Page 14 - The April 30 2026 Edition of The Fayetteville Press Newspaper

Page 4b The Fayettville Press April 30, 2026 Editon

Vernesha Williams

Story By: Orion Rummler, Journal- the one who reminds him that he’s so
ist, The 19th News good, and that he’s so smart, that he has
so much ambition, that he’s creative,” she
“I remember he said, ‘How come my said.
other teacher says I’m bad, then?’ And my Williams had been warned about
heart just broke and broke and broke into so Benjamin’s supposed behavior problems,
many pieces right then and there. I want to be but she couldn’t understand what those
the one who reminds him that he’s so good, problems were — there were no issues with
and that he’s so smart, that he has so much Benjamin at all. In fact, it was quite the op-
ambition, that he’s creative," posite. He was a class leader, she told his
Vernesha Williams parents. There were no outbursts; in fact,
At five years old, Benjamin Buckley- he was very respectful.
Green was starting to believe there was some- "They are mirrors right now. They
thing wrong with him. He was learning it at take in everything.”
school, over and over again: He made too Vernesha Williams, on her students
much noise. He moved too much. On what Benjamin’s parents believe that their
felt like a daily basis, his parents received son was almost put on a path to disengage
phone calls about his behavior. He kept be- from education entirely; a path that so many
ing sent to the principal’s office. Before other kids are forced onto by being taught
school, he would hesitate before leaving the at school that there is something wrong
car — and after school, there were tears. Photography By:Chrisman Studios with them. But by finding a teacher who
Benjamin’s parents took him to behav- Vernesha Williams with her student, Benjamin Buckley-Green cares for her students, and who treats them
ioral counseling therapy, but there were no Compass Collegiate Academy * Charleston, South Carolina with respect, Benjamin’s natural love of
problems to speak of. When he developed a learning was set free.
throat tic, they took him to an ear, nose and “There are children out there who
throat doctor who asked if he was under a caused their son so much turmoil and looked for an alternative. They assumed they would be making the switch to a public school. But are currently not starting off their path to-
tremendous amount of stress. When Benjamin once they toured Compass Collegiate Academy, a tuition-free public charter school near their home in Charleston, South Carolina, they wards education in the long term, feeling
told his parents that he just felt like he didn’t knew they had found somewhere Benjamin could really belong. good about themselves and moving for-
belong, they decided enough was enough. It That reassurance came from seeing how Benjamin behaved in Vernesha Williams’ kindergarten class. The difference was immedi- ward,” said Ben Buckley-Green,
was time to switch schools. ate. As Williams taught letter writing and handwriting, Benjamin was engaged. He seemed relaxed and comfortable in the classroom,
Leize Gaillard and her husband, Ben although he didn’t know anyone else. While instrumental music played, Williams told the class over and over again how proud she was
Buckley-Green, took Benjamin out of the of their work. She explained to Benjamin how she wanted him to write his name during the class exercise and told him he was doing a good Story
small, selective private school that had job. “I remember he said, ‘How come my other teacher says I’m bad, then?’ And my heart just broke and broke and broke into so many Continues on Page 5b
pieces right then and there. I’m just so sorry that he internalized that,” Williams said. She knew she needed to intervene. “I want to be