OKEMOS - Former Okemos High School Athletic Director, Ira Childress, visited Schuler Books on Sunday, February 23rd for a book signing event for his newly published book ''From Poverty To Prominence."

According to the book description, "Beating the Odds is a collection of stories from my childhood and adulthood that chronicles my inspirational journey through life and sport. These stories range from my experiences growing up in poverty, navigating adolescence as a student-athlete and pursuing various careers in sport."

Childress opened the book signing event by talking about his upbringing and how his mother was the most influential person in his life when he was growing up. Also, he discussed how he overcame his learning challenge of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) as well as struggles with organization.

He spoke about his experiences working at Okemos High School and his current position at Gulliver Prep in Miami, Florida. He went on to explain that he thinks player development is important and that coaches and players having a personal relationship is also very important.

Ira Childress told me his inspiration for his book.
" The inspiration was to help student and student athletes and young people in general that grew up in tough conditions, tough environment like I did and let them know that education can change their life if they continue to work hard, do all the things they need to do, they will definetley have an opportunity to be successful."

Ira Childress also told me that he is not currently writing another book.