NextMoves by Sabrina Garie Page A

minute.”
    The intercom sounded. “The superintendent can see you now.
Head on in,” Ellen said.
    Hand in hand they entered the office to find two men, heads
bent together as if in mid-secret. Len looked up after the door clicked. His
grizzled hair was slicked back with too much mousse. “Jocelyn, I know you’ve
met our new athletic director. I’d like him to participate in this meeting.”
    “Jocelyn, Kylie,” Jared said, eyes warm.
    Her lips thinned to a frown, her hands took root on her
hips. “Why would you want the athletic director in a private meeting about my
daughter’s classroom behavior?”
    Len pinched his forehead. “Trust me on this, Jocelyn. He
offers something to the discussion.”
    “Talk fast, Len.” She motioned her daughter to take a seat
but remained standing.
    “Kylie disrupted her math class.”
    “Who’s her teacher?” Her fingers furrowed into her hips.
    “Calvin Reed, although I’m not sure how relevant that is.”
    She bit her lower lip to slow the anger threatening to
consume her. “Rambling Reed. Of course that’s relevant. Calvin couldn’t stay on
topic when I was in high school. He’s not an appropriate teacher for any teen
with a challenged attention span. You will have her moved to another math
class. Now I ask again, why’s Jared here?”
    “Jared wasn’t hired to coach boys’ soccer. He specializes in
coaching ADHD and other special-needs kids on team sports, which as you know
can be particularly difficult.” Attention-challenged youth struggled with team
sports and required specially trained coaches, who could be hard to find. It’s
one of the reasons Jocelyn encouraged her daughter to run, it fit her better.
    Her eyes narrowed as she studied Jared’s face, his features
impassive. She wasn’t quite sure what to make of this revelation. If it weren’t
Jared, she’d probably be hugging Len in gratitude right now.
    “I’m starting with the girls’ soccer team and I want Kylie
to join. She has the makings of a champion center forward.”
    “What?” That came from left field. Was this for real? Her
eyes shot venom. She wanted Jared to know just how suspicious she was of this
maneuver.
    “Why are we talking about sports? The issue on the table is
academics—a teacher who can’t hold the attention of an average kid assigned to
teach a kid who struggles to pay attention.”
    “It’s not an either-or situation,” Len said. “Jared’s
programs are one strategy we’re implementing. I also have training scheduled
for the teachers on management techniques for dealing with attention-challenged
teens. In the meantime I will change Kylie’s math class.”
    “Go on.” Jocelyn leaned back against the wall and waited.
This sounded promising.
    “But Kylie has to work on her skills as well. Acting out is
not an acceptable coping mechanism, no matter who her teacher—or her
mother—is.” Len’s voice strained a little. “Jared’s strategies have
demonstrated measurable academic and behavioral improvements. I’m going to
insist that Kylie engage with this sports program.”
    “You are going to insist, Len, with me? I don’t think so.”
Jocelyn frowned at both of them.
    “Jocelyn,” Jared said, lowering his voice to draw their
attention. “I have reports from my work in past schools showing the kids’
advancements.” He pulled a folder from the bag nestled at the foot of his
chair. “Here. Feel free to distribute it as you see fit. Turning to Kylie, he
looked her straight in her eyes and smiled. “The kids have a lot of fun too.”
    “Mom, I’m okay with it. I don’t mind trying soccer.”
    One surprise after another. Her daughter had never expressed
interest in team sports before. “Really? You sure about this?”
    Kylie nodded.
    Running her fingers through her hair, Jocelyn stole a moment
to collect her thoughts. A breath escaped, releasing a wad of anger that had
been lodged in her lungs since Len phoned. This might be good. Maybe