It’s not easy being a teacher in the United States. Heavy workloads and scarce resources stretch even the most dedicated teachers thin. Add unwilling, or even violent students to the mix, and it’s no wonder nearly half of all new teachers quit within five years. But one teacher came up with a unique solution for a problem student. And her solution changed four lives with three words, “teacher adopts student.”

The Teacher

Twenty-four-year-old Chelsea Haley wanted to change the world. And she was well on her way. While a student at the University of Georgia, she served as the chair of the College Republicans. Eventually, she became an intern on Capitol Hill. It was while sitting in on meetings about educational policy that Haley found her calling. After graduating, she joined Teach for America.

Teach for America places high achieving college graduates in high needs schools in rural and inner-city areas. Sort of like a domestic Peace Corps, only strictly for education. Haley ended up in a high poverty elementary school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Image CC0, by Gratisography, via Pexels.

The Student

Jerome Robinson had a difficult life. Not only was he being raised in poverty, but in a short period of time, he had tragically lost both his stepfather and his little sister. Jerome, his mother, and his newborn brother, Jace, spent a lot of time moving around. They lived with Jerome’s grandparents on and off. Their mother tried hard, but the family never seemed to catch a break. This perfect storm of poverty, tragedy, and instability would be difficult for anyone. But for a fourth-grade boy, they were unbearable. And Jerome’s behavior and schoolwork were suffering. He was failing his classes and getting suspended.

While Haley was teaching at her school, other teachers would send Jerome to her classroom to do his work. His behavior was so bad that Haley almost quit her position and left teaching forever. And yet, Haley and Jerome somehow bonded. Haley was the only one who could calm him down when he became disruptive. And the only one who could get him to do his school work. Other teachers and the school administration noticed their special connection. The school even asked Haley to stay on as a teacher after her two-year commitment with Teach for America ended. “For Jerome,” they said.

But that’s not the end of the story.

The Solution

One night that October, Haley said, God came to her in a dream. In the dream, Haley said God “called her into motherhood.” Specifically, she was to be Jerome’s mother. Haley laughed out loud and went back to sleep.
“I never thought I would be a single mom at 24,” Haley told CNN in the video below. “Especially of two boys, one of which was my twelve-year-old student.”

But the next day at school, the teacher said she was overcome with a profound, peaceful feeling while Jerome sat alone with her taking a test. And then Jerome asked Haley if he could live with her.

Later, Haley went to dinner with Jerome, Jace and their mother. Haley explained she was finishing her third year at the school and planned to return to Georgia. “You can go back,” the boys’ mother told Haley. “But I want you to take Jerome and Jace with you.”

Where Are They Now?

Haley agreed to adopt the boys. In December of 2015, she filed for permanent custody of Jerome. A little while later, she filed papers to adopt Jace, too.
Haley told CNN, “You have to be 12 years older than somebody to obtain custody of them, and I am 12 years and three months older than him.”
The teacher had saved money for her own retirement. But she took out the money and used it for a down payment on a house for herself and the boys. Now age 26, Haley is teaching at a middle school in Marietta, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta.As for Jerome, he’s doing better than ever. Jerome Robinson is now in the eighth grade. He’s made the honor roll every quarter and hasn’t had any suspensions. In fact, both boys are thriving.”I always knew I wanted to be a mom and I wouldn’t trade this for anything,” Haley said.

How You Can Get Involved

Teach for America places recent college graduates in two year teaching positions at high needs schools around the country. If you think you might want to teach with Teach for America, you can read more about it at their website. If that’s not your interest, you can donate to Teach for America. In addition, you can help to support individual teachers and specific projects at DonorsChoose.org.

In Conclusion

It’s easy to forget how difficult teaching actually is. A good teacher can make all the difference. Sometimes they can even save a life.

 

Featured Image CC0, via Pixabay.

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