Chris Evans laughs when asked whether anyone has ever commented on his having the same name as Natomas Unified’s superintendent.
Turns out that the 7th-grader’s father is named Chris, too, so school permission slips come back with Chris Evans listed as both father and son.
Yes, he’s heard it before, the Heron student said: “Oh, your dad’s the superintendent? I’d say – no, no.’”
On a more serious note, here are five reasons why Chris Evans the middle school student could easily serve as a poster child for NUSD’s Vision that all students graduate as college and career ready, productive, responsible and engaged global citizens:
- He has nearly a 4.0 grade point average
- Only a 7th grader, he already is taking a 9th grade geometry class at Inderkum High School
- He plans to graduate from high school with a diploma from Inderkum’s International Baccalaureate program
- He already has his sights set on a career in computer science and software engineering
- In pursuit of his career goal, he wants to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Colorado Technical University.
“Chris is the type of student who always wants to go above and beyond in everything he engages in, and he wants to be part of everything!” Assistant Principal Vera Morris said.
Chris has been active in school leadership, in Junior Honor Society, and in school sports – he plays guard for Heron’s basketball team.
Academics are important to him, Chris said, but even more important is to be kind, helpful, giving, and to reach out to others. The 12-year-old is pushing to create an after-school Bible Study group at Heron.
Asked to name his favorite Heron teachers, Chris pointed to two instructors — Sam Thornton and April Meyer – whom he said supplemented academics by helping students develop good life skills, too, such as being social and being good to others.
Before graduating from Heron next year, Chris wants to become familiar with every student from kindergarten through 8th grade. “My goal is to see everyone at school and just know who they are,” he said.
Favorite bit of advice he’s ever received?
“My dad always says, ‘Have high expectations, because if you always expect higher, then you’re going to strive for that,” Chris said. “As long as you’re always looking up, then you’re always going to strive up, and you’re always going to move up.”
