Our students are in school 35-40 hours a week and we spend only
a couple hours with them during this time.
What makes our jobs so difficult is what goes on in those hours outside
of school. We are confidence that our
kids nurtured in school, but once they leave, we’re no longer in control of
what happens in their lives.
One in two of our students live in extreme poverty. While some live in nearby housing
developments, less fortunate families frequently move between shelters. A family might start off in a nearby shelter
but get relocated to a different shelter farther away. Constant movement puts
stress on the students as their commutes become long, sometimes close to two
hours, and their home life is continual upheaval.
Family structures can be challenging as well. It’s very difficult for us to get a clear
picture of what the child’s living situation is like. Gang violence, domestic abuse, drugs and
incarceration are extremely common. A
mother might tell us that her husband is at work, but from the child we learn
that dad has been in jail for the last 6 months.
The teachers are amazing here. Many have been here for years and the love
they have for teaching and their students is amazing. However, regardless of how engaging the
lessons are or how many times a teacher drills those multiplication tables into
their heads, students cannot be successful academically if they are tired,
hungry or scared. Through our program we
strive to make our school a positive family environment where students can feel
safe and know that there are adults they can go to for help in their
lives. Our goal is to give students the
skills to cope with their lives outside of the school building. We work with
all the people who touch our students’ lives – parents, teachers, and school
administrators – to understand the barriers to success in our students’ lives
and to find ways to address these issues.
