Ike’s Equation for Success
After learning from his mistakes, Dean of Culture, Ike Harvey, builds relationships with high school students to help them reach their full potential.
By: Ike Harvey / 5- Minute Read
In high school, I was an average to below average student. That surprises my students because they assume that since I work in education, I made straight A’s. But I tell them the truth. I struggled because I didn’t apply myself and lacked certain skills like time management and how to study best. Although I made it through high school, my lack of skills and accountability were amplified in college.
In my first years in college, I was on academic probation several times. I would take a break and work for a while and then try again. But each time, I struggled. Three years out of high school I was on another “break,” working at a grocery store. I knew this wasn’t what I wanted to do long-term, and I decided to give college one more try.
And God had other plans for me.
God’s plan included giving me the opportunity to be a part of a leadership program that provided college scholarships and other resources. The only issue was I had no idea what the program was about. I only applied because a mentor asked me to. After purposely bumping the interview, my best friend ended up being accepted into the program. Because he was a part of this program, I started hanging around it and realized that this was something I needed to be a part of.
When I applied again the following year, I was ready. And this time I was accepted.
In addition to monetary help with tuition, the program provided something even more valuable for me: Tutors. Suddenly, I had someone looking over my shoulder at my syllabus and classwork. I had to be accountable to my tutor and the program. My tutor was there to talk me through things I didn’t understand and help me develop good study habits. With her help and guidance, I started to see small wins and become more confident in my academic ability.
School still wasn’t easy, but it made more sense because I understood how to prioritize my time. I learned how to work ahead and not procrastinate as much. (Although, that’s still a work in progress.) It didn’t happen overnight, but through some trial and error, I learned how to study effectively.
During this time, I had been coaching middle school basketball and was asked to serve as a teacher’s assistant for a math class. After graduating with a degree in sociology and minor in business, a mentor encouraged me to pursue teaching full-time because teaching came natural to me. But I didn’t want to be a teacher. Instead, I chose to pursue other career paths — until I realized that, once again, God other plans for me.
The work I chose wasn’t fulfilling for me. I decided to give teaching another try. I was hired as a math instructor, and I realized that I really enjoyed working with students and wanted to pursue education as a career. Although I wanted all my students to succeed in math, it was just a tool to help me connect with them and help prepare them for life far beyond knowing mathematical equations.
The way I look at it, math is problem solving at its simplest form.
You have to be a problem solver from the day you're born. There are always going to be problems and you’re going to have to figure out why situations occur and how to solve them. If you build those skills in the classroom, you can apply them throughout your life. For example, working on a mathematical problem or sharing thoughts and ideas in front of peers works on public speaking, which is an important practice for the rest of life.
I also realized I wanted to impart to my students the lessons I didn’t get when I was their age. I didn’t have many teachers or leaders that looked like me when I was in school. I had to learn how to fail and figure things out on my own and how to ask for help. Because I struggled as a student. I understood many of my students’ fears and how hard school was for some of them. If I had been a straight A student, I probably wouldn’t have been able to relate to them.
After teaching for five years and loving it, I had the itch to move into leadership. So, I went back to school to get my Masters in Learning, Development and Family Sciences. That opened the door for me to move into an administrative role and ultimately to be named Dean of Culture at the Odyssey School in Denver.
As a teacher, and now as an administrator, I’ve been one of the few men of color at the schools where I’ve worked, so many students of color gravitate to me because I look like them and I can relate with them on many different topics. But all my students know I care about them as people — not just about what grades they make. I believe they do well in school because I make an effort to understand them and build community with them. I’m not just another adult telling them what to do. They understand that I want them to be the best version of themselves.
Building that type of relationship with students (and with their parents) is what “Dean of Culture” is all about. I can show them what it takes to do well. For some students, some subjects are easier. Some students have to put in extra effort. I know first-hand what that feels like, so I can be an effective teacher and mentor and encourage them not to give up. Today, I’m grateful I can share the lessons that I learned so the next generation will be in a better position to succeed.
About Ike
When school’s not in session, I love to travel and eat good food. I enjoy working out at the gym, and playing football and basketball, and riding my beloved single-speed road bike all over the Denver bike paths. I also love hanging out with my partner, Charmagne. We share a passion for pro-sports, especially the three-time Stanley Cup winning Colorado Avalanche. Although I teach financial literacy to my students, my own skills were challenged when Charmagne and I recently shopped for our first house. I did what everyone tells you not to do: Became emotionally attached to the first house we made an offer on. I took it hard when we were out-bid, but we’re very happy in the house we now call home.
