put me in coach!
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BY JAMAL DOATY
“Team work makes the dream work” (John C. Maxwell).
My name is Jamal Doaty and I'm from the great state of Georgia, also known as Bulldog country, and I will be working with the middle school boys in the After School Program. Also you will hear a lot of parents call me the "The New Coach Justin" - what an honor! - or "Doaty". I have really big shoes to fill following Justin Hampton's departure to Harvard University for graduate school. I can say that before his departure he really prepared me to understand the program tools and to build relationships with the kids. I knew his transition was going to be tough for a lot of the kids, especially as I remind them daily I'm not Coach Justin, but I will do my best to prepare them for this tough thing we call life.
I started with CGM as a teacher working with 3rd - 5th grade last September. It was a blast to work with the younger kids. At the beginning of the new year I interned with CGM, helping all the way through the summer working with the team of college interns that ran the Summer Camp. With the new school year I officially took over Coach Justin's position in the After School Program.
I have around 40 boys in program, and we are now partnered with the new private school, Valiant Cross. Brothers Fred and Anthony Brock are the two men who started the process of the new school. They are really great supporters who often let me know we are trying to run a program of excellence.
One of the first things on my agenda is to bring back the CGM basketball team; I think that with this area it will really give the boys a chance to participate in an organized team setting. "The greater the loyalty of a group toward the group, the greater is the motivation among the members to achieve the goals of the group, and the greater the probability that the group will achieve its goals" (Rensis Likert). We have a lot of goals to achieve in the After School Program, some of our main focuses are activities that emphasis leadership, goal-setting, community, personal accountability, tolerance, honesty, and courage.
The middle school boys program will help with one-on-one tutoring to help increase reading levels. We will tutor every day except Friday as Fridays are reserved for trips or games or other activities.
I'm very excited and blessed to be a part of such a great team, and to have this opportunity of pouring into the youth. Whoever thought stepping out in faith and truly trusting in the Lord to guide your steps you would be doing something that is honoring to the Lord AND having the best time of your life!
Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to serve your kids.
