Hello Mr. Carmen Garner
“Why Are You Active in the Academic Life of Your Child?”
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@ThatToThis

From That To This written and illustrated by Mr. Carmen Garner. DCPS Teacher writes powerful memoir to empower at-risk teens and tweens. Teacher/Author/Speaker

As part of the 2017 National Men Make A Difference Day For Academic Success campaign Forest Of The Rain Productions encourages fathers and significant male figures in the lives of children to Turn 1 Day of Engagement  Into a Lifetime of Involvement and to take part in National Men Make A Difference Day For Academic Success on October 9, 2017. 

Dr. Mike Robinson: Why have you taken an active role in your child/children’s education? 
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Carmen Garner: My early childhood of growing up in crack houses shaped my perception of life. It made me fight to be the opposite of what surrounded me. I have seen many traumatizing events that made me grow up fast. I chose to make better decisions. I chose to attend and graduate high school, and then college.  I have learned with an education anything is possible, this is the reason I push education so strongly on my child.

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What are the benefits to you, your child and the family because you are an active part in their education? 

I try to lead by example, success breeds success.  If I am presenting the fruits of labor, my son will hopefully take on that attitude.

What words of encouragement do you share with your children to them to do their best in school? 

Constantly I tell my son about the 3's as we call them.  We practice taking on Responsibility, Respect and having Integrity.  

What advice would you offer parents, but especially fathers and other significant male roles in the life of a child about why or how they should become in their child’s education? 

I advise parents to invest in their kids minds, not their feet. I advise along with my good friend Kevin Green CEO of Seeds of A Father, to have presence in their kids life instead of offering Presents.  I constantly Pray with my son, I offer my love, and most importantly I'm exposing him to positivity.