Whiz Kid--Anthony Jones

When he was in kindergarten, Anthony Jones gave a version of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Those who heard it can’t look at Anthony, now nine years old, without thinking about how much the child sounded liked MLK himself.

“Anthony has the best impression of Martin Luther King I’ve ever seen,” said his teacher Kristen Olmsted. “He’s always been a future leader in my mind.”

Anthony is a fourth grader at Fowler Drive Elementary. He loves his school, having been a student there since he was in Pre-K. His great aunt and adoptive mother, Frances Willis, is a paraprofessional at Fowler in Anne Benedek’s kindergarten class. But the whole school seems like one big family.

“We have teachers here who teach us stuff and we have fun learning it,” Anthony said.

Tall and slim, with a melt-your-heart smile, Anthony is a kind, happy boy who tries to make sure everyone gets along, in the classroom, on the playground and on the football field. If he can’t convince other kids to resolve their problems, he says, he’ll just go and find a teacher or other adult to help out.

On Sundays, he goes with his aunt and uncle to a Pentecostal church in Gainesville. Often, he says, they are in church most of the day, which is fine with Anthony. He sometimes plays drums in his church.

In school, his favorite subject is math, he says. “When I finish my work, my teacher gives me a challenge to do and pushes me to a higher level. Now I’m doing sixth grade math.”

Shaonnon Goodrick, who helps Anthony with reading, knows him really well. "The thing I love about Anthony is that he can explain what he doesn't know so that I can help him," she says. "It makes my job easier."

Three afternoons a week, Anthony plays football through Cedar Shoals’ little league, Youth Professional Jaguars. He’s a defensive end. One of the coaches is in his extended family, he says, and he likes that connection.

When he gets home from school, Anthony always does his homework, says Mrs. Willis—without being asked. After his work is done, if he's not headed to football, he may play with Harpo, the family’s poodle, or he may watch something on the Cartoon Network.

When Anthony is ready to eat, he would like to have three things on the table. Macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes and barbecued chicken. He's hoping to see some of his favorite foods on the Thanksgiving table. His aunt and uncle and he are still making plans for the dinner, he says, but it's certain they will be with their large extended family in Athens.

What's Anthony thankful for? "I'm thankful for my home and family who takes care of me. And I'm thankful I'm alive to be here for Thanksgiving," he says with a big smile.

So are we, Anthony.