High School Students Who Made a Change For the Better Recognized

Submitted by District 218

In education, success can take many forms. Perhaps a student earns an appointment to a military academy or a state championship in speech – in other cases, however, the shape of accomplishment can pass unrecognized.

When students turn away from trouble and failure, work hard, and start to discover their possibilities, educators rejoice, too. administrators celebrated those achievements, the ones that usually escape notice, this week.

They hosted a breakfast, which served as a reward, for more than 25 students who have turned a corner. And for these teenagers the personal growth, improved grades, and exemplary behavior represented a huge step toward becoming a success.

“We believe in you. We won’t give up on you,” Principal Josh Barron told his students.

After eating, students offered insight into how they earned the invitation to breakfast. Some spilled wisdom that only experience provides.

“Throughout my four years,” replied one senior, “I learned a lot about the world and myself. My priorities and morals have changed significantly. I always knew school was important, but I put a lot of other things first.”

“It was just putting things in perspective and deciding what road I wanted to take. I put more into school and less into fitting in. I started to look at who I wanted to be,” said another.

Some mentioned looking forward and not liking the view -- “I just understood that the decisions that I was making weren’t going to help me get to college,” said one senior.

“I realized that getting into a good college was a lot more important to me,” said another.

Deans, who handle many discipline matters, often see the same students over and over. Just like adults, some teenagers repeat the same mistakes before they learn. Dean of Students Jacki Frederking recalled an example of a turnaround story.

“I have worked with one student since her freshman year, at which time she racked up nearly 20 referrals. Most of her disciplinary interaction was related to negative peer interactions and getting to class late,” said Frederking.

This student’s popularity interfered with her classwork and behavior.

“During her sophomore year, she participated in our Operation Snowball program. By changing her peer group, becoming more focused on her academics, and accepting the support of her mother, she brought her disciplinary interaction to zero,” Frederking said.

This student currently earns honor roll grades. She will attend Snowball again this spring and hopes to serve as one of the student leaders in 2013. She sees Frederking on a regular basis, but for positive reasons like Snowball and the Shepard student ambassador program.

“She calls herself a work in progress. I call her a success,” Frederking said.

With pride, some students measured their growth in the reduction of visits to dean’s offices.

“I barely see the beautiful face of Mrs. Frederking anymore,” laughed one student. “I take school a little more seriously and my grades got better. I stopped getting in trouble and started getting it together.”

“I had 49 referrals last year and now I have none. I have a better attitude and I’ve really changed,” said one student.

“Last year I had 24 referrals. This year I have one,” said another.

When asked how they would advise peers on the cusp of a foolish decision, students offered firm recommendations. “Stay focused, stay out of trouble, and pay attention in school,” said one senior.

“Change early because once you’re behind it’s hard to catch up. And whatever you’re thinking of doing, think how it will affect you as person, your grades, and especially your parents,” said another.

Breakfast represented something important to the students. After spending too much time answering for poor choices, they received praise for their decisions to change.

“Being in the dean’s office is not a good feeling. For someone like a dean to expect you to do wrong feels like they have given up on you. Thank you all for acknowledging my changes,” said one student.

Teacher Justin Clark, currently working on his administrative certification in graduate school, helped plan the event. He and his wife, Katie, a social worker at Delta Learning Center in District 218, made ornaments with the words ‘Better Choices 2011’ for the students.

“I am fortunate to have the opportunity to fulfill the hours for my administrative internship with projects that are meaningful,” Clark said.