In the background of numerous San Quentin inmate success stories is the Robert E. Burton School of Education. Following last month’s graduation ceremony, master of ceremonies and Vice Principal Frank Kellum discussed his belief in education, transcendence and human development.
“I was drawn here to San Quentin because a lot of my students were coming here not just as inmates,” Kellum said, “Some of my ex-students were also coming in here as staff.”
After graduating from Balboa High School in San Francisco he went onto obtain an AA degree at City College of San Francisco. Later Kellum turned his thirst for knowledge into two Master’s degrees, one in education and the other in Ethnic studies in a multi-ethnic society.
Kellum began his teaching career 40 years ago in private and public schools in and around the Oakland and San Francisco area. In the 90’s he became an instructor at San Quentin.
In his first year at this facility Kellum taught both of the pre-release classes, where he stressed to his students the potency of visualization.
However, it was after he read the book “Creative Visualization” in the 80’s by Shakti Gawain that Kellum decided to teach his new class a thing or two on visualization. One day during classes Kellum asked his students to visualize Gawain the author, coming to San Quentin to give a lecture to the men.
“It was like mind blowing to my students. They were surprised when she sent her senior assistant to teach my class,” Kellum said. “They demonstrated to themselves and to each other the power and force of positive mental visualization.”
Her assistant also also came in and taught a workshop that was beneficial to the inmates. Kellum stated his job is to help and not just in here.
“If I can help on the outside with contacts I make it a point to have contacts like that assist those in here,” he said
Kellum noted that education is the key to human development and that direct experience and indirect experience are the keys to the problems we face in society
“This institution is about positive change. That is why we are in a structured environment,” said Kellum. “And our education department is a very important factor in the rehabilitation process of human development.”
And as Vice Principal of Robert E. Burton’s Adult School of Education, Kellum stays focused on the goals of sharpening the minds of the men instead of tearing them down.
“I have compassion for people and with the incarcerated population I know what kind of environment and educational system they are coming from,” said Kellum. “Once they are incarcerated they are separated from the outside influences. Therefore they can focus on their education.”
As Vice Principal for five years Kelllum said his position is the first line supervisor with the teachers, inmates, office technicians and teaching assistants.
“And having been here for 20 years in the educational system, my responsibility is about human development, the staff, the inmates and myself,” Kellum said. “The graduation is an achievement of accomplishment. It’s a milestone of a person’s life.”
