Millwood School - Jimmy Phillips
As a father and a teacher, Jimmy has devoted his life to working with young people. Knowing that students arrive to school with many different needs, and taking notice of the fighting, suspensions, and students not feeling heard, Jimmy created a mentoring program that would give Middle School students someone to talk to who would listen without judgment. Targeting students with office referrals for behavior and discipline issues, the Memorial Mentors program focuses on conflict resolution, problem solving, respect, integrity, peer pressure, communication, and offering opportunities to experience new things. After just the first year, Jimmy is able to report a 73% decrease on office referrals, suspensions, and fights, as well as grades improving.
When Jimmy met Possibilities at the Oklahoma A+ Schools conference, he was immediately attracted to the balloon animals and hats from Possibilities’ booth. He took a chance, and became a participant in Possibilities Innovation Program. Jimmy says working with Possibilities has opened his eyes to what “family” could be like from “outside of the box.” He immediately noticed that Possibilities “talks the talk and walks the walk,” and appreciated the reliability, commitment, and the willingness of someone from outside the community being willing to help.
Possibilities had the opportunity to regularly facilitate the Memorial Mentors class, and assisted Jimmy, other campers, teachers, and the Memorial Mentor students to create a community carnival in the school to help build community within and outside of the school. Through that process, Jimmy was so pleased to see what the students could accomplish, and was thankful that Possibilities’ process allowed the students to feel it was about them. In fact, it was about the students; they designed and carried out their own ideas to make the carnival a success. More than 700 attended, and the students earned the appreciation of the entire school. Jimmy feels bright about the future, and looks forward to the day his students lead our country with compassion and know-how to be
