30 Jan 2004
Career Training and Counseling Among the Incentives
Dallas—For many of the 200 students who will graduate from the Dallas Independent School District Reconnection Center at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, at Skyline High School, 7777 Forney Rd., their walk across the stage will signify an accomplishment many thought wouldn't be possible.
The Reconnection Centers is an initiative of the district's Dropout Prevention and Intervention Department that offers overage ninth grade students, or students in need of a non-traditional learning environment the skills and coursework needed to graduate.
"Our students are very unique," said H.B. Bell, associate superintendent—Alternative Programs. "They come from every phase of society, some are dropouts, others must get a diploma to keep a job, even others are very ill and can't attend school every day. Any adverse circumstance you can name our population has it, but somehow with the help of the great staff in our centers we get them through and on their way to achieving a high school diploma."
In all fairness, the reasons for enrolling in the center are as diverse as the district's student population. Some of the participants are students who left school because they had become pregnant and the traditional school schedule didn't allow them to take care of a child. For others, circumstances in their lives forced them to leave school and join the workforce.
Such is the case of Honoria Soto, a student at Thomas Jefferson High School who was unable to graduate because she lacked half-a-credit in physics.
"She was an honors and Advanced Placement student about to graduate when she had to leave school to work a 40-hours-a-week job to help support her family," said Rita Lorio, a Reconnection Center counselor at the school. She joined the center and with the help of the science teacher was able to complete the necessary work to graduate. Today, she is a freshman at the University of North Texas.
There are 19 Reconnection Centers located in district high schools; and there are three additional centers located centrally throughout Dallas. Hours of operation depend on the needs of the student population. At Thomas Jefferson, the center is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Fridays from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. The average student at the center meets one or more of the following criteria: is pregnant or parenting; must work to support a family; has chronic truancy problems or has been unsuccessful in a traditional school setting.
"The center is a win-win situation for the students," said Lorio. "With the use of computers and a self-pace environment the students learn quickly that it is up to them to graduate. They develop self-discipline and responsibility. In addition, because the classes are small, and the students work closely with the teachers and counselors, we can intervene early and provide academic support as well as counseling."
One Thomas Jefferson student who has thrived in the program is Jessica Mayeux. She says she likes the flexibility and the fact that she is able to keep her full-time job while working toward completing her high school education. She also likes the center's "mature environment."
"I dropped out of school when I became sick and fell too far behind in my courses to go back to my regular classroom," said Mayeux. "My ultimate goal is to become a nurse and the program gave me hope. I could have gone the GED route, but [I think] it is better for future employees to know I dealt with my situation and finished high school."
Business and community support for the program contributes to its success. Students who gain credits receive movie rental coupons and pizza parties courtesy of Blockbuster Video and Papa John's Pizza. In turn, the students are encouraged to become active participants in their community. "Thanks to a grant from the Meadows Foundation, we develop monthly projects that help the Red Cross, such as collecting water bottles or school supplies for children in need," Lorio said. The students receive community service and volunteer hours for their participation.
Approximately 50 percent of the 192 students who have completed the high school graduation program at Thomas Jefferson's Reconnection Center have pursued post secondary education, says Lorio. "This could not have been possible without the help of the center," Lorio added.
For information about the Reconnection Centers, call (972) 925-4878.