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Posted on Mon, Jan. 21, 2008 11:03 AM
Using his gifts, facing hurdles
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Everywhere he goes, Chris Bernard impresses.
The Northeast High School senior class president is a standout debater. He’s been picked for summer leadership programs at three colleges. He introduced fellow students to capoeira, a martial art disguised as dance that originated with African slaves in Brazil.
“I wanted to introduce a culture in the school that wasn’t there,” Chris said.
That’s a feat at his Kansas City School District high school, a crucible for immigrants and first-generation graduates.
Chris’ mother, Karen Bernard, dropped out of high school and worked full-time while studying for her GED. A barista at Crown Center, she and her son live near Northeast High, in a rented house filled with newspapers, magazines and Chris’ many awards.
Chris’ dream is to study engineering and work for NASA. But for all his gifts and initiative, he is less prepared for college than he should be.
His high school has lacked rigorous courses and a systematic process for helping students apply to colleges.
Northeast introduced advanced placement courses only last year. Chris has acquired no college credits. Alarmingly, for a student aspiring to study engineering, he is taking no science courses in his senior year.
Kansas City Superintendent Anthony Amato ordered ACT prep classes in the district’s high schools last year. More schools are offering advanced courses, and some teachers are being trained to help students with the admissions process.
But Amato acknowledged, “We’re not anywhere near the intensity and the passion that we need to have to make sure every student gets to college.”
Recognizing Chris’ potential, adults have volunteered as mentors. A math teacher, Jonathan Stewart, spent hours tutoring Chris for his ACT test. A former teacher, Barbara Johnson, has helped with college applications.
Chris has applied to the University of Missouri-Rolla and the University of New Mexico. As a backup, he’s applying to area community colleges.
The best advice to Chris comes from his mom. Always, Karen Bernard has told her son, “go everywhere, do anything, speak up where you can, be a part of whatever you can.”
Posted on Mon, Jan. 21, 2008 11:03 AM
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