Real stories, as told by Latoya Dixon, principal at Mount Gallant Elementary

The following stories of real students were told by Latoya Dixon, principal at Mount Gallant Elementary School. She's a self-proclaimed child advocate who rose from getting free school lunches in a single-parent home because some people in her life answered “yes” to the question “Is it good for the children?” when she was growing up.

Education matters

Kendrick, a second-grade student classified as in need of special education services, didn't turn in his homework, and often visited Principal Latoya Dixon's office.

“If you're an elementary school student and don't have homework done or papers signed, then you don't have a willing adult at home to sit beside you and call out social studies terms for the test,” Dixon said.

Kendrick's mother had never reached high school. She had some math skills, but not much reading. Kendrick joined Dixon's Knight's Breakfast Club, which sets aside time before school in the library to study and do homework. Teachers found that Kendrick is much smarter than he was classified.

Now a fourth grader, he's no longer a special-ed student, and he studies and does homework at home.

“Kendrick is my success story,” Dixon said. “It's unreal for a child to grow so much. I believe because he's in an environment that helps him.”

Alcohol hurts

Three siblings, all good students, came into school one day looking a little disheveled.

Dixon asked one, Elizabeth, if anything was wrong.

“Dad drank a case of beer last night,” Elizabeth told Dixon. She also said her father had woken the three children in the middle of the night, saying it was time to get up for school, when it wasn't.

“Our children are aware of the things that go on around them every day,” Dixon said.

Abuse reported

Last year a student came to see Dixon and showed her his hand, which was double the size of the other hand. He had bruises, and said he was spanked the night before.

Dixon called the nurse and the Department of Social Services.

The boy's mom came in the next day unhappy about the call to social services. But later, the mom admitted that she was in an abusive relationship and that the child had gotten between the parents as they were fighting.

“The mom said I saved her life,” Dixon said. “…We are committed and called to do our part. To provide an opportunity to produce a safe and better environment for the children.”