Rotund Roland
Description
Mocked and bullied for his large size by students and teachers alike, Roland Henderson was friendless and suicidal. It was not until his high school chorus teacher and a beautiful young lady stood up for him that his life began to change.
Watch as Mr. Carlson's encouragement and Connie's love spark a metamorphosis that changes Roland from recluse to social magnet.
From size-shaming to racial tensions, Rotund Roland deals with challenges students face.
More details
Person
J.L. Callison was an early reader, whose third-grade teacher encouraged his love of reading. He read over 300 books that year, and was reading on an eighth grade level by year's end. He developed a wide range of reading interests, and read volumes A-H of the World Book Encyclopedia! He loves to collect books, and has well over a thousand books in his library, most of which he has read at least once. Young adult is his favorite genre, for as he says, he refuses to grow up.
He studied for the ministry, and has served in lay capacities for much of his adult life, but always with a youth ministry focus. He has been, along with his wife, a junior-high youth sponsor and teacher for most of the last twenty-five years. He also served in rescue mission and jail ministries for several years.
He and his wife of 39 years live in Illinois. They have five grown children and are blessed with five grandchildren.
