Teacher adopts most troublesome student and his baby brother to give them a better life
'I wouldn’t trade this for anything'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A 26-year-old teacher has adopted a badly behaved student and his younger brother.
Chelsea Haley began working with Teach for America – a non-profit organisation that provides support to low-income schools – in 2013 where she met 12-year-old Jerome Robinson.
Her toughest and most troublesome student, Robinson had been suspended numerous times for bad behaviour and nearly drove Haley to quit her job.
However, the pair quickly developed an unlikely bond and the teacher seemingly became the only one who was able to calm him down.
As such, at the end of her two-year experience with Teach for America they asked Haley to stay for Robinson’s sake.
Outside of the classroom, the young boy and his little brother, Jace, lived in poverty with their grandparents and birth mother, who were faced with despair following the death of two close relatives.
“It was just a combination of tragedy coupled with the other social situations you face when you live in poverty,” Haley told CNN.
One night, Haley recalls having a dream where she says God told her she was destined to be Robinson’s mother.
Astonishingly, the very next day the young boy asked if he could live with her.
After meeting with Robinson’s family, Haley, who was planning to move to Georgia, was asked to take the two boys with her by their mother. So she did.
In December 2015, Haley met the guidelines to be their legal guardian and was granted full-time custody.
Now living in Marietta, Georgia, the new parent says that both boys are thriving more than ever and Robinson hasn’t been suspended from school since.
“I never thought I’d be a single mum at age 24, especially of two boys, one of which was my 12-year-old student. And the other one who was only a year-and-a-half,” Haley explained.
But while it hasn't been easy she admits, “I wouldn’t trade this for anything.”
Taking to Facebook, Haley regularly posts about the their new life together and recently proudly boasted about Robinson’s gleaming report card.
“Jerome's Quarter 3 Progress Grades: PE 100, HS Art 94, Science 91, HS Business 92, Math 90, English/Language Arts 80 and Social Studies 101,” she wrote.
“I think the kid is serious about wanting a scholarship to college one day!”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments