Keivonte Bates lost his mother when he was two years old. His grandparents assisted his father with raising him and his three siblings. The C.A. Johnson High School senior says his grandparents have helped him grow as a person, and they always encourage him to do better, especially academically.
“No matter what my grade is, my grandparents will push me to get it higher. If I had a 98, they’ll push me to make it a 99 or 100. If I slip, they’ll be there to help me catch back up,” Keivonte said.
His grandparents, Keith and Vivian Bates, are products of Richland One. Keith is a 1967 graduate of C.A. Johnson. Vivian graduated the same year from Booker T. Washington High School.
Keith and Vivian may be the most popular grandparents at C.A. Johnson. They attend nearly all of Keivonte’s football games, they drive cheerleaders to and from home games, and they even built a homecoming float.
“A lot of people know who my grandparents are,” Keivonte said.
All three of the Bates’ children are Richland One graduates. Two of them attended C.A. Johnson and one attended A.C. Flora High School. Keivonte’s three siblings, who are among the couple’s 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, are graduates of C.A. Johnson.
For Keith, being involved at his alma mater means knowing what’s going on with Keivonte and knowing what’s going on at the school. He recalls picking Keivonte up for a doctor’s
appointment one day when he saw his grandson was wearing his hoodie up. Keith pointed to it and Keivonte immediately took it off.
“One of the ladies in the front office saw that and said, ‘That’s good.’ I said ‘Well, that’s what he’s supposed to do.’ He should be expected to do what he’s supposed to do according to the rules,” he said.
“I’ve got the school’s back, but I also have my grandchild’s back. We need to get the best and the only way we can get the best is for me to support the school and support my grandson.”
Following her retirement from AT&T after 32 years, Vivian taught at Benedict College for five years before returning to Richland One and serving as a substitute teacher for five years.
During her time as a substitute teacher, she says she fell in love with Richland One and C.A. Johnson all over again. Vivian says it also gave her the opportunity to see what the students needed.
“It wasn’t just love. They needed structure and stability. They needed to know that there are people who care about them other than their relatives,” she said.
Keith and Vivian say grandparents who want to get involved at their grandchildren’s schools simply need to show up. Vivian says showing up not only provides encouragement for the students but also the teachers and administrators.
“Sometimes, a teacher may need a couple of minutes or seconds. Even just say ‘Good job. You’re doing good with my grandson,’” she said.
