THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 23, 1995 TAG: 9503220140
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
SCHOOL DAYS BEGIN early and end late for Vanessa Harris and Ronald C. ``Ron'' Thomas.
Because of their outstanding community service, they were presented awards by the Suffolk chapter of the NAACP.
Harris, a teacher at John Yeates Middle School, coaches boys' basketball, the girls' drill team and the boys' step team. That means working every afternoon and often on Saturdays. Harris also tutors during her planning period.
``The kids need something to occupy their time, . . . somebody who will take the time,'' Harris said. ``Each child has a different problem. If they say, `Miss Harris, I have to talk,' I take the time.''
Thomas, home/school coordinator for Suffolk Public Schools, begins work before dawn. On call from 6:45 to 10 a.m., Thomas may be asked to mediate a problem at a school bus stop or to make an emergency call to a school or a student's home. He gets up to 20 calls daily and makes three to eight visits to homes each day.
``I help with behavior problems and chronic truancy,'' Thomas said. ``I also do mentorships at the elementary schools. Some students have no male role model. I show them that I care . . . they can see you care, and their attitudes change.''
Harris and Thomas encourage students to study, learn self-discipline and remain in school.
``It's rewarding work,'' Thomas said. ``I want to give something back to the young folk. I want to see them improve.''
Both Suffolk natives, Harris and Thomas are graduates of John F. Kennedy High School.
Harris studied music education at Elizabeth City State University, received an associate degree in mortuary science at Gupton Jones Mortuary College in Atlanta, and a bachelor's degree in education at Norfolk State University.
Harris, who is single, works as a freelance embalmer throughout Hampton Roads.
``Someday, I would like to own my own funeral home,'' she said.
A jazz musician, she works as a deejay in her spare time. She has taught reading, language arts and social studies at John Yeates for the past three years.
``The kids asked me if I would lead the drill teams,'' Harris said. ``I told them . . . if they could follow the rules, I'd help them. In order to learn complicated steps, you have to have discipline.''
The rules include maintaining a C average and having no disciplinary referrals. After being quizzed by a student panel and following instructions for two weeks to improve memory and responsibility, the students are inducted into the teams by a local sorority and fraternity in a formal ceremony.
The drill teams have marched in the Azalea Festival Parade and performed at the Celebrity Tennis Tournament in Norfolk.
Thomas, a graduate of Fayetteville State University, has taught classes and coached tennis, football and basketball in several Suffolk schools. He instituted Tomorrow's Thunder, a basketball program for at-risk students at Forest Glen High School.
In the evenings, Thomas works with the Night Alternative Program at John F. Kennedy.
``The program allows students to get credits and return to school the next September,'' he said.
Students are not allowed to talk, play or pass notes. ``We work diligently on manners and self-respect,'' he said.
Thirty-six students, all from Suffolk schools, attend.
Thomas and his wife, Barbara, are the parents of three children - Shalonda, Ronald Jr., and Sharonda. Thomas also has three grown step-children - Felicia, Norman and Vontrice Ruffin. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Ronald C. Thomas, above, home/school coordinator for Suffolk Public
Schools,
Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Vanessa Harris, left, a teacher at John Yeates Middle School, have
been honored by the NAACP for their community service.
by CNB