out"
00:15:09.88\00:15:12.96
and... you know...
we were able to do that
00:15:12.99\00:15:15.86
he aligned me with an Advisor
that was really, really great...
00:15:15.89\00:15:20.10
Dr. Johnny L. Wilson
and I would just have to say
00:15:20.13\00:15:23.13
that one teacher, you
know, pretty much saved my life
00:15:23.17\00:15:26.10
it wasn't until I
got to College that
00:15:26.13\00:15:28.92
I had a teacher that
00:15:28.95\00:15:30.86
really stepped in and
said, "Listen... we're going to
00:15:30.89\00:15:32.66
make something happen for you"
that was my Advisor, Dr. Wilson
00:15:32.69\00:15:35.86
at Clark Atlanta University...
You know... Dr. Clark...
00:15:35.90\00:15:40.73
look at how God...
works things through...
00:15:40.77\00:15:43.90
God had... His plan for
you... and, you know, of course,
00:15:43.93\00:15:48.34
the enemy had his
plan... the enemy wanted you to
00:15:48.37\00:15:50.87
spiral downward...
and just be destroyed...
00:15:50.90\00:15:54.64
but God's plan was for you
00:15:54.67\00:15:56.84
to continue... to persevere...
and you pushed through...
00:15:56.88\00:16:00.54
you pushed through that
label, you pushed through
00:16:00.58\00:16:04.34
by every week...
calling... this Professor...
00:16:04.37\00:16:08.06
over and over and letting
him know that you were motivated
00:16:08.09\00:16:11.91
some kids... quit before
they have reached their goal
00:16:11.94\00:16:17.92
because they just
don't push through...
00:16:17.95\00:16:20.59
but you did... and what do
you think, besides, of course
00:16:20.62\00:16:24.58
the Lord... because the Lord's
hand was obviously on you...
00:16:24.62\00:16:28.54
What do you think you
did by pushing through?
00:16:28.58\00:16:31.72
Well, I think... one
of the things I proved
00:16:31.75\00:16:34.57
something to
myself... first of all...
00:16:34.61\00:16:36.20
that I can get in the
door if I was very persistent
00:16:36.23\00:16:39.97
prayed and stayed
faithful about it... that...
00:16:40.00\00:16:42.20
that would
happen... and first of all...
00:16:42.23\00:16:43.83
I had to be honest also
with the challenges that I had
00:16:43.86\00:16:47.97
and honest with the
things that I did wrong...
00:16:48.00\00:16:50.35
you know... you have to
own up to some of the things
00:16:50.38\00:16:53.42
that I probably
could have done better...
00:16:53.45\00:16:54.98
I couldn't blame everybody
about my shortcomings...
00:16:55.01\00:16:58.21
I couldn't say that it was
just, you know, I had a poor
00:16:58.24\00:17:01.26
Public School experience...
but what part did I play
00:17:01.29\00:17:04.21
and I think onus of
that... but even with that...
00:17:04.25\00:17:07.14
perseverance
still... became a story for me
00:17:07.17\00:17:09.44
because even when I
got on the campus...
00:17:09.47\00:17:12.22
I had a class that was a
00:17:12.26\00:17:13.97
Biology class and I had
never been in a classroom
00:17:14.00\00:17:17.35
a lecture hall with
150 kids and you know,
00:17:17.38\00:17:20.69
with that we had this gentleman
Dr. Amron... and I remember
00:17:20.73\00:17:23.68
it like yesterday that his
class was so intimidating to me
00:17:23.71\00:17:28.65
that you walk in and
here were like 10 chalk boards
00:17:28.68\00:17:31.31
that would go up and
down... and it seemed like
00:17:31.35\00:17:33.91
he had them all filled up
every time you came in and so...
00:17:33.95\00:17:37.26
it was very intimidating...
this Biology class...
00:17:37.29\00:17:39.88
that I began to play games...
you know... tick tack toe...
00:17:39.91\00:17:43.12
and moved over one side...
so on Monday I sat on this side
00:17:43.15\00:17:46.16
of the classroom and on
Wednesday... I sat in the middle
00:17:46.19\00:17:49.13
on Friday... a different side...
and I did that as a strategy
00:17:49.16\00:17:52.99
trying to get around
his class hoping that
00:17:53.03\00:17:56.52
he wouldn't call on me
because I saw what happened
00:17:56.55\00:17:59.84
when he called
kids up to the board...
00:17:59.88\00:18:01.48
and they didn't know the answer
and it was really... oh man...
00:18:01.51\00:18:06.37
it was a major
piece of work for me...
00:18:06.41\00:18:08.67
I thought that I was smart
but God stepped in and made
00:18:08.71\00:18:12.38
me realize
something... that basically...
00:18:12.42\00:18:14.45
that's what I had been
trying to do a long time...
00:18:14.48\00:18:17.37
get around an issue
rather than meeting it head on
00:18:17.40\00:18:20.26
in order to make things happen
so... I finally got caught
00:18:20.29\00:18:24.73
and I was called to that board
and, you know, what happened
00:18:24.77\00:18:28.27
I got to the board and I
had stayed up... trying to study
00:18:28.31\00:18:31.81
all night but for some reason
I just couldn't comprehend
00:18:31.85\00:18:35.32
the work... and so
I stood at that board
00:18:35.35\00:18:37.69
and while my back to my peers,
they were snickering and making
00:18:37.72\00:18:41.90
you know... smart gestures but
what they didn't know was that
00:18:41.94\00:18:45.82
on the other side of that board
where I was staring at the board
00:18:45.86\00:18:49.70
faking like I was going
to try to answer the question
00:18:49.74\00:18:53.38
I was really crying...
it's what I was doing...
00:18:53.42\00:18:56.41
I was really crying because...
I was getting that feeling again
00:18:56.44\00:19:01.15
that I had at 11-years-old
when I was told that I was a
00:19:01.19\00:19:03.96
functional illiterate...
and I found myself again
00:19:04.00\00:19:07.13
at 18-years-old...
standing at a board
00:19:07.16\00:19:10.34
not understanding why
I'm being ridiculed...
00:19:10.37\00:19:12.89
so I had no other
recourse but to cry...
00:19:12.93\00:19:15.32
and so after that particular
day and I was able to...
00:19:15.35\00:19:20.03
and he finally said...
you know "You can leave"
00:19:20.06\00:19:21.77
and I ran to my advisor and
I said, "You know, I'm finished
00:19:21.81\00:19:25.57
with this College mess...
maybe the folks that told me
00:19:25.61\00:19:29.32
I was a functional
illiterate at 11-years-old...
00:19:29.35\00:19:31.23
maybe they were right... "
you know... "I think that...
00:19:31.26\00:19:33.97
I don't know what I'm
going to do with myself
00:19:34.00\00:19:36.16
but I think... I
was accomplishing things
00:19:36.20\00:19:38.29
in the streets... so why should
I stay here and be ridiculed
00:19:38.33\00:19:42.30
for trying to do my best...
" and he said, "You know Son,
00:19:42.34\00:19:46.18
it's not the fact
that you are not trying...
00:19:46.22\00:19:48.24
it's not that you
don't have perseverance...
00:19:48.28\00:19:50.32
it's not that you
don't have the will...
00:19:50.35\00:19:52.35
what you have an
issue with is reading...
00:19:52.39\00:19:55.42
you have problems with
reading comprehension... "
00:19:55.45\00:19:58.80
and the challenge for
me... and it clicked that day
00:19:58.84\00:20:02.16
that I had gone
my... all of this time...
00:20:02.19\00:20:04.92
and made it all the
way to College and realized
00:20:04.96\00:20:07.61
that I could not read...
and so because that Professor
00:20:07.64\00:20:11.61
got with me and got a
tutor for every class that I had
00:20:11.65\00:20:15.58
you know... and they
gave me strategies...
00:20:15.62\00:20:18.93
taught me strategies... on
how to be able to break down
00:20:18.97\00:20:22.19
large passages into
smaller chunks and to make note
00:20:22.23\00:20:25.42
to make me get
better academically
00:20:25.45\00:20:28.10
and because I had
that perseverance...
00:20:28.14\00:20:30.93
I was able to move forward... so
once that green light jumped on
00:20:30.97\00:20:34.29
I took off and after that
time, I had graduated from
00:20:34.32\00:20:38.01
High School with
a 1.6 grade average
00:20:38.05\00:20:40.58
scoring 460 on the
SAT... to graduating with
00:20:40.62\00:20:44.57
3.3 Undergrad... 3.5 Masters...
00:20:44.61\00:20:48.79
3.9 Doctoral
Level... Come on... come on...
00:20:48.82\00:20:52.04
because... those
days... the light turned on...
00:20:52.08\00:20:55.18
and it was about being
faithful... having perseverance
00:20:55.26\00:20:58.76
and having someone that stood
right in the clutch with me
00:20:58.80\00:21:02.26
got in the clutch
with me... and said...
00:21:02.30\00:21:04.31
"I refuse to allow you to fail,
and you're not going back home
00:21:04.34\00:21:07.81
we are not going
to let that happen...
00:21:07.85\00:21:09.12
we are going to get
you to where you should go
00:21:09.15\00:21:11.01
so that you can be successful.
" That is so rich Dr. Clark...
00:21:11.04\00:21:15.53
that is so rich...
you had a crisis at that
00:21:15.56\00:21:19.06
black board... and had
you not had a caring Counselor
00:21:19.10\00:21:25.49
a mentor... that...
kind of took you by the hand
00:21:25.53\00:21:29.28
and said... "You're
not going to quit. "
00:21:29.32\00:21:30.66
and he identified the problem...
the problem was reading...
00:21:30.69\00:21:34.74
and once that
problem was addressed...
00:21:34.77\00:21:37.32
God just... you know...
God opened that up to you
00:21:37.36\00:21:40.41
so that you saw what the
problem was... and then you
00:21:40.44\00:21:43.45
just soared... and
praise God for that...
00:21:43.49\00:21:46.91
because... you went from
that 1 point something GPA
00:21:46.94\00:21:51.71
to a 3.9... which
is just about a 4.0...
00:21:51.74\00:21:55.92
which is tremendous
00:21:55.96\00:21:58.24
praise the Lord for that...
and so now... here you are...
00:21:58.27\00:22:02.47
as the Head of this
School and I know that
00:22:02.50\00:22:06.78
you see
children who are like you
00:22:06.82\00:22:09.79
tell us about that...
tell us about your School.
00:22:09.82\00:22:12.97
My School is Richard
Wright Public Charter School
00:22:13.00\00:22:16.07
for Journalism and Media
Arts and I see... basically 80%
00:22:16.11\00:22:20.19
of my kids are just like
me... 80% of these kids are
00:22:20.23\00:22:24.04
coming in reading 3-
and-4-grade levels behind
00:22:24.08\00:22:27.06
by the time we get them...
80% of these kids come there
00:22:27.09\00:22:31.44
with, you know, in areas
of the city that are known
00:22:31.48\00:22:35.36
for poor Public School
education many of these kids
00:22:35.40\00:22:39.24
are just striving to
have something positive
00:22:39.28\00:22:42.58
happen for them... and so...
I am able to relate to them
00:22:42.62\00:22:47.21
and I don't hide the
story... that's why I said...
00:22:47.25\00:22:51.33
it's a blessing...
and sometimes folks don't
00:22:51.37\00:22:54.11
understand that...
like when you miss a step
00:22:54.14\00:22:56.62
and you remain
somewhere for an extra year...
00:22:56.65\00:22:59.06
your time is being ordered...
that verse in Proverbs
00:22:59.10\00:23:02.52
which I love...
"My steps are ordered"
00:23:02.56\00:23:04.10
so, I know the fact that,
you know, sometimes your steps
00:23:04.13\00:23:08.12
are there for you to go through
00:23:08.16\00:23:09.78
so you can arrive at
the place that you need to
00:23:09.82\00:23:12.01
and so I share my
story with my kids so
00:23:12.05\00:23:14.69
I've been able to
help many kids because
00:23:14.73\00:23:16.91
I'm sharing my
story because they say,
00:23:16.94\00:23:19.05
"Hey, you know
Doc... I didn't know that...
00:23:19.08\00:23:21.43
that was your
story... I didn't know that
00:23:21.47\00:23:23.74
that's what happened
with you, that's how I feel
00:23:23.78\00:23:26.18
how can we work...
what are you going to do?"
00:23:26.22\00:23:28.55
and I'm saying to those
kids just like that Counselor
00:23:28.58\00:23:30.73
said to me... "I
will get you to College
00:23:30.76\00:23:33.08
if you listen... I
will get you to College
00:23:33.12\00:23:35.37
if you're willing to work
hard, I will get you to College
00:23:35.40\00:23:38.43
if you would do
what I'm telling you
00:23:38.46\00:23:40.63
like Dr. Wilson told me
and if I give you a tutor
00:23:40.67\00:23:43.23
you go see that tutor...
if I give you extra work...
00:23:43.26\00:23:45.79
you do the extra work
and we'll work together
00:23:45.82\00:23:48.48
to get you to a
place... my kids are phenomenal
00:23:48.52\00:23:51.10
and so... we created journalism
and media arts as our theme
00:23:51.14\00:23:54.93
because one... I could address
the issue with reading...
00:23:54.97\00:23:58.73
which was a major thing for
me because if you can't read...
00:23:58.76\00:24:01.36
you can't do anything...
the second thing is...
00:24:01.40\00:24:04.13
if we did journalism...
I would make you write...
00:24:04.16\00:24:06.85
so you would have to
use your reading skills
00:24:06.89\00:24:09.33
to research in order
to be able to find out
00:24:09.37\00:24:11.77
what you're going
to put on paper...
00:24:11.81\00:24:13.43
and learn how to
write... so if you can read...
00:24:13.47\00:24:15.67
and you can write...
the next thing you will be
00:24:15.71\00:24:17.88
able to do... we
work on your speaking
00:24:17.91\00:24:19.36
because if you can
read, write and speak...
00:24:19.40\00:24:21.53
then you can
advocate for yourself...
00:24:21.56\00:24:23.34
and you could actually do
what the African proverb says
00:24:23.38\00:24:26.83
"It takes a whole
village... to raise a child... "
00:24:26.86\00:24:28.28
so that means you
will be reaching back...
00:24:28.32\00:24:30.40
to grab individuals
to put them in a place
00:24:30.43\00:24:32.45
that is... is great... and
that you're going to change
00:24:32.49\00:24:35.12
the Community one
student at a time...
00:24:35.16\00:24:37.39
and so... this Media Arts
thing, we put that on a twist
00:24:37.43\00:24:41.58
because all the kids
are excited about Media...
00:24:41.61\00:24:43.64
so if I can wrap
you around with that
00:24:43.68\00:24:45.80
and put in some reading
and writing... ah man...
00:24:45.83\00:24:48.46
I got a student
that is... a bomb...
00:24:48.50\00:24:51.87
I mean this kid's
going to change the Community
00:24:51.91\00:24:53.81
there's nothing you are going
to be able to say to my kids
00:24:53.85\00:24:56.39
because they're going
to be armed and dangerous
00:24:56.43\00:24:58.78
in a positive manner...
their minds are going to be set
00:24:58.82\00:25:01.81
that energy
level is going to be up
00:25:01.85\00:25:04.34
and there's nothing
that you're going to be...
00:25:04.37\00:25:06.05
you're not going to
ever be able to out-work them
00:25:06.09\00:25:07.61
I tell my staff...
you can't out-work me...
00:25:07.64\00:25:09.39
I get up at 3:30 in the
morning and I don't leave work
00:25:09.42\00:25:12.15
till 7 at night...
you can't outwork me...
00:25:12.18\00:25:14.20
and that's what I want
our kids to be able to do...
00:25:14.24\00:25:17.37
That's tremendous Dr.
Clark... you are the poster boy
00:25:17.41\00:25:20.50
for Dare to
Dream... you know that right?
00:25:20.54\00:25:23.55
you are the... You
know... and I appreciate
00:25:23.58\00:25:26.52
the compliment... you know...
but what I just want to be
00:25:26.56\00:25:29.66
is a blessing to everybody
that has the same challenge
00:25:29.70\00:25:32.77
what I really want
is my story to change
00:25:32.80\00:25:35.66
someone else's
life... I am thankful that
00:25:35.70\00:25:38.48
I made it through this journey,
so that I can be able to help
00:25:38.52\00:25:42.66
others make it through the
same journey that I, you know,
00:25:42.69\00:25:46.00
trudged my way through...
because it was very difficult
00:25:46.04\00:25:49.31
and there were a
lot of tears that I shed
00:25:49.35\00:25:51.21
to get to this moment...
Yes, I'm sure... I'm sure...
00:25:51.25\00:25:55.21
and I'm so thankful that
you persevered and that now
00:25:55.25\00:25:59.18
you can reach back...
and help other young people
00:25:59.21\00:26:03.12
who are going
through what you went through
00:26:03.16\00:26:05.70
and you can give them a
safe environment in the School
00:26:05.73\00:26:08.87
and they can blossom
there and they can understand
00:26:08.91\00:26:11.74
who they are... and I
know it's a Public School
00:26:11.77\00:26:14.57
so you can't do
religious instruction
00:26:14.61\00:26:16.86
but I know that you
too... you have that assembly
00:26:16.90\00:26:20.53
tell us about that
assembly that you have...
00:26:20.57\00:26:22.68
Hey, listen... I smile when
you said, "No we can't do... "
00:26:22.71\00:26:24.78
you know... there's
a separation between
00:26:24.81\00:26:28.07
Church and State... but
what I will say is this...
00:26:28.10\00:26:31.31
when you come in our
building and we serve kids
00:26:31.34\00:26:34.26
from the most impoverished
wards in the district...
00:26:34.29\00:26:37.23
most schools in the
District... High Schools have
00:26:37.26\00:26:40.05
metal detectors...
they have police officers...
00:26:40.09\00:26:42.84
security guards...
we don't have that...
00:26:42.88\00:26:44.38
what we have is...
when you check in...
00:26:44.42\00:26:46.58
we don't wand you in
the morning with a wand
00:26:46.61\00:26:49.12
to see whether or
not you have a weapon...
00:26:49.16\00:26:51.42
what we do is... we
wand you to make sure
00:26:51.46\00:26:53.66
that you got that homework...
so you got to turn your homework
00:26:53.69\00:26:56.03
when you come in this building..
you line up.. with your homework
00:26:56.07\00:26:59.62
that's your pass entry and
your uniform is appropriate
00:26:59.66\00:27:02.89
that's how we do
it... the next thing is...
00:27:02.92\00:27:04.30
that we have a lot of
expectations for our kids
00:27:04.34\00:27:06.83
but not only do I teach the
kids that we have expectations
00:27:06.86\00:27:10.21
for them... but they
should have expectations for us
00:27:10.25\00:27:13.56
and so... it's about
them holding us accountable
00:27:13.59\00:27:16.62
just like we're
holding them accountable...
00:27:16.65\00:27:18.70
also, when you come into our...
we have a Community Meeting
00:27:18.74\00:27:22.28
every morning... because
I recognize that kids come
00:27:22.31\00:27:25.34
from some challenged situations,
and they need a moment
00:27:25.37\00:27:28.37
to transition... so
during our morning assembly...
00:27:28.40\00:27:31.98
we call it... Family Matters...
Dr. Clark, I want to hear more
00:27:32.01\00:27:36.06
about Family Matters and I
can't because our time is up...
00:27:36.10\00:27:40.11
you got to come
back... I will come back...
00:27:40.14\00:27:42.99
I'll be more than happy
to... Praise the Lord...
00:27:43.02\00:27:45.99
Thank you so much for everything
we really appreciate you
00:27:46.03\00:27:49.40
and all that you're
doing... Thank you too.
00:27:49.44\00:27:52.29
God bless you... I
don't know where our time
00:27:52.33\00:27:55.11
is gone... but... I
just want you to know
00:27:55.15\00:27:57.86
we appreciate your tuning
in... Join us next time...
00:27:57.89\00:28:00.73
It just wouldn't be
the same without you...
00:28:00.76\00:28:03.16