By ONME Newswire
In this episode of ONME Local Profiles: Fresno, producer host, Julia Dudley Najieb interviews Javan Childs Sr., who was promoted by the Fresno Unified School District Board of Directors at an April 21, 2021 public meeting to
become the first Black principal of Edison Computech Middle School, a significant accomplishment, when considering the history of the school's lack of African-American students in its population--just at 4%--although the school's property sits in a zip code that has a high, concentrated number of African-Americans residents, (11.74%). Computech, located just south of Edison High School, was established in 1983, and was formerly the Irwin Junior High School campus before it closed as the main junior high school for the residents in the area.
Thereafter, children residents located in the 93706 zip code were bused to other locations throughout Fresno, as integration was the new benchmark for all schools throughout California. Meanwhile, Computech would also bus students in from throughout Fresno, with lack of regard to any of the local resident children as a priority.
Currently, Edison High School, located just several 100 yards away from the Computech campus, has a Black student population of 17%.
However, some people may not be aware that Edison Computech is a magnet school, where the 791 students enrolled are selected based on their high STAR (Standardized Testing and Reporting) report and then interviewed.
Principal Childs intends to change such past history by taking the time and sincere effort to build a closer relationship with the surrounding community, giving parents and custodial guardians more insight to the programs at Computech, enrollment deadlines and other pertinent information for their children to attend Edison Computech.
Principal Childs expressed his deep gratitude during the interview to be able to follow the legacy of other Black principals who have served FUSD students; the first African-American principal in FUSD was Rutherford "Bud" Gaston. A middle school with the same name is just two miles down the road from Edison Computech; it was built to serve students who reside in the 93706 zip code after 35 years of residents complaining of not having a local middle school for their children to attend--which they previously had with Irwin Junior High.
Childs is determined to change the previous culture of residents feeling separated and distant from the Edison Computech campus culture; he hopes to embrace the present and future with a planned vision of unity between the neighborhood and middle school campus, starting this upcoming school year.
On a final notes, Childs confirms that COVID-19 has caused major setbacks in many schools, and they will continue to work through those challenges so that children who do not have access to the internet, still have resources provided to them to be successful in school. Or children who are suffering from a lack of food, they will ensure that the free breakfast and lunch programs will continue for any of their children who are being serviced or not being serviced.
Childs also expressed his major concerns regarding mental health; he wants to make sure the resources are their for many of the children who have suffered so much loss, anxiety and other tragedies during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.
About Javan Childs. Sr.
Childs is originally from Fairfield, CA, where he graduated Fairfield High School in 2002.
After high school, Childs attended Fresno State where he majored in kinesiology: exercise physiology and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 2007.
In 2010 he returned to school at National University where he earned his single subject teaching credential in the content areas of science and physical education and his Master in Education with a focus of: Teaching and Learning in a Global Community. He has worked at Sanger Unified School District, St. Anthony’s Middle School, and in Fresno Unified serving as a teacher, coach, athletic director, and vice principal.
He is a father to three wonderful children who are all students in Fresno Unified School District.
Watch one-on-one interview with Dudley Najieb and Childs; people can watch The ONME Network locally on television via the CMAC channels this week everyday (see below) via Comcast Channel 93 and AT & T Channel 99 or online via the web app: www.myonmetv.com under "It's ONME Local." The program is also available through The ONME Network OTT channels, Roku and Amazon Fire.
People can also listen via their own audio podcast services: Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Castbox, Podcast Addict, Audible, Podchaser, Deezer and JioSaavn.
