Teaching jazz in a New Orleans middle school is not the only thing that Sam Venable does. He invests in students' lives. Getting the attention of restless kids isn't easy, but he instills the motivation to achieve in his students, which translates down the road to high school graduates and future success. The school administration even puts students in Venable's classes when they're troubled and heading down the wrong path because they know he's got a track record for 360-turnarounds. How does he do this? He looks for hidden talent in students and fosters that talent with plenty of verbal commendation. He builds them up with encouragement and positive attention.
Read more about Venable at NPR Education or
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