May, 2023
By Angelica Vazquez, Staff Reporter
Teacher Kadron Johnson is well known around the Collegiate, not only as the basketball coach but also because he teaches AP Calculus. His students and players look up to him for everything he has taught them. Now “KJ,” as he is known, joins a group of beloved teachers leaving KAC at the end of the year. In his last days around school, he has been making his last memories with co-workers and students, and having a great time with everyone around him. The Cardinal Post talked with Johnson about his time at KAC, his plans for the future, and the legacy he wants to leave at the school. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Angelica Vazquez: “For how long have you been here at KAC?
Kadron Jonhson: “I have been working at KAC for seven years, and in the vast majority of roles. I started as the ISS monitor, and then I studied geometry that same year. And then I moved to Pre-Cal, and now I teach AP Calculus. And I’ve been coaching for quite a few years now as well. It’s been a really good experience, so I’ve enjoyed it.”
AV: “What made you decide to leave?”
KJ: “I’m just really trying to explore more opportunities. I’m recently finishing up my master’s degree in data analytics, so I’m trying to get into the field of actual data work, just really looking into IT data, anything in the source like that, and that’s kind of what pushed me to this decision.”
AV: “How do you feel knowing that you’re leaving?”
KJ: “This is definitely one of the hardest decisions to make, but I made this decision because I want to push myself to be the best possible. I’m always looking for ways to improve and get better, and I think that if I’m going to continue to push myself, then this is a step that I’ve got to take.”
AV: “What’s your next step after taking off?”
KJ: “For now, first and foremost is finding what’s next. I haven’t actually found a job just yet, but I think the process of looking and exploring has been interesting, and so whatever opportunity comes up, I’m definitely going to look into it to see where I can find the best fit.”
AV: “How was your experience as part of KAC staff?”
KJ: “Since the moment I walked on campus, I loved working at KAC. I love the students, I love the interaction with people, I love the co-workers, and the overall environment has been amazing. I want everybody to understand that I don’t take this decision lightly. I take this really seriously. The work I do here means a lot to me, and I just want to continue to grow and advance. I just hope that I left an impression and a mark on this school and that people remember the good times, the relationships, and the ups and downs.”
AV: “What have you learned about yourself while teaching or coaching?”
KJ: ”I’ve learned that I’m more resilient than I thought I was, and I have also pushed myself to become better. It has helped me to be more organized and oriented to just be more present and in front of people. I can remember when I first started here– I kind of struggled with just getting myself out there and understanding how to make myself approachable, but just through the time working with people and relationships. I just really need to give a shout out to Mr. Hill when he was here: he helped me a lot to become a better teacher, as did Ms. Gonzales, and I just appreciate them for pushing me and believing in me to get where I am. I wouldn’t be here without them, and I also just have to show love to Ms. Minde because she has always been in my corner, helping me a lot, and I just appreciate her for that.”
AV: “What would you like for those students you coach and teach to remember most about you?”
KJ: “I want them to remember the lessons that we learn over time: you’re going to make mistakes, continue to push, continue to try and drive yourself for better. And anything you want to achieve in this world, you can do it. But nothing comes to a person that just sits around and waits, you’ve got to go out and get it. So if you want to be successful, success doesn’t fall into your lap: go get it and make it happen.”
AV: “Around the school, we can see that you have a really good relationship with coworkers and students. How did you manage to do that? How can you advise others to also accomplish something similar for their future selves?”
KJ: “I think that relationship building is all about being yourself. If you take the time to show who you are, people gravitate to that. Many times people would try to put on a front, well you don’t have to put on a front people can see right through it. So coming in and understanding like imma be who I am and once you do that people gravitate towards that. And that’s what happens to students a lot, they can see that realness in a person and they’re like, “Alright well I see you being vulnerable I can be my real self with you as well.”
“And also understanding that not everything and not all the time do we know everything about students or teachers in general, so it’s just being personable and understanding. Like I’m listening to how students feel: how do they react and what they want to do. I think the most important thing is just be a listener and ask your students questions about what they want to do. What’s next for them? And try to engage those things in, as a kid sixteen- through eighteen- or however old you are, you are still growing and learning as a person so you might not know what’s next. And I want to embrace students with that unknown that it is okay not to know. There’s time to get it right, and I want people to understand that when you’re young, you’re going to make mistakes.
I try to encourage students by saying, “Hey, you made that mistake.” Now what happens? Well, how do you learn from this mistake so you don’t make it again. And if there’s one thing I want my students to take away from this is that you’re not going to remember a calculus equation in ten years, but in ten years you’ll remember the things you did in school. The fun you had.”
You’ll remember the people who made an impression on you and you’ll remember the small things, so that’s what I want to take away from my students that I really want to instill in them.
And I really want them to leave from here knowing how to take notes. Because when students go to college they don’t take notes very well, and one of the main things that I do is that I teach them how to take notes, so when they get to college that’s something they know how to do, and they don’t feel like ‘aight I’m overwhelmed with this.’
So those small two tips have really pushed me and that’s really what I want to be remembered for, just being the person who was always there for folks, who was always pushing people for better, and would always put a smile in someone’s else’s face, and who was always smiling as well. Because honestly, we never know what somebody has to go home to, so I wanna say that when I came to this place, they took me away from everything I was dealing with out of that.”
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