Study break

Reyburn Intermediate teacher known at skate park

By Joy Pickering / Special to The Clovis Independent Friday, Mar. 28, 2008

At Reyburn Intermediate, he's known as Mr. Grant. But at Rotary Skate Park, fellow skaters just call him Kevin.

The 43-year-old seventh-grade science teacher by day, skateboarder by night, doesn't act his age. And that's the way he wants it. "I skate with people of all ages -- teens, 20s and buddies my own age," Grant said. "It's a good way to get to know people who have the same interests."

Grant spends two nights a week skating the bowls and pools at Rotary Skate Park, where he often runs into his students. "Most of them are better than me," he claims modestly.

"The kids trip out to see their teacher skate in a pool," Grant said.

Born in San Jose, Grant began skateboarding at 13 but took a long break when he was "bitten by the surfing bug" at 18 after traveling to Hawaii with friends. He swore to them he would some day live there. And he did.

"All I wanted to do was be in the ocean," Grant said. "After that first trip I said I was moving to Hawaii."

Grant worked as a photographer and a wrestling coach in Maui and also studied at a community college. But he really wasn't focused.

Finally he realized teaching and coaching young people had always been a big part of his life. After living in Hawaii for nine years, he knew it was time to get serious.

"I woke up one day and wanted to do something that made a difference," Grant said. "I finally got smart enough and realized you can get paid to do what you're passionate about."

Grant packed up and followed his family to Clovis where he earned a teaching credential from Fresno Pacific University. From there he went to Reyburn Intermediate, first as a student teacher, then as a science teacher and wrestling coach.

Grant did find the transition from Hawaii to Clovis a little tough.

"I didn't like it at first, but it was all about my attitude," Grant said. "I told myself to get over it -- it's not Hawaii, accept it."

Grant's way of accepting his new environment was getting involved in skateboarding.

"I missed surfing and wanted the feel of surfing," Grant said. "Skating gets you about half way there."

Breaking back into a sport often dominated by 14- and 15-year-olds was tough. But he pushed himself to get better by taking chances and overcoming fears and soon found enjoyment in all of the challenges skating has to offer.

Unlike many skateboarders, Grant has emerged relatively unscathed. Falling on slabs of concrete can bring on perpetual scabs, bruises and what skaters call "swell-bows," but Grant has never broken a bone.

For a while, he even worked at Rotary Skate Park, striving to ensure a safe, positive environment for skaters -- kind of like a "concrete lifeguard." Tim Kern, also 43, is the recreation specialist at the Clovis Recreation Center and a skateboarder. He's seen firsthand the positive attitude and "go for it" approach Grant communicates to those of all ages.

"His personality and demeanor give him instant respect with fellow skaters," Kern said. "He's really thoughtful and got people to think about what they were doing."

Grant realizes the opportunity he has to influence the youngsters he skates with at the park and consistently tries to set good examples. He encourages good manners, no cussing and respecting the environment.

"He's a down-to-earth person," said Dan Holloway, 20, a fellow skater with 10 years experience who is on the verge of turning professional. "He's motivating and you're always in a good mood when you're around him."

Matthew Inchaurregui, 12, is a Reyburn seventh-grader who knows Grant in the classroom as well as the skatepark.

What's it like to skate with your teacher?

"It's kinda cool." Matthew said. "It's like skating with anybody else, but it's fun because he's your teacher and nobody really gets to do that."

Matthew sometimes gets to teach Mr. Grant.

"He messes up on a trick, and then I tell him how to do it," Matthew said. "Then he lands it."

Grant is a member of the Surfrider Foundation, a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to conservation, activism, research and education of the earth's beaches.

He's bothered that the younger generation seems disconnected from concerns about the planet, one issue that pushed him to teach science.

"The earth is my passion," Grant said. "Hawaii helped shape my appreciation of the environment."

Grant plans to stay on his skateboard as long as he can, pushing to continue raising his skill level.

"If you love it, you don't stop," Grant said. "I'm very thankful for my physical abilities and I'm going to use it."

Friendly Faces is an occasional series about people in Clovis who make it a great place to live. To nominate someone to be profiled in this series, please e-mail Patti J. Lippert at plippert@clovisindependent.com.