Emily Barbee, Assistant Principal at 52nd Street Elementary School, LAUSD says,
“A 3rd grade girl was often leaving the classroom, getting into fights with peers. Because of some of the things that were going on in her life, she had a really hard time just getting through the day. It might be a fight with peers, it might be a fight with a teacher, definitely walking out of class throughout the day, needing breaks a lot. She was able to participate in the girls’ basketball league and now she’s a part of the Junior Coach program. There has been a huge difference in her behavior. It’s few and far between that she has any conflict. She’s staying in the classroom all day. I think that she has a sense of pride for being part of the girls’ basketball team, now becoming a Junior Coach, but I also think it’s the connection and the mentorship that Coach Hoops has provided for her. This has played a big role for her—having that mentor and that relationship with Coach Hoops has been really impactful for her.”
