iLEAD Agua Dulce Facilitator Spotlight: Meet Raphael Harris, Author of “Teacher Man”

Meet Mr. Raphael Harris, an iLEAD Agua Dulce 4th grade facilitator whose life journey demonstrates resilience and purpose. From his roots in a family of generations of educators to a career that spanned professional basketball and health and fitness coaching, Mr. Harris’s path to the classroom is an inspiration. We are grateful he’s found his place at iLEAD Agua Dulce, where his real-world experiences now fuel his goal to mentor rising leaders. That goal also involves writing a graphic novel inspired by his learners about transforming what others perceive to be as weaknesses into superpowers. Let’s get to know Mr. Harris!

Tell us about your journey to becoming a teacher:

Teaching is actually a legacy on my mother’s side of the family going back multiple generations — so in many ways it was always in my DNA. I received my degree in Kinesiology and Psychology of Coaching with a teaching credential, so it was always my plan B. But life had other plans first.

After college I played professional basketball, then transitioned into business and eventually became a health and fitness influencer. Teaching was not on my radar at all. Then I was T-boned by an SUV coming back from basketball training. The impact was severe enough to require multiple disc replacements in my neck and lower back. That accident knocked me out of everything I had built.

Two years into my recovery, my mother had a heart attack and I became her primary caretaker in Palmdale. It was during that season of life that I decided to apply to become a substitute teacher. That decision led me to iLEAD Agua Dulce. What started as substituting turned into a full-time position while I earned my credential and pursued my master’s in SEL Education. Looking back, I can see that every hard thing I walked through was quietly pointing me toward the classroom all along.

When did you know you wanted to be an author?

Honestly — I never thought I would become an author. I was an honor student in English and always had a creative imagination when it came to telling stories, but authorship was never part of the plan.

It happened completely organically in my 4th grade classroom. During our ELA block, my learners needed inspiration to write creatively, so I started experimenting. I created magical pets art using AI to spark their reading and writing. Then I tied a create-your-own-superhero project into our US History lesson — challenging learners to design a hero whose powers were connected to the three main functions of government. They came up with incredibly creative characters.

So I decided to make my own and share it with the class as a reading assignment through Google Classroom. I thought carefully about what core issues would be most relevant based on what I was observing — students getting off task on Chromebooks, physical distractions like small toys, the constant pull of technology. So I gave my hero the superpower of using focus to fight against distraction.

When my learners read the story, the response was immediate. They loved it — and there was an instant recentering and refocusing on their studies. That moment told me that this generation needs this story right now. Between the rapid advancement of technology and the lingering effects of post-COVID learning loss, I knew Teacher Man had to become a full book.

What is your upcoming book about?

Teacher Man is a graphic novel series set in Brightpoint — a diverse suburban city where screens dominate daily life, attention spans are shrinking, and real human connection is fading fast.

Troy Russell is a 4th grade teacher, former professional athlete, and devoted father — rooted deeply in real-life experience. When an experimental substance called Focus Fluid merges with him, he gains extraordinary abilities and becomes Teacher Man. Troy does not just receive a power — he becomes the only person whose will, purpose, and clarity of heart are strong enough to fully merge with it. Because what Focus Fluid responds to runs deeper than science.

His enemies are the Scroll Squad — teenage villains who weaponize distraction, infusing toys and gadgets with Fidgetium, a corrupted version of Focus Fluid designed to steal attention and disconnect children from everything that matters. Their leader, Mr. Scroll, is not just a villain — he is a hurt kid the world stopped paying attention to.

Standing alongside Teacher Man are five overlooked students whose so-called problems turn out to be their greatest gifts. Together they become the Focus Five.

The most powerful weapon against distraction? You will have to read the book to find out.

At its core, Teacher Man is a story about the power of presence, the heroism of teaching, and the belief that your difference is not your problem — it is your superpower.

What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of working toward publishing a book?

The most challenging part has been the craft itself — taking a short story and developing it into an entire universe. Refining prose, working with literary devices intentionally, and building characters with real depth has been a fun but demanding creative journey.

The other reality that no one fully prepares you for is the financial weight of bringing a book to life the right way. Professional illustration, publishing costs, and production all add up quickly. I believe in doing this at the highest level possible for these kids, and that requires real investment. It has been a lesson in resourcefulness, community, and understanding that bringing a meaningful project into the world sometimes takes a village.

But the most rewarding part has been the people. The community I have encountered in the creative and authorship space has been wonderful and refreshing. Writers, illustrators, and creatives who offer honest critique, genuine encouragement, and real advice have made this journey feel less like a solo climb and more like a team effort.

And then there are the kids. Seeing the positive impact already — watching children at our Kingdom Stories event identify with the characters, engage with the story, and get excited about reading — that has been everything. That moment reminded me exactly why I started writing in the first place.

If your learners were to remember only one thing from their time in your classroom, what would you want it to be?

I would want them to remember that their difference is their superpower.

So many young people walk through life feeling like the things that make them unique are problems to be fixed. Too energetic. Too quiet. Too creative. Too analytical. I want every learner who has spent time in my classroom to carry with them the understanding that those exact traits — the ones the world might try to dim — are the very gifts that will one day set them apart and allow them to change lives.

I want them to know they were seen. Believed in. And that someone thought they were capable of greatness before they fully believed it themselves.

What do you LOVE about iLEAD Agua Dulce? What sets it apart from other schools?

The very first day I substituted at iLEAD, I drove past Vasquez Rocks — a place I had taken my daughters to visit for years while studying at The Master’s University in Santa Clarita. But that day I drove deeper into the community than I ever had before.

Before I even made it through the gate, a woman named Susan approached me with such warmth — directing me where to park and exactly what to do to get my day started. Then Jacque personally walked me to my classroom. In that first hour, I felt something I had not felt at other schools I had visited — a genuine sense of community and care.

Then I met the learners. Their passion for learning combined with the school’s unique culture of blending education with nature was unlike anything I had experienced. iLEAD Agua Dulce does not feel like a typical school. It feels like a community that truly believes in developing the whole child. That day I asked if there were any opportunities for full-time work — and I have never looked back.

In your opinion, what makes a great leader?

To me great leadership starts with a daily commitment to improving yourself so that you can better serve others. It is not about a title or a position — it is about the standard you hold yourself to every single day.

A great leader leads by example and never forgets that young people are watching. I learned this firsthand as a professional athlete — children genuinely look up to us as real-life superheroes. That is not a metaphor. That is a responsibility. And being a good role model worthy of that trust is something I take seriously every single day in and out of the classroom.

Great leaders also understand that adversity is not the end of the story — it is part of it. The ability to face challenges, find the silver lining, and keep persevering with purpose and empathy for others is what separates leaders who inspire from those who simply manage.

And above all, a great leader shows up — for their family, their community, and the people who need them most. Consistently. Over time. That consistency is the real superpower.

Please name five fun facts about you. Extra credit for lots of details.

I am a true girl dad and Laker Fan. I have three daughters and, like my hero Kobe Bryant, I wear that title with tremendous pride. Everything I do is ultimately for them.

I have traveled to over 10 countries across Asia and Europe through my career in professional basketball and the health and fitness industry — but my love for global cultures actually started long before that. In high school I took Global Studies and interned for a Young Ambassador Program in Japan. That experience planted a seed in me early — a curiosity about the world, its people, and what connects us all across cultures and borders. Every country I have visited since has taught me something about people, perspective, and humanity that I bring into my classroom every day.

I am originally from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania — a small city of about 50,000 people. Coming from a place that small and making it to a professional basketball career, international travel, and now authorship reminds me every day that where you start does not determine where you finish.

I have a deep passion for US History — particularly military history, the unique geography and culture of every American state, and the stories behind the places that shaped this nation. I love studying what makes each state distinct, and I could spend hours going down that rabbit hole. Aerial America is one of my favorite shows and it perfectly combines two things I love — American geography and great storytelling.

In my summer free time I do Hot Shot Trucking — moving trucks for large companies across state lines. There is something I love about being on the open road, crossing through different states, and taking it all in. It connects perfectly to my love of American history and geography. Every stop is a chance to experience this country in a way most people never do.

 

Stay tuned for Mr. Harris’s upcoming book and learn more about it here and at TeacherManBook.com!

 

About iLEAD Agua Dulce:

iLEAD Agua Dulce is a free public school offering TK-12th graders a unique, personalized education in picturesque Agua Dulce, CA. Founded in 2018, the school emphasizes leadership development, play-based and project-based learning, and social-emotional development. Its outdoor classroom, complete with farm animals, promotes empathy and responsibility. Learners benefit from technology, arts, and aerospace opportunities, developing collaborative skills and critical thinking. High schoolers take advantage of UC a-g approved coursework, Career & Technical Education (CTE), and the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme, preparing for success in college and career. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook and find us at www.ileadaguadulce.org.

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