Gilroy
– Oscar Zumiga entered the soccer season failing math. Now, four
months later, he is getting an A.
Gilroy – Oscar Zumiga entered the soccer season failing math. Now, four months later, he is getting an A.
Teammates and brothers Randy and Andy Moya had similar transformations, going from an F to a C and a C to an A, respectively, during the course of the season.
It’s not the repeated hits to the head with the soccer ball that’s causing this pattern of academic improvement – it’s the dedication of 24-year old high school math teacher Jennifer Lewis, who offers three-hour tutoring sessions to the athletes three days each week.
“She opened her classroom,” said Brian Hall, one of the head coaches for the Gilroy High School boy’s soccer team.
“She just spent hours and hours with them,” added Armando Padilla, the other head coach.
Lewis first started giving the team extra attention last year, when a mid-year report revealed that the boys were not meeting academic expectations, Padilla said. Many members of the team were in her classes – she teaches algebra B and algebra readiness – and she decided she could boost their performance.
“They were so into (soccer), I just wanted to help them keep their grades up,” Lewis said.
She did so by aiding them with whatever subject they had trouble in, often staying until 9 or 10 at night despite having a half an hour’s commute to Los Gatos ahead of her.
In addition to supporting the kids at school, Lewis became a fixture at the soccer games, traveling to Salinas or Monterey to cheer them on or deliver a care package full of cookies.
Perhaps contributing more to the selflessness of these gestures is that she does not particularly like the sport.
“I’ve never watched a soccer game until last year,” Lewis said. “I still don’t understand it.”
Through these efforts, she became not just an academic tutor, but also someone the players could confide in.
“Because of (Lewis’) personality and her aura, they feel very comfortable talking to her,” said Hall.
Students agree that her personalized attention allows her to walk a line often difficult for teachers to navigate.
“She like a friend, not a teacher,” said Randy Moya, now in his junior year.
True to being a good friend, Lewis is motivated by the success of the students.
“When they get into college or when they get a good grade on a test, they run to tell me,” she said. “I like seeing that.”
Lewis is quick to deny credit for the improvement the students have made.
The academic gains “just show how much heart and commitment they have,” she said. “Being that far behind, some students, they just give up. These boys – they never do.”
The boy’s soccer team, however, is more forward about how much her contributions have impacted their season.
“We have high-risk kids,” said Hall. “Ms. Lewis helps to reduce the risk on the high-risk kids.”
Last year, they presented her with a helping hand award at their team banquet. With the season still going, the team – Central Coast Section champions and slotted in the eighth berth at the upcoming state championships – has yet to honor Lewis this season.
This does not mean that the team is not aware of what an integral part he continues to play in their success.
“In the four years, we only had one player who started the season who didn’t finish the season,” said Hall. “Without the help of extended family, we could not have done this.
