Friday, June 3, 2005
By Joe Dent 

On June 3, Robert Wallace addressed 101 sixth graders at the "promotional" exercises of Patuxent Elementary School in Upper Marlboro where Judy Dent is principal. Wallace spoke of growing up in a poor, crime-ridden Baltimore neighborhood, where he was nicknamed "Mumbles" because of a stuttering problem. He recounted how he was wrongfully arrested as a youngster. Although disrespectfully interrogated by the Baltimore police, Wallace's mother calmly endured the assault on her dignity so that she could free her son from going to jail. Wallace resolved that he would never do anything to bring shame or disrespect to his mother.

Wallace also told his audience of a great disappointment he weathered upon his arrival at Dartmouth College to begin an MBA program. In their initial meeting, his advisor told him, "Mr. Wallace, I don't think you're going to make it in this school." Wallace called his parents telling them he wanted to come home. His father said, "Boy, I didn't raise no chumps. Your mother and I have worked too hard to get you into that school. I'm hanging up, and don't you ever call your mother again!" ("Mumbles" Wallace had already finished the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in electrical engineering.) He completed his MBA at Dartmouth and later was awarded a doctorate in humane letters from Sojourner-Douglass College.

Wallace (the founder, president and CEO of BITHGROUP Technologies--an IT solutions consulting firm) has also authored five books and is in constant demand as a consultant and public speaker in the U.S. and around the world.

Wallace concluded his remarks by holding up a $20 bill. He asked, "If I fold and crumple this bill, is it still worth $20? Would you still want it?" The class shouted, "Yes!" Wallace continued, "If I throw it on the ground, stomp on it, throw dirt on it and bury it, is it still worth $20? Would you still want it?" Each time, the students shouted louder, "Yes!" Said Wallace, "Well, that's exactly how we are in the eyes of God. No matter what others may do to us, or say to us, or how they may treat us, we still have value, great value, in the eyes of God." Wallace suddenly tossed the bill behind his back towards the class where a quick-handed and grateful sixth grader fetched it to a standing ovation.

Patuxent Elementary is 98% African American and under Judy's leadership, there have been numerous awards for excellence and achievement including Prince Georges County Teacher of the Year, county orienteering champions, Washington Redskins award winners for community service, many students in the Kennedy Center Young Artists Program, the first school to establish a student "cup speed stacking" competition in Maryland which was recently televised on, "Inside Edition," and regularly meeting and exceeding state standards for achievement testing.

Dent attributes Patuxent's success to God's blessings. She and her assistant principal, LaChon Winston, worship in the principals's office behind closed doors each morning and regularly pray together for the students, staff, and parents of Patuxent Elementary school.

Wallace consults with Maryland Governor Bob Erhlich on school issues throughout the State, and he says that he had been hearing many good things about Patuxent Elementary, but until invited to speak on June 3, did not know that Judy Dent was the principal.