DeAndre Jamal Bing, 1997-2015: A Son of the Academy 

On Friday, January 23, 2015 our entire school community was hit with a bombshell.  We received the news that DeAndre Bing became a victim of gun violence. Due to the prevalence of violence in our city, DeAndre received no more than a one-minute news clip stating, “A 17 year old teenager has died from a gun shot wound to the chest.”  In spite of the tragic circumstances of his death, it is our obligation to write a narrative of DeAndre that speaks to what he meant to our school community. To all of us, he was more than simply a student. DeAndre was part of our family -- we pushed him, we believed in him, and we expected him to embrace his life’s passion and purpose. All of this made him a Son of the Academy.

After working with young men for years, it is imperative for me to share the practices that work with young men. I want you to know the things that speak to heart and mind of our young men. If we pay attention, we will produce a transformed man who will ultimately think big, live on purpose and excel at life. So much happens during a week in school – at least at the Academy. There is rarely a dull moment and this is why I love the work so much. For some reason, I was extra pressed to teach the Academy Men this past Monday morning. Like a pastor desperate to feed his sheep, I felt that I received a revelation that would be transformational for our young men. Despite my eagerness, I had to first wrestle with the tape that plays in the minds of all of us who want to make a difference in someone’s life. While driving to school I thought, “Just cancel the meeting with the men. There’s snow on the ground. Everyone wants a two hour delay. Besides, the students will be late anyway.” But I made up my mind to still have the meeting. A MAN’S BODY To my surprise, all of the young men were present, and for the most part, they were ready to receive. My topic for the session would be The Four Dimensions of Manhood. After speaking before so many audiences, especially students, and pressed to get them to take notes in an organized way, I followed my routine of handing out loose-leaf paper and I instructed them to fold the paper in fourths. I wanted them to take notes on each of the four dimensions of manhood.