An Educator Learns the Value of Having a Champion

In my work, I frequently stress the difference one person can make in the lives of others. Our special-education school for more than 100 children with serious learning, emotional, and behavioral challenges offers programming based on the latest research in education, child development,

Rebecca Foo Age: 52 First professional job: Bank teller, Security Pacific National Bank, Riverside, Calif. Current job: Executive director, Switzer Learning Center, Torrance, Calif.

and psychology. Yet it’s the caring, personal connection that will always be the most valuable tool to help impact the life of a young person.

I know because I’ve been there. Had it not been for the care and compassion of one man, I never would have achieved a fraction of what I’ve accomplished. In fact, I shudder to think where I might have ended up without his guidance and inspiration.

I always struggled to fit in at home when I was a child. My mom was a single mother who, at the time, was more focused on partying than parenting. So my great-grandmother struggled to raise my two sisters and me on her Social Security check, which never quite stretched to the end of the month. My biggest “success” in high school was being the trophy girlfriend of a gang leader. After finishing high school, I was desperate to get out of my house. So at 18, I married the first guy I knew who was able to hold a steady job.

It ended up being an abusive, troubled relationship. I was very much alone, shy, easily intimidated, with very low self-esteem. I managed to get out of the marriage, but was living a life without direction, passion, or love. I didn’t know who I was or what I wanted to do.

The turning point in my life came on September 21, 1976. My great-grandmother had just died. Overcome with grief, I called a church where I had recently attended services. Pastor Ed Johnson answered the phone. We talked for almost two hours, while I cried and told him my life story.

Ed comforted and encouraged me, and soon became my teacher and mentor. Somehow, he saw in me more potential than anyone, including myself, had ever recognized before. He talked to me about the value of hard work and urged me to volunteer at his church. At first, I just helped with simple, behind-the-scenes tasks. As time passed, he challenged me to do things that seemed almost impossible for the timid person I was at the time.

Yet, with his support and encouragement, I started conquering my fears. He helped me envision the possibility of setting career and personal-development goals. I finally worked up the courage to take my first class at what was then called El Camino Community College, in Torrance, Calif., when I was 22. In the years that followed, I worked toward obtaining a college degree while working full time in consumer banking and management of student-loan servicing. I earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and computer science in 1983 and a master’s degree in clinical psychology in 1986 from California State University-Dominguez Hills.

In 1991, I achieved something that I’m sure none of my high-school teachers would have ever thought imaginable. I earned my Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Southern California after completing my doctoral dissertation on emotional and behavioral problems affecting children and adolescents with different types of learning disabilities. A little over a year later, I became a licensed psychologist in California.

As a way of continuing the circle of life and love that my mentor gave me, my husband, teenage daughter, and I have become “family” to six very special young people who also needed nurturing and mentoring. By spending time with these wonderful young people, I’ve learned that sometimes the families we choose end up being closer than the families in which we are born. That’s also a lesson I learned from Ed Johnson, my teacher, mentor, and friend.

My tenure at Switzer started in September 1988 as a predoctoral psychology intern. I instantly connected with the kids, many of whom came from high-conflict neighborhoods or homes with little money or abusive relationships. I worked my way up until, in 1994, I was named executive director.

At Switzer, I’ve strived to never become complacent, and do my best to continue to grow and improve the school. I believe “can’t” is one of the worst four-letter words because it keeps you from trying. Switzer staff members focus on nurturing perseverance and resiliency until our students achieve what was previously thought impossible.

One of my proudest accomplishments is a fund I developed that provides a $1,000 scholarship to all graduates of Switzer Learning Center who continue their education in college and vocational-training programs. Approximately 70 percent of our high-school graduates take advantage of the opportunity.

After I became executive director of Switzer, I saw the need to conduct a community-needs assessment to make sure we were providing the best services to as many children as possible. My long-term vision was to create a state-of-the-art special-education school and treatment program that would serve as a model for the South Bay area of Los Angeles.

It was during that expansion project that I drew from the strength and tenacity that Ed had taught me. While some people questioned whether our plan was too ambitious, I took the lead on a five-year strategic plan that featured a new campus and expanded services and programs. I convinced our Board of Directors to purchase the property and a local business to fund the environmental-impact study. With assistance from a fund-raising consultant, I led our $5-million capital campaign. The architectural plans were based on a detailed design I sketched out on my kitchen table. I drew every square inch to scale, right down to all the furniture.

When it became clear that we didn’t have enough funding to pay a general contractor, I took on the role of construction manager. I was involved in everything from reviewing the scope of work to hiring contractors and tradespeople. I convinced many contractors to provide their services at a reduced rate for “my kids” and our school. Ultimately, the facility got built for $3-million under projected cost estimates.

Students began attending their first classes on campus in 2005. The kids were so proud of their new school. I’ll never forget the comment of a young boy: “Wow, this school must have cost a whole lot of money,” he said. “They must think we’re really worth it.”

I quickly responded, “Yes, you are worth it!” There were tears in my eyes.