Camelot Profile: Camelot Excel Academy Team Leader William Beene

William Beene is a Team Leader for Camelot’s Excel Academy Englewood in Chicago, Illinois. He has a Bachelor of Science in Leisure Recreation from the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, and a Master of Arts in Physical Education from Minnesota State University in Mankato. Born and raised in Illinois, Chicago, William joined Camelot Excel Academy in August of 2013.

Explain your role of Team Leader and how it impacts students?

Being a Team Leader holds a lot of responsibility. My core role in this position is to maintain the operations component. My focus is to make sure the teachers and students run smoothly together, that the education is insightful and I am responsible for providing the resources to the teachers with anything they may need inside and outside the classroom. In this role, the impact is greatly appreciated by the students because as the teachers are focused and connecting with the students, the students then engage with the teachers.

What sorts of goals do you establish for your students? 

I establish short term goals with the students in three effective ways. One, come to school. Once they come to school the opportunity is presented in front of them to take control of their life. Another effective short term goal is to have a transcript discussion. A transcript discussion becomes an effective motivational tool for any student who feels like giving up early. For example, if a student has 2 classes left to graduate, I notice the chance to bring it up in a transcript discussion to motivate him/her to push further. Lastly, I take the opportunity to ask the student, “Once you learn, how much do you want to earn”. This is a great short term goal to have in life as the student moves forward because the more they take the opportunity to learn and educate themselves, the greater the chances will be for them to earn later on.

As a Team Leader, what type of relationship do you hope to have with a student’s parent or guardian?

The relationship I hope to have with parents and guardians is an honest and caring one. When you can hold a conversation with a parent either good or bad it shows the student that their progress is being watched and cared for inside and outside of the classroom. When I make calls to the parents and guardians my aim is to give honest information regarding the student and find solutions to any matters. Acknowledging a student’s performance and involving the parents and guardians in the schools activities and programs are my primarily goals as a Team Leader.

Name some ways you nurture your students’ education progression.

One way is to repeat your expectations and goals to the students until they understand and complete the expectation set for them. Secondly, I ask the students to write out their feelings and struggles. Then I write mine and I relate their struggles to someone in history who went through the same situations or worse but then overcame it. These methods have worked for me on a collegiate level and as I’ve started my career in teaching.

How do you promote a team environment with a positive caring atmosphere that focuses on educational success and behavioral management?

To an extent I level the field by eliminating name titles. I tell the students to not look at me as a Team Leader but more as an instructor. Having the ability to remove job titles removes the power behind it and focuses team environment where learning and concepts are being learned and demonstrated throughout the classroom.

Name three ways you effectively keep your students engaged .

“Edutainment”. Education and Entertainment merged together to formulate a trendy educational purpose. In order to engage the students, you have to find something the students can relate to. It can range from music to celebrity entrepreneurs. But then I have to encourage education by finding the meaning and or usefulness of the entertainment. The second way it be straight up honest. When you can engage students in your life experiences and struggles you can relate with them and then begin to open others up about what their experiences were and how we can help tackle them moving forward. The last way is the idea of being able to effectively communicate with everyone. By having an open, respectful conversation the student/teacher engagement has been formed.

Camelot’s vision for each student who graduates is that they become functional, self-sufficient contributors to society. Can you site an example of Camelot students who went on to find success?

Last year at Camelot’s Excel Academy Englewood in Chicago, we had over 40 students graduate and reportedly all of them have been accepted into post-secondary education.