Natalia Gonzalez knew something was wrong.

Terrell Jennings had just helped carry the Mandarin High School Mustangs to a thrilling Florida Class 8A State Championship victory. The 18-year-old running back from Jacksonville was getting recruited by USF, Western Kentucky, UT-Chattanooga and other mid-major schools. College football was on the horizon.

But Jennings’ grades began to crater out of nowhere.

At Mandarin, the “Adopt a Mustang” program has existed for decades, where faculty members are encouraged to choose a varsity athlete to mentor. “Mustang parents” might occasionally provide players with a snack or lunch, but the main priority is keeping tabs on grades and offering a sounding board for whatever the kids are going through.

Gonzalez, a health and physical education teacher

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