[September 16, 2011] Alternative school works to help students become their best selves Tweet Sep 16, 2011 (Tulsa World - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Students at Phoenix Rising Alternative Day Program can be loud, their conversations animated. These young people, after all, haven't always had a lot of luck checking their impulses or lowering their voices. But here, in two simple classrooms in an old north Tulsa school, they need not worry about being models of composure. They simply need to be their best selves. "If you are mad, instead of suspending you right on the spot, they'll just take you out, let you walk around, let you cool off a bit," said student Ashlynn Southern, 16. "They help you in as many ways as possible. It's a good school." Southern, one of 12 students attending Phoenix Rising this school year, knows all about suspensions. She was suspended dozens of times as a middle-school student and has been in and out of Phoenix Rising the past three years. After losing two young cousins to a house fire last year, Southern is back at the school with a new sense of purpose. "I'm actually more into it because I want to be a firefighter in the National Guard," she said. "I put it off for a little bit (after the fire), then I was like, 'I do want to become a firefighter. I want to be able to help somebody else.' " Phoenix Rising, 1205 W. Newton St., serves middle and high school students who are -- or have been -- in the juvenile justice system or no longer attend their home school. It was created four years ago by the Tulsa County Juvenile Bureau in partnership with Tulsa Public Schools. Its predecessor, Phoenix School, provided similar programs before it was closed when TPS opened Tulsa Academic Center. Phoenix Rising students are part of the Tulsa Public School system and receive credit for their academic work. Last year, all 25 students in the alternative program advanced to the next grade level. "These students have a history of failing educationally for a long time," said Program Director Mary Kevin McNamara. "So they come in here very negative, assuming they're going to fail, assuming they are going to be suspended again. "Our job is to stop that and to let them know they can learn. They can achieve. They can be successful." Students are given individualized instruction by two advisers, or teachers, and three social workers. The curriculum includes standard academic courses -- reading, writing and arithmetic -- but it is the program's emphasis on improving students' behavior and social skills that distinguishes the alternative school. "We use the Big Picture learning model that emphasizes student-interest learning based on experiences in the community," McNamara said. Phoenix Rising works closely with local arts, humanities and community-service organizations to provide learning opportunities and internships for its students. Student Destiny West, 16, is turning her passion into a career. West spends two days a week at the Tulsa chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals training to become an animal care specialist. "It's way better," West said of the school. "There are not as many students, and you get more one-on-one time and you get to go out into the real world." Former Teach for America instructor Joelle Budzinsky taught two years at Gilcrease Middle School before choosing to come to work at Phoenix Rising. "I just want kids to learn how to feel good about themselves, learn what they are passionate about and be able to take that out into the community and build positive lives for themselves," Budzinsky said. "I don't know if you always get to do that in a traditional setting." Phoenix Rising: an alternative day program What: Education program for middle and high school students who are -- or have been -- in the juvenile justice system or students not in a traditional school setting. Program provides individualized instruction to improve academic and social skills. Where: 1205 W. Newton St. Participants: Since the program began in 2008, 121 have students participated. Seventy-four students have either gone back to their home school, graduated, received a GED or pursued other educational opportunities. Currently, 12 students are in the program. Staff: Two advisers (teachers), three social service workers Program operators: The Tulsa County Juvenile Bureau initiated the program four years ago with the aid of Tulsa Public Schools, which provides the academic resources, including classrooms, for the program Funding: Provided by Tulsa County and Tulsa Public Schools Kevin Canfield 918-581-8313 [email protected] ___ (c)2011 Tulsa World (Tulsa, Okla.) Visit Tulsa World (Tulsa, Okla.) at www.tulsaworld.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]