As part of the Community Connection goal area of the strategic plan, USD 202 aims to "Cultivate mutually beneficial partnerships with organizations and individuals that provide opportunities for our diverse community." So, when KCKCC men's basketball assistant coach Brandon Gossett reached out inquiring about bringing the team to visit elementary schools, the decision to begin a partnership was an easy one. The team will be visiting each elementary school throughout the fall semester to read with elementary students and share what it is like being a basketball player at the college level.

"The students were so grateful to have the team come out and read with them! They loved how kind and funny they were and could not stop laughing at how expressive the players were while reading the books," said Ms. Clarke, third grade teacher at Turner Elementary.

These community partnerships are important to the district because when the community comes together to support students, it's positive for all involved. Gossett believes that the partnership is just as beneficial for the students as it is for the basketball players. "It is important to engage and give back to our community. It is equally as important that our student athletes learn the effects they can have on our youth as role models," he shared.

For the students, it's important to see community members in positions that they might want to be in one day. Being able to talk to the basketball players about their experience playing athletics and about what academic programs they are pursuing in college gave students ideas for what they might want to consider as they get older and progress through school.

Thank you to the KCKCC men's basketball team for visiting with our students! We look forward to seeing this partnership progress.