. >> mcintyre or max chancellors advisers, tracy williams is a max sisters adviser.le looking at this school from the outside, it's nicely man cured, in a nice neighborhood. >> it's hogwarts. >> you would imagine if you just got through these doors that everybody is going to be fine. unless it's not true. >> my mindset was let's make it cool toback demically sound to do what you are supposed to do and elevate. i remember when i was in school. i did feel sometimes like it wasn't cool to be smart. so i certainly understand that pressure sometimes, especially among black men, how do you excel and feel are you a member of the community. >> the nice thing is even back in 7th and 8th grade, you were kind of being a clown or worried about being cool, you can come here and reset and learn how to be a successful student. >> i would imagine that from the outside, some people can look at this and think it is what we call respectability politics. you know, the idea we have to behave a certain way to get the approval of looking out for the white man. >> the fact of the matter is

. >> tracy williams is a mac sister adviser. >> most people look at this school from the outside.cured. you would imagine that if you just got through these doors that everybody is going to be fine. and that's not true. >> my mind set was let's make it cool to be successful, to be academically sound, to do what you are supposed to do and elevate. >> i mean, i remember when i was in school and i did feel sometimes like it wasn't cool to be smart. so i certainly understand that pressure sometimes, especially among black men about how do you excel and still feel like a member of the community. >> even back in seventh and eighth grade, you were being a clown or worried about being cool, you can come here and reset and learn how to be a successful student. >> i would imagine that from the outside, some people could look at this and think of it as what we call respectability politics. you know, the idea that we have to behave a certain way to get the approval of the, quote, unquote, the white man. >> the fact of the matter is you only have one opportunity to make a first impression. and

. >> tracy williams is a m.a.c.>> i think most people looking at this school from the outside, you know, it's very nicely manicured. it's in a nice neighborhood. >> it's hogwarts. >> it's hogwarts. >> you would imagine if you just got through these doors that everybody's going to be fine. and that's just not true. >> my mind-set was, let's make it cool to be successful, to be academically sound. to do what you're supposed to do and elevate. >> i mean, i remember when i was in school, i did feel sometimes like it wasn't cool to be smart. so i certainly understand that pressure sometimes, especially among black men about, like, how do you excel and feel like you're still a member of the community? >> the nice thing is that even if back in seventh and eight grade, you were kind of being a clown or really worried about being cool, you can come here and reset and learn how to be a successful student. ♪ >> i but imagine that from the outside, some people could look at this and think of it what we call respectability polit

tracy, still has hope. >>> we'll be right back. >>> the coronavirus pandemic is inspiring some unique lesson plans. take a look. ♪ ♪ ♪ ms. williamsher like that. what a way to get your kids out of bed. adriana williams is one of two teachers who produced a rap video to get their students engaged and ready for the virtual classroom. this was shot at the monroe comprehensive high school with the help of the cheerleading team and, of course, they all wore masks. williams spoke to cnn this morning about how her students are reacting to this. >> it's all about relationships and relationship building. i promise you, i wouldn't have been able to get the cheerleaders involved as much as we did not have the relationship with them that we do. so just continuing to uplift them, especially during this pandemic, because it's a lot of kids that are going through a lot of things, as well as teachers. losing loved ones, being sick themselves so we wanted to find a way to boost the morale of our students and the teach sleers a well. >> that uplifted us all. the pair also tells local affiliate walb they have another surprise coming soon so stay tu