Today we’d like to introduce you to Jared Tintle.
Hi Jared, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am an elementary teacher at a Montessori school in Jacksonville, Florida. As a Montessori teacher, community is a very important part of the curriculum and what I instill in my students. Five years ago I had a conversation with my wife about working with my students to give back to the Jacksonville community and look beyond my classroom. Within a week of that conversation, I sat down with students and parents in my class to discuss ways to give back. We decided to come up with an idea that would help provide meals to children and families in need in the local community. We brainstormed ideas and came up with the idea of putting on a concert to raise funds for the packing and supplying of the meals. The first event was a huge success and we provided over 30,000 meals to children and families in need in northeast Florida and southeast Georgia. My students, past and present, were the performers and they performed in front of a large group of people. Not only did it help the community, but helped the students self confidence and realized they are part of a larger community that can give back, regardless of age.
Shortly after the event, I was recognized on tv and was repeatedly asked what is next. At that time, I never thought about it. However, I knew we made an impact and can continue to. I decided to start my own nonprofit called Mr. T’s A-Team.
We put on another concert the following year and have turned it into an annual event. After the second event, I kept hearing people discussing the Ronald McDonald House so I decided to give them a call. After that call, and several in person visits, we sponsored a room at the house and provided necessary supplies. The relationship with the Ronald McDonald House continued to grow near and far and gave us an opportunity to support the RMH in Pittsburgh.
During this time, I had a comic book writer come into my classroom to discuss the art of comics with my students. This spiked my interest and I decided to come out with our own comic book. This comic book is now going out to various RMH around the country for children and families. We are just getting started and realize we can all make a difference, regardless of age or background.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Life is full of challenges and this process has definitely had some. Whether it was the planning, executing or fundraising, doubts always crept in. However, it was also the adversity and challenges that helped us grow and get where we are today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a husband, father to two amazing daughters and an elementary teacher. All of that combined makes me “Mr. T”. My students are my family and I treat everyone with the same respect I would my own but also demand the same as I would my own children. This attitude and approach lets the children know that we will have challenges, we learn from mistakes, and we focus on what is important. That means we may have disagreements but we always support one another and are there for each other no matter what!
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Life is full of risks. You don’t know what may happen but you fail 100% of the time with the things you don’t try. I took a risk by putting on the original fundraising event and continue to take risks with every decision that is made. It never goes exactly as planned but the people involved with my nonprofit understand that the risks and hurdles we face only make us stronger and more unified as a result.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Mrtsateam.org
