THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, April 1, 1996 TAG: 9604010063
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
For the past two years, Richard Robertson couldn't find a reason to stay in school.
So, he dropped out. Twice.
``I was rebelling,'' the 18-year-old Oscar Smith High School freshman said.
``I just wanted to do what I wanted to do. And that wasn't going to school.''
But Robertson has found a reason to return - and stay - through guidance counselor Michael Todd Nelson, and Nelson's unique basketball program, called Tomorrow's Thunder.
Nelson, who claims many successes like Robertson, was recently named a 1996 Reader's Digest American Hero in Education for the program. As one of 10 educators in the country recognized through the program, he has gained national attention for tackling the critical problems facing America's schools.
``When I started it, I wanted to make a difference. I wanted the students to know I cared about them,'' said Nelson, 33.
``I didn't plan on it being this popular, winning this honor and getting on national TV, CNN.''
The Reader's Digest recognition comes with a $5,000 prize for Nelson and a $10,000 check for the school, much of which will be invested into Tomorrow's Thunder.
Nelson began the program at the high school seven years ago while still a graduate student at Regent University, after he was asked to develop a program for students who were at risk of dropping out.
``I thought, `` `God, you've got to help me with this,' '' Nelson said.
``Within a half-hour it came to me.''
The program, for males only, uses basketball as an incentive. Students can play hoops in the Tomorrow's Thunder league if they do well in class.
Teams play twice a week during lunch periods and receive weekly evaluations from their teachers, who monitor attendance, promptness, behavior, homework and classwork. The players gain points for good evaluations and winning games. Unexcused absences, suspensions, or negative reports from teachers get players kicked off the league.
Scores from the evaluations and games are combined, and high scores move the teams to playoffs and championship games.
``The focus is on character and how they improve themselves in the classroom. The kids only touch the basketball 20 minutes a week,'' Nelson said.
``We're looking at work ethic, attitude, perseverance. . . . Some kids give their best and get an A. Some kids give their best and will get a C even though they tried just as hard, many times harder.
``The educational system doesn't recognize that. . . . But we do.''
Players are assigned faculty members who serve as mentors. Mentors meet each week with the students to evaluate their progress.
Faculty members and students have noticed a difference.
``I've seen a change in attitude,'' said Oscar Smith English teacher Brian Wasko, who nominated Nelson for the award.
``Students have an extra motivation.''
Senior Kenny Smith was making C's and D's when he joined as a freshman. He now earns A's and B's.
``I've seen guys who couldn't stand each other work together on a team and become friends,'' Smith said.
``You wear your `Tomorrow's Thunder' T-shirt in the hallway, people give you respect, they look up to you.''
The program is so successful that Indian River Middle and Great Bridge High schools have adopted the program. There's a waiting list of students who want to join the 84-spot league, and he's had to develop a leadership team of juniors and seniors, to recognize players who've advanced in classwork and demonstrated leadership abilities.
The leadership team is responsible for the equipment, refereeing games and keeping track of scores. The young men also have become mentors to nearby Crestwood Intermediate School students.
``We talk to them about their problems, asking them about what's going on at home, how we can help,'' Smith said.
``It's cool. I never thought I would be doing something like this, you know what I'm saying? It's great.''
Nelson said, ``The motto, `The roar in the halls today will be the thunder in the world tomorrow,' is so true.''
``What that thunder will actually be will have to be defined. We have to make it a positive influence.'' ILLUSTRATION: Oscar Smith High School counselor Todd Nelson was named a
Reader's Digest American Hero in Education for his Tomorrow's
Thunder program.
GARY C. KNAPP
Todd Nelson, a counselor at Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake,
monitors students as school lets out. Nelson pioneered Tomorrow's
Thunder, a basketball program for students at risk of dropping out,
while a graduate student at Regent University.
by CNB