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VB: That sounds like so much concen- tration over a three-hour period. Chaka: It is, definitely. Players get time- outs; officials don’t. We’re on the field, we’re on our feet, no matter what the weather. It’s almost like the mailman — rain, sleet or snow, they don’t care. It could be 40 degrees below zero, and we’re still out there. We don’t get to go on the sideline by the heaters.


VB: What it was like officiating during COVID-19? Chaka: I worked in the [Pac-12 Conference] this year. I prepared so much to work in the Pac-12, and when we were supposed to kick off in September, they canceled their season. Then they decided at the last minute that they wanted to have a season. Our season started in November, when the season usually ends. We had a lot of cancellations and movement of games. I had games that I was supposed to work on a Friday that eventually ended up being played on Sunday. Not knowing if your game was going to be canceled or if it was going to be moved, preparation is key.


VB: Why do you think that you’re the first Black woman hired as an on-field official by the NFL? Why not someone years ago, do you think? Chaka: For me, it’s just by default. If you look at the timeframe and where I was at a specific time, there really were only two women who were working Division I football. [Ed. note: Along with Chaka, Sarah Thomas was a Division I official then. She became the NFL’s first female official in 2015.] It was so weird because it was 2011. You would think that there would be more women involved by then, but there really weren’t. [Now], there’s tons of women that are involved. We actually have a couple that are in the [NFL] development program that are working very hard and they’re actually really good. I think with them, it’s only a matter of time before they get their shots to come to the league. I just think it’s a matter of women actu- ally stepping outside the box and trying something. Also, [for] us in these leader- ship positions, we have to do a better job at recruiting and giving opportunities for young ladies.


VB: What are your students’ thoughts on your accomplishment? Chaka: My students are very excited. This is actually funny — [in-person] attendance at my school has actually increased since the announcement was made. All my students come to class now. Even on the Zoom meetings, it’s funny,


I have parents ask, “Is that your teacher? She was on the ‘Today’ show!” I’m happy that it has that type of positive effect. I am able to give them some encouragement to come to school just to achieve and just to work a little bit harder. We specialize with kids with unique needs, like a lot of behavior problems. Our school is predominantly male, [but] I have had quite a few young ladies throughout the years. I try to be a role model for them, to lead by example and encourage them to do something different. I just love being able to share parts of my world, expose them to something that they normally wouldn’t be exposed to.


VB: Do you plan to continue working as a teacher? Chaka: I’m definitely going to continue working as a teacher. Well, I don’t know if I’m going to be a teacher, but I still want to be in my school district. It all depends on what opportunities arise, but working with youth is always going to be my No. 1 passion. Always.


VB: What do you imagine it will be like 10 years from now in the NFL for officials? Chaka: At least 50-50 in terms of minorities and a staff that really represents the players and the fans, because you have a lot of women who are huge fans of football.


VB: What do you think you bring to this sport? Chaka: I guess I’m a big fan of humanity, and I just like to bring the human aspects of things. In the game — where everything is professional, where everything is black and white a lot of times — sometimes we’ve got to just stop and think. Let’s do what’s best for the situation or what’s best for this person right now, and not necessarily because it is the hard, black-and-white rule — when you just really work for the spirit of the game. ■


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