Salem School Fundraiser Pits Teachers Against Basketball Stars

SALEM, MA -- Call them brave. Call them crazy. Or maybe just call them good sports. A group of teachers and principals from all nine schools in the Salem Public School District will put down their red pens and grade books on November 16 to play basketball against the Harlem Wizards, a semi-pro team made up of former college players, at Salem High School.

The Salem Dream Team will be coached by Superintendent Margarita Ruiz and, while the teachers aren't likely to win on the court, they are hoping they can help the fundraiser being led by the Carlton Innovation School’s PTO.

The Wizards are a touring basketball team that formed in 1962, and while they may not be as well known as that other trick team from Harlem, the Globetrotters, they play the same style of basketball. Players on the roster include Jack Ryan, a three-time Guinness World Record holder for three point shooting, and former Globetrotter Roscoe Johnson Jr.

A Wizards player visited each school in Salem on October 18 to drum up interest in the game. Advance tickets are $8 for kids and $10 for adults, or $11 for kids and $13 for adults at the door. Tickets can be purchased on the Harlem Wizards Facebook page or at Crosby’s Marketplace in Salem.

Subscribe to Salem Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.

Photo by Carlton Innovation School PTO.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).