Alexandria T.’s home life was rocky, and she struggled with mental health challenges, including ADHD, anxiety and depression. In high school, she got little support and found it hard to concentrate on studies. Instead of dropping out, she transferred to our school and finally received the help she needed. “Students in trauma respond in different […]

Students and parents acknowledged the dedication and hard work of teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6-11), but what are schools doing to attract and retain teachers? Schools nationwide are struggling to find teachers and 42 percent of schools feel understaffed. That number jumps to 57 percent in high poverty regions. It’s clear something needs […]

It seemed easy enough, get assigned a hypothetical salary and spend it on essentials, but for some of our students, a financial literacy event called Bite of Reality opened their eyes to the challenges of creating a budget and living within their means. Korina Echeverria, school counselor, explains how they partnered with a local credit […]

Summer H. is fascinated by the cognitive development of children – something she has been exploring in college dual enrollment classes while working toward her high school graduation. “We’re learning about the milestones in cognition for different age groups and how they tie to behavior patterns,” she said. “I want a career where I can […]

At her previous high school, Urseala was told many times by different teachers that she was a slow learner and wouldn’t be successful passing to the next grade. Fellow students made fun of her and while she was struggling to keep up, she found out she was pregnant and dropped out. At the suggestion of […]

When Tyreke J. saw a new barbershop open in his neighborhood, he noticed they didn’t have a logo. He knew he could design something eye catching. “So, I went in and told the owner that I was a graphic designer, and he should hire me for the job – and he did,” said Tyreke. “It […]

High school math teacher Bobby Trunz always has a few guitars at his desk, and when students ask why, he invites them to join his beginning guitar class. “I’m not trying to turn anyone into a musician. My goal is to teach them a fun hobby that they can do anywhere and that doesn’t cost […]