Barriers to Bridges

“Anger to Advocacy” with Dr.Reggie Thompkins

Episode Summary

In this episode we learn the story of how Dr.Reggie Thompkins grew up experiencing poverty in the projects. Anger fueled his success, but it was sports and education that truly served as a restorative function in his life. He currently serves Corona Norco Unified School District as the Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Support.

Episode Notes

Topics of discussion in this episode:

Growing up in with a single mom in poverty
Doing well in school with the mindset that he wanted a different lifestyle
Growing up in a crime-stricken neighborhood
Being a tight-knit community
Going to a school on the west side
Being called a racist slur and his friends standing up for him
Racial bias in grading and expectations
Finding sports in middle school
He remembers teachers and coach’s names that touched his life
Splitting up his senior class
How his experience influences how he works with families
Played basketball in college at Cal State San Bernardino
The importance of sports for engagement
Reflecting back on how hard it was for her mother
Talking back and being a teenager
Reflecting on his mother - mental illness and being raised in the South
Working at Stater Bros and how Bob Molina pushed him to do more
Coaching and becoming a PE Teacher
Becoming an assistant principal
Standard discipline practices and reflecting on being true to your values
Interesting fashion choices
Doing what is best for kids AND the adults who work with kids
Kids with behave badly when they don’t feel safe
Being scared to be a principal and receiving full support from his superintendent
Being collaborative with your staff
Understanding all students
Supporting all kids
Shifting mindsets and societal norms
Suspensions and changing behaviors
Kids who are engaged in sports
His service in CIF and supporting cheerleading becoming a sport
Boys and Girls Club

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https://www.bgca.org/

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