Lely Football Players Give Back to School Community

When Lely defensive line coach Carlos Cornelio asked Poinciana Elementary assistant principal A.J. Micieli if there was any way the Lely High School football team could support the students at Mike Davis Elementary School in Golden Gate, no one could have predicted the magic that was about to unfold.

On Thursday, July 16, eleven Lely football players, dressed in their uniforms, along with Cornelio and head coach Dan Nieboer, spent time talking to, reading to, playing with, and even signing autographs for the students who are taking part in a special extended school year (ESY) program. The result was an enriching experience for the students of all ages, teachers, and coaches.  

"The players saw some of their teachers that they had while they were in middle school,” Micieli said. "The middle school and high school teachers help out at the elementary ESY to support the elementary students and prepare them for the next level.”

The players picked out books to read to the elementary students and visited each classroom.

"While in classes, they took time to talk to the kids, read to the kids, and positively motivate them with encouraging words, fist bumps,” Micieli said. "They read books to students at multiple levels and with varying needs.” 

Afterward, the players took to the playground to play with the kids.

"The players spent time outside with students on the playground and basketball court encouraging play and social skills and signing autographs,” Micieli said.

The event was Cornelio’s idea. He found a receptive audience in Micieli and Nieboer.

"Carlos approached me last week and asked if there was a way the Lely football players could support the students and staff who are attending the extended school year program at Mike Davis Elementary School,” Micieli said. "We worked together and set up a time for the players to come in to spend time with the students. These opportunities are important for everyone involved. It reinforces the importance of reading. When students see star athletes reading, it shows them that you have to be a student athlete. It is not enough to be really good at sports. You have to be a student first. It shows that everyone matters and reinforces an inclusive learning environment for everyone. It reduces fear of the unknown and shows that we are all learners regardless of the different barriers we face. When athletes give back to the school community, it teaches them how to be better students, sons, men, boyfriends, husbands, and members of their community. It teaches them how to give back. It is also important and meaningful to the teachers. We had several staff who invested in these players at some point in their academic careers. Teachers love seeing their hard work pay off."

Nieboer and Cornelio went into classrooms with the players and stayed the entire time. They took questions and spent time with students and staff.

“Coach Cornelio, whose son is attending Mike Davis this summer, asked me what I thought about taking a group of our players over to read and play with the students there,” Nieboer said. “And I loved the idea. So we selected some of our emerging leaders and told them what we planned to do, and they were excited about it.”

Nieboer was impressed with the program Micieli organized.

“Mr. Micieli had a great plan for us when we arrived,” Nieboer said. “He let out players choose books that they each wanted to read to the students and spread them out through the classrooms. I was extremely proud of how our players embraced the opportunity to be positive examples for the younger generation.