Photo courtesy of Delbert Jarmon
Delbert Jarmon brings unique experience to Riverside
By Dahlia Ponce Santos & Yohana Flores
Delbert Jarmon planned to do many different things with his life, but working with high school students wasn’t one of them.
“Never thought that I would end up in a school system, ever,” Jarmon said.
But that’s exactly how Riverside’s Restorative Practices Center (RPC) coordinator spends his time this year.
Born and raised in Durham, North Carolina, Jarmon attended Hillside High School, where he played football and ran track. He then later attended NCCU and earned a degree in criminal justice.
His career in education began with the COPE program, a role that immersed him in discipline support and working with students who were struggling in school.
After starting at Southern High School, he transferred to W.G. Pearson Elementary School and spent nine years building relationships and strengthening community ties there before transitioning to Riverside this fall.
As an RPC coordinator, he shares information with staff about how in school suspension (ISS) and RPC are completely different approaches to discipline.
It’s not about “sentencing” kids, he said, but about helping them understand, reflect, and correct their choices/decisions.
“We further the conversation to have restorative conversations and try to repair the relationship between students or students and teachers and try to restore the positive aspect,” Jarmon said.
He often tells kids to think before they act or react.
“Count to 10,” he said. “A lot of students tend to react before thinking. I was once in high school. There were several times I reacted before thinking, and those situations didn’t turn out well for me.”
Before working in education full-time, Jarmon worked as a professional Disc Jockey.
“I’ve worked with many known artists like P. Diddy, Fantasia, and Toni Braxton,” he said.
Known as DJ Kraze, the job allowed him to travel all over the world and opened many opportunities for him, like opening his own coffee shop.
Jarmon owned Ideas! Coffee House for 16 years.The coffee house hosted many open mic and poetry nights. He believes the events offered young people the chance to gain experience and express themselves.
“When I came into the school system and I applied for the family and community liaison,” said Jarmon. “Owning my coffee shop for 16 years, I was able to use that as my experience.”
A Starbucks eventually opened across the street, but Jarmon said it didn’t ruin his business.
“I closed because I wanted to, not because they made me,” he said.
He works closely with students as well as Riverside’s administrators.
“I would describe him as very passionate about his job,” said assistant principal Kwame Stith. “We are partners in supporting young people.”
“I think he’s impacted Riverside in a positive way, by starting to build relationships with students,” said assistant principal Tammy Patterson.
Outside of school, Jarmon is an announcer for Jordan High School athletics and still DJs local parties and events. He is also a community activist and mentor.
Whether he is working in school or mentoring in the community his main goal stays the same: shaping the minds of the young with the same inspiration as his father, who he said made him into who he is today.
“Everything about me is my father,” said Jarmon.
Jarmon has four children of his own, one girl and three boys, whom he said helped him learn the importance of guidance and stability.
He does not plan on retiring anytime soon, but instead continues to stay motivated by the students he meets each day, and believes that the moment of change often happens unexpectedly.
“Sometimes you’re there at the right time,” he said. “[My hope is] that they ‘get it.’ That they truly understand why we’re here – what they’re in school for.”
Jason Iwara, Edward Purdy and Emily Heffernan also contributed to this story.
