Chavez Excelling Despite Odds

Ron Bailey, Publisher

November 27, 2007 – Washington, D.C.’s charter school effort – publicly financed, alternatively administered elementary and high schools, separate in many ways from the DC Public School System – is at a saturation level never before seen in America, as around a 100 of these institutions exist in the Capital City.

As do traditional high schools, many of these relative newcomers to the educational scene provide students sports program, with basketball being a chief offering. And as with anything, problems exist.

“The Charter League is run terribly” opined Cesar Chavez School Public Charter Schools for Public Policy, Dean of Students and assistant basketball coach, Malcolm Battle. “Other schools are constantly pilfering players”.

In Battle’s view, the constant flux of institutions defecting and being added to league play, the resulting uneven competition, and unchallenging team schedules influence this talent drain.

Markee Mazyck (20) and Ronnell Henderson practice shooting during an informal shootaround.

The education and sports professional went on to share Chavez’ remedies for this malaise, while also sharing the fact 90% of his student body are deemed income-eligible for the National School Lunch Program, and the fact many of the school’s young people arrive with significant academic deficiencies.

From an athletic perspective the program, led by head coach Darryl Singleton, augments its league schedule with a challenging out of conference slate. “We’ve come a long way” said Battle. “We’ve upgraded the schedule to provide our kids competition and exposure”, and along the way keep them interested in Chavez’ program. Furthermore, skill development is a constant refrain by Singleton, Battle, et al, with a culture existing where not only do student-athletes participate in informal, voluntary, individual workouts, but fundementals are stressed in official practices.

After a season in which Chavez went 20-2 in route to the Charter School League title, this year the school has extra-conference match ups with not only league defectors Kima and Friendship Edison, but also DCIAA power Cardozo, WCAC upstart St. Mary’s Ryken (MD), and Baltimore prep mainstay, Gilman. Additionally, the Barrie School’s (MD) Turkey Shootout, St. Alban’s (DC) pre-Holiday tourney, and a post Christmas confab in Salisbury, MD have/will be participated in. Other scheduling opportunities remain possiblities.

Academic challenges are being addressed via longer school days and mandatory summer school, not just for the school’s basketball players but for much of the student body as well. In doing so, academic remediation can be effectuated.

The team is well situated to not only repeat as conference champs, but tackle their beefed up schedule. Leading the charge is 6’4” sophomore Markee Mazyck, the favorite to be charter school player of the year, who shared he dropped around 20 points, eight rebounds, and three assists per contest, last season.

Antonio Wilkerson, is here defending Peter Woods.

Assisting Mazyck are junior, 6’2” swing man, forward Antonio Wilkerson, fellow third year classified players, Aaron Perry and Ronnell Henderson - a 5’10” point guard and 6’2” forward respectively - along with senior 5’10” guard Tywon Easter. Sophomore 6’0” guard Peter Woods will also be called upon to contribute.

While not perfect, the basketball program at Chavez is pushing forward, despite a slew of challenges. In addition to acting upon Battle’s suggestion of “maybe having an A & B league”, thereby eliminating some of the lopsided contests that benefit neither participating school, other charter schools, both fledgling and established, would do well to follow Chavez’ blueprint; more challenging team schedules, academic support, and constant skill development.

Across the school’s three campuses scattered in three different quadrants of the city – two of which house members of the basketball program, necessitating unusual travel for some students just to attend practice – good things are happening. One day, hopefully soon, the state of the art gym at the Parkside (NE) facility will be rocking with fan and student support, as it should.