Math teachers lead KIPP to glory

LYNN-KIPP Academy Lynn student Marcos Echevarria has played on a lot of basketball teams in his 13 years, but the experience he had this season playing for his school team definitely ranks as a first.”I have never been coached by two girls – I mean two women,” he said, catching the eyes of his coaches.The KIPP Academy boy’s basketball team is among the best charter school teams in the region, finishing with a 20-2 record and a Charter Cup Championship this past season, and a good chunk of the credit can be attributed to the team’s two coaches, female math teachers Andrea D’Angelo and Carrie Fitzgerald.Both considered tough in the classroom, D’Angelo and Fitzgerald have taken that toughness to the basketball court, taking the helm of the boys team this past season and instantly gaining the respect of their young players, which is not an easy task considering the gender differences.According to the school, many of the team’s players come from Latino homes where the concept of “machismo” or “macho” is instilled in their culture, but the respect the two teachers had already gained in the classroom helped the young men realize that regardless of gender, the coaches were there to teach them about basketball and life.”These two coaches are great because you can go to them with any problem at home or at school,” said player Leandro Diaz, 16. “They are the first two coaches that have made me work hard at everything.”The chemistry is clearly working with the team as D’Angelo and Fitzgerald led the group to a 20-2 season and a Charter Cup win, which combined with the undefeated league and Charter Cup champion girls team makes for an extremely successful season for a basketball program whose facilities consist of a portable basketball hoop in a parking lot.”We have achieved basketball nirvana, at least for this moment in time,” said Principal Josh Zoia. “It was an incredible display of grit, determination and great coaching.”Both D’Angelo and Fitzgerald each have experience playing and coaching basketball, and both coaches admit to being apprehensive about coaching the boys team, but say now that the fit is actually better than it would have been coaching girls.”We are really intense,” said Fitzgerald. “The guys are not as sensitive as the girls, they are better to deal with our approach.”The players are happy to have that intensity both on the court and in the classroom, as their new coaches and teachers have stepped up to provide a positive female influence in their lives and have some success to show for it already.”They have taught me a lot of plays, but also help with other things in my life,” said Echevarria, noting that sometimes he lets his anger get the best of him. “Ms. Fitzgerald is also my math teacher so she is always on me, but I understand it is so I can improve in school. They calm me down, they teach me how to put all that behind me and move on to a new play.”