WATCH THE TRAILER BELOW
First, the Recap:
To experience a specific reality, assess an evident need, then take the actions necessary to make a change. Each and every day, we all most likely encounter SOME form of this, witnessing things that truly require adjustment in order to improve and be made better. However, it remains the most challenging part to actually MOVE forward in being someone to INITIATE said change. We battle an almost innate sense of “What if I fail?”, “How can I even DO this?”, or “This is beyond my capability to achieve.”
Yet, there are those who, instead, fully embrace the storm, simply work hard to SEE the path through, and become a catalyst for transformation that not only affects their own lives, but more importantly, OTHERS’ lives in a manner that could alter their futures with dramatic results. In the town of Gainesville, FL, on its impoverished East side, there stood Duval Elementary school. Struggling with the actuality of a failing system, teacher Gloria Jean Merriex took it upon herself to be that force for revision and redesign. This is her story.
Next, my Mind:
Indelibly inspiring, compelling in its messages about the state of today’s youth, wholeheartedly immersed in what it is for ONE person to initiate a paradigm shift in educational accomplishment, and simply an illustration of basic human connection, this new 86-minute indie documentary feature film from writer/director/producer/editor/cinematographer/composer Boaz Dvir, producers Matt Einstein and Emil Pinnock, plus associate producers Nina Gortinski and Seth Schurman (who also helped in Editing as well) is a one hundred percent “A+” effort. Period! Showcasing what can occur when an individual with a heart for kids makes a radical choice to go against the standard flow of our country’s education system, engage kids on a level they could RELATE to, and spur them towards unexpected and deeply self-affirming directions in not only school, but LIFE, is a significantly quintessential film that NEEDS to be SEEN and PAID ATTENTION TO. Period, again!
Focused on the journey highlighting her own childhood and college years then moving into teaching at one of her home town’s beleaguered elementary schools that was failing in its overall ability to gain “safety” in the wake of the State of Florida’s requisite FCAT test that its students were having no success with, the subsequent, visionary, definitively revolutionary style of reaching her classroom’s attendees caused a complete turnaround of miraculous, CONSISTENT, unrivaled success that has since resonated to this very day among the country’s school districts. Never forgetting where she came from, Gloria chose to employ music, movement, chanting, dance/drill teams, even drumming as vehicles to make learning the skills involved with Math, Reading, and Science accessible to kids through conveying a foundational interest IN THEM, who they are, where they’re at, and hence making the whole process not only FUN, but also making lessons STICK.
This infusion of energy and assuredly unorthodox methods wasn’t any easy road, as the “traditional” curriculum was what was being advised for her to utilize, and to stray so far from this would put her career itself on the line. Yet, Gloria stood her ground, completely beat back the odds, and was soon lauded by educational experts, parent volunteers, and others with words like “genius”, “pioneer”, “outstanding”, “beyond/before her time”. The manifestation of self-identity that Gloria’s method instilled in her students allowed for amazing transfiguration of the school’s entire mindset and approach, to the point where soon, professors and grad students from the University of Florida would literally be studying and researching HER, just as curious and awed by Gloria’s drive, unwavering dedication, raw passion, and firm belief that ALL kids should have, and DID have, the ability to shine and succeed. TEACH first, THEN bring in the artistry to seal it within
Additionally ensuring the past was acknowledged, culturally and otherwise, in how it shaped the present, it didn’t matter what type of student she had, either. Gloria was an equal opportunity teacher, so adept at what she did, that no one could tell the difference between a gifted vs. non-gifted student because they ALL were attaining the SAME degrees of results thanks to her unique style and impassioned manner that was SO ingrained in her, only missing 3 days of school in 30 years of being there, even at the peril of her own health! HELPING these kids was her all-encompassing priority, even outside of the classroom, assisting them in whatever ways she was able to do. In such a tumultuous and uncertain world, to witness someone have such overtly selfless and determination to actually make a difference in other people’s lives is so applaudable and RARE. Gloria’s example is one that SHOULD be studied, absorbed, and APPLIED. That’s right. APPLIED.
The culmination of Gloria’s efforts were felt in their fullness when the school outperformed even elite level schools between the years of 2003-2008 on the FCAT, garnering national recognition and further opportunities for Gloria to take her knowledge on the road to conferences and other schools, even allowing persistently high-performing students to go with her to demonstrate her techniques to educators. It was an incorporation of the fine arts INTO learning, and given that fine arts IS what is often sacrificed at schools when they are in financial challenges, to see it adopted for Gloria’s purposes only makes her efforts that much more exceptional. While the ultimate finality of Gloria’s story is admittedly a stirringly potent lesson in bittersweetness, the film does such an unequivocally incredible job at having thoroughly swept us away in her path of HOPE that you still very much leave the film on an utterly euphoric high of faith in humanity again. No lie!
As one would guess and, frankly of course, expect in a documentary, interviews ABOUND here. But, it is the sheer diversity of perspectives that are given that ALL connect with the same magnitude of gratefulness and enthusiastic praise for Gloria and her mission that makes hearing each person share about her so invigorating, encouraging, and motivational for us as the viewer. From direct family like her mother Cenia, niece Lynette, brother Donal, daughter Tayana, and son Carl, to University of Florida leaders Don Pemberton, Prof. Buffy Bondy, and Prof. Thomasenia Adams, to University of Florida grad students Lilliemarie Gore and Emily Bonner, to Duval principal Leanest McNealy and colleagues Leon Marshall, Angela Terrell, and Rhonda Wilson, and former students like Ja’Quanta Owens, Isiah Blount, Jasmine Webb, Darious Frederick, Leondra Robinson, among SO many others. It’s a magnificent parade of affirmation about LIVES ALTERED forever by one woman’s heart, creative mind, and stalwart persistence in wishing to see kids, and a broken system, transformed.
The narration here is provided by veteran actress Tamara Tunie, which in itself lends a highly apropos air of credible and effective worthiness to the film as well. Honestly, folks, even all of this, in this critic’s opinion, is JUST scratching the surface of the reality we see portrayed in this film. Again, you must SEE the film to take in EVERY nuance it provides about the life of Gloria Jean Merriex, to listen to her speak, to watch her call upon all her students to KNOW they are important, to KNOW they have worth, to KNOW they can improve, to KNOW they can have a bright future ahead of them, and to just sit back and watch the unstoppable power of one woman’s spirit to WIN and impact those around her, that the legacy of it would remain. So, in total, “Class of Her Own” paints a wondrous portrait of what can come about when we choose to exercise our own true potential to aid others to be their best, that excellence CAN be taught, and that being a positive, influential innovator CAN take hold, a model for ALL of us to FOLLOW, realizing that the world in which we live could be a FAR, FAR better place if we did and, ideally, choose to DO.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
