By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Cassopolis Vigilant
CASSOPOLIS -- The students at Sam Adams Elementary School look up to their prevention specialist, Hiawatha Francisco. As he is a former University of Notre Dame football player, they probably won't try to fight him either.
Since Francisco has come on the scene this past fall, even those who were near to failing have brought up their grades.
He gives them personal one on one attention during recess detention, helping them with homework.
Francisco is also bringing the teachers closer together with a weekly breakfast. "It's fun and they enjoy coming to work," he said.
As "dean of discipline," Francisco hopes to educate the parents also on what is expected of the students, both protection and respect.
Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, and a 1987 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Francisco has been the behavior specialist at Sam Adams since November, when a friend told him about the opening.
When the student council started collecting money, from their piggy banks, asking at church and other means, for a giving project, Francisco stepped in with a great group prize.
Two fourth grade classes which raised almost the same amount, Mrs. Deb Stermer and Mrs. Billie Snow's classes, will be going to visit the University of Notre Dame for a day.
Francisco will take the students on a tour of the ACC and they may meet the athletic director and some present football players.
February was "Love of Cassopolis," said Desiree Mooney, Title 1, and in charge of the council.