Extra Yard For Teachers
September 20, 2018 | Football, Trojan Outreach, Features
On Sept. 18, 2018, USC's Trojan Outreach program collaborated with the College Football Playoff Foundation's Extra Yard for Teachers campaign to surprise a local teacher with a $10,000 check.
USC hosted Valerie Doby – a teacher from Audubon Middle School from LAUSD – and 30 of her students for a USC tour experience. The tour ended at Heritage Hall where the students were provided lunch, shirts, football posters and prepared for a restorative justice workshop and Circle of Trust exercise led by Ms. Doby.
Ms. Doby practices her Circle of Trust exercise with her students as a means to address restorative justice, conflict resolution and self-healing with her students. When her students are asked around the circle as to why the concept of restorative justice is significant, many addressed the importance of resolving issues within themselves and their peers in an effort to resolve conflicts in their lives and grow as individuals. "Everything we need to make positive change is already here" expressed one of the students.
The students were also excited with the surprise of having current USC football student-athletes Jordan Austin and Daniel Imatorbhebhe join their Circle of Trust exercise and served as examples to the students.
The football players provided positive messages to the students that attended.
"Growing up I never thought it would be possible to go to college, but I am living proof that it is definitely possible," Austin said. "You should never be discouraged to attend college or a university because you think finances will be a barrier."
Students in the Circle of Trust also expressed that they want to attend college because they are first-generation students and want to make their families proud by being the first ones in their families to graduate from college and receive an education.
At the end of the Circle of Trust session, McCall Hall, director of Trojan Outreach, alongside players Austin and Imatorbhebhe, presented a check of $10,000 to Ms. Doby to continue assisting her incredible work with her middle school class. Ms. Doby received her B.A. from Cal State Dominguez Hills, a Master's degree from USC and has spent several years as an educator in the Los Angeles community.
To learn more about USC's work in the community, follow Trojan Outreach on Twitter and Instagram!
USC hosted Valerie Doby – a teacher from Audubon Middle School from LAUSD – and 30 of her students for a USC tour experience. The tour ended at Heritage Hall where the students were provided lunch, shirts, football posters and prepared for a restorative justice workshop and Circle of Trust exercise led by Ms. Doby.
Ms. Doby practices her Circle of Trust exercise with her students as a means to address restorative justice, conflict resolution and self-healing with her students. When her students are asked around the circle as to why the concept of restorative justice is significant, many addressed the importance of resolving issues within themselves and their peers in an effort to resolve conflicts in their lives and grow as individuals. "Everything we need to make positive change is already here" expressed one of the students.
The students were also excited with the surprise of having current USC football student-athletes Jordan Austin and Daniel Imatorbhebhe join their Circle of Trust exercise and served as examples to the students.
The football players provided positive messages to the students that attended.
"Growing up I never thought it would be possible to go to college, but I am living proof that it is definitely possible," Austin said. "You should never be discouraged to attend college or a university because you think finances will be a barrier."
Students in the Circle of Trust also expressed that they want to attend college because they are first-generation students and want to make their families proud by being the first ones in their families to graduate from college and receive an education.
At the end of the Circle of Trust session, McCall Hall, director of Trojan Outreach, alongside players Austin and Imatorbhebhe, presented a check of $10,000 to Ms. Doby to continue assisting her incredible work with her middle school class. Ms. Doby received her B.A. from Cal State Dominguez Hills, a Master's degree from USC and has spent several years as an educator in the Los Angeles community.
To learn more about USC's work in the community, follow Trojan Outreach on Twitter and Instagram!
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