Greetings Bishop Staples, Pastor Staples, Pastor Lee, and all members of the Temple of Praise community.

Thank you for this space to remember, reflect, and give thanks.

My name is Mashea Ashton and I am the CEO and Founder of Digital Pioneers Academy. I am honored to represent the 500 scholars, families, and team. We loved Antione, AKA Doodie, ‘Twon.

We love Sarah and Semaje, AKA Rico. We love you mom. We are here for you, anything you need. Tough times don’t last. Tough people do.

October 31, 2022. Antione walked past my office in the morning and gave me the head nod, which he usually did.

Ms. A recently did a check-in on him with his English teacher, Mr. R. Mr. R had shared that Antione was really doing well. His teacher said, when Antione is present, he does his work, participates and ignores distractions. He was focused. He had really grown from 6th grade to 8th grade and now was in 9th grade. He was now a freshman in high school.

I saw him at lunch on Halloween day. He definitely didn’t eat the food. He would often tell me, “I’m not eating that – it’s nasty. I am going to get my mom to bring me some McDonald’s.” Which she often did. In fact, whenever Doodie called his mother – she always came.

He played basketball the whole lunch that day. He just kept rebounding the ball, dribbling, and slam dunking the ball, hanging on the rim. It was great to see him as the 14-year-old child that he was. He looked and played like most 14-year-old kids do.

About an hour later, I saw his mom in the main office. I figured she was bringing him food for lunch. Mom said she was there to pick him up early because he had a doctor’s appointment to remove some stitches.

I told her Doodie was just fine. Don’t worry about those stitches because he was just playing basketball and dunking on his classmates. He was fine. Mom took him to the doctor’s.

Later, Mr. P saw him in the neighborhood about 6:30 p.m., not quite trick or treating. He spoke to Mr. P briefly. Mr. P said see you tomorrow, and Antione went back to the car.

We all thought we would see him the next day. To have one more day, one more stay-in-the-game conversation. One more laugh. One more head nod saying hello. One more opportunity to see him be his very best.

I still can’t believe he is not here. I would do almost anything to get one more text that says, “Principal Ashton… if I come to school every day and get all my work done,will you order me Uber Eats???”

On that last day, I wish I had said something or did something to change the outcomes of today.

I am simply heartbroken. We loved Antione. I loved Antione. Some may not understand why.
Last year Antione and his friends, Charles and Samari, would have lunch with me about once a week. They would make deals with me. If we go to class and get all our work done, will you get us Uber eats? If we come to school on time by 7:45 a.m. everyday, will you order us breakfast? If we get all A’s will you buy us some sneakers? The deals were endless.

What they did not understand is that these special lunches were my opportunity to learn about them, learn the latest lingo, and learn about the DPA streets!

They told me all about the Clockboyz, their youth football team. Let’s be clear. Many things are true about Antione. However, one undeniable truth is that Antione loved, loved, loved being a Clockboy. I could not get him out of the orange and black jacket. And our DPA school colors are green and gold. But I’ll share more about the Clockboyz in a minute.

Antione, Charles and Samari taught me what being “champ” was — I thought that meant I was cool, like being a “champion.”  They told me, “No Principal Ashton, you don’t want to be ‘champ.’”

They told me I was “doing the most” and shared that I be “throwing kids off.” I told them I was always going to do the most , so they had to get used to it.

They told me that the white Nike dunks were “nice.” I told them I did not think they looked that nice at all.

They asked for extra help with their schoolwork and started going to tutoring with Ms. B.

They shared their dreams of playing football in high school, college, and professionally.

They gave me lots of feedback. Including today – Samari told me my dress looked like a grandma.

Their feedback helped me grow as a teacher, leader, and mother. For that special time I am eternally grateful.

Antione was really special … and I understood him just a little.

Mr. P called him my school son. He’d say your son is acting up. Your school son is early on time. Your son is looking for you. I care about all my students, and I really cared about Antoine. You may ask why.

First, we are both Pisces. His birthday is March 4 and my birthday is March 6. We are true Pisces. Pisces like people, but they love to be alone. They spend a great deal of time inside their heads. Pisces are extremely imaginative and spend a great deal of time alone creating.

We had this in common.

Pisces will go through great lengths to ensure the happiness of those around them – they are protectors. Antione was a protector.

There was a time last year when someone was bothering his brother Rico. He made it very clear – do not bother my brother. He was a protector of his family, particularly his sister, brothers, and his mother.

He loved you dearly.

Antione had so much leadership potential.

He followed a saying of one of my favorite books, First Break All the Rules by Marcus Buckingham. Yes, Antione sometimes broke the rules as most 14-year-old kids do.

Like the time he wore a specific sweatshirt that was not a DPA uniform sweatshirt to school. The sweatshirt had a very clear message to potential girlfriends. Not quite a message a young girl’s father would like, but let’s just say … he had to take it off.

But the book First Break All the Rules is actually a leadership book. The main message is to treat everyone as an individual.

Leaders do not try to fix a person’s weaknesses, but instead focus on developing the team’s strengths and highlighting their talents.

Leaders find a way to count the individual’s strengths and reward their outcomes.

This is the lasting impact Antione, AKA Doodie, had on the DPA community. He inspired us to always find the strengths in each other, to focus on the bright spots and treat every day as a new day. To go 1-0 each day for each other and all our scholars.

Antione had so many strengths and had achieved some amazing outcomes. He was a tremendous athlete. Others will tell you how he was a great teammate, wide receiver, and special teams player. He was fast. He was competitive. He did not like to lose. It could be football, basketball, or a game of Uno. He wanted to win.

Now back to the Clockboyz.

When Antione, Samari, and Charles told me they were good — I honestly didn’t completely believe them. I told them to give me the information about their next game.

They would not give me the information.

I had to remind them, I am the person who “does the most.” So I called Charles’ Dad, who is a coach for the Clockboyz. He immediately texted me the information. On October 31, 2021, I went to my first Clockboyz football game at Eastern High School against the Maryland Heat.

And OH MY Goodness. That is when I learned these young men were not just good, they were great.

They had already won three national championships and were going for a fourth national title.

For the coaches, athletes and families of the Clockboyz, this is not news to you. However for those who are not really into sports and don’t get football — this is pretty remarkable.

You see, in 1991, I won the Under 16 National Women’s soccer championship. My team played for three national championship finals, but we only won one.

Every girl on my team earned a scholarship to play soccer in college, including my twin sister. Half of us earned scholarships to top 10 Division 1 schools. One of our teammates played on the national team and eventually played internationally.

Soccer paved the way for me to be the first in my family to go to college.

What these young men have archived at such a young age is simply worthy of attention.

Clockboyz: Your potential is limitless. You have the capacity to achieve great things. The brotherhood that forms when you have achieved great things is a gift.

When you have had lots of failure and lots of success together, there is a special bond that forms.

The girls I played soccer with over 38 years ago are still some of my best friends. I’ve attended their weddings, the births of their children. Five of the girls I’ve known since I was 10 years old were in my wedding.

So to the Clockboyz, particularly Samari and Charles… protect each other as ‘Twon would. Keep winning on the field and in the classroom, because ‘Twon wants you to win.

Sarah, Rico, Big Brothers, Friends, Family, Coaches. Mom. Turn this darkness into light.

Let’s keep the commitment you made to Antione. Charles & Samari – keep the agreement.

Show up.
Set small goals.
Continue to lead with love.
Be different.

Tough times don’t last. Tough people do.