UnCrippling Alternative Education

Format

Individual Presentation

First Presenter's Institution

A Fresh Start Solution

First Presenter’s Email Address

pjackson@docoschools.org

First Presenter's Brief Biography

Patricia Jackson Ed. S. is Regional Director of Fresh Start Solutions which include Fresh Start Academy and Fresh Start Institute private alternative education programs. Patricia has a diverse background in education, including exceptional student education, career education, post-secondary education, and teacher education. She has served on state DOE advisory boards in career education and on several accreditation and program review teams. Having served at various levels of education, Ms. Jackson is especially drawn to students who are teetering on the verge of giving up. Ms. Jackson is an educator, education administrator, educational consultant, and entrepreneur. Ms. Jackson is also a published author.

Second Presenter's Institution

Fresh Start Academy

Second Presenter’s Email Address

kendra.huff@docoschools.org

Second Presenter's Brief Biography

Kendra Huff, Ed. D. is a recently retired educator currently serving as the Director of the Albany, GA campus of Fresh Start Academy, a private alternative education program. Dr. Huff's background in education includes both district and school level leadership in career education. She has also served as assistant principal, school counselor and mathematics teacher. She taught mathematics in both Georgia and Florida school districts. She is also the co-owner of two residential living centers for teenage and young adult males. She believes in positive affirmations and building relationships. She also believes in discipline with love. Dr. Huff has recently published her first book.

Third Presenter's Institution

A Fresh Start Solution

Third Presenter’s Email Address

travis.lockhart@afreshstartsolution.com

Third Presenter's Brief Biography

Travis Lockhart is the CEO of Georgia based educational agency, A Fresh Start Solution. The Fresh Start umbrella encompasses alternative educational options for 6-12 students via private school or school partnerships. Fresh Start Solutions consist of Fresh Start Academy and Fresh Start Institution. Travis has 20 years of educational experience from various areas such as psychoeducation, advocacy, athletics, enrollment, and mentoring. Driven by a desire to positively impact education, Travis formed Fresh Start in 2017. His goal was to provide educational access to disenfranchised and at-risk youth by removing barriers and stigma from alternative education. Travis is a community leader and entrepreneur and has participated on strategic educational panels in support of community and school collaboration and violence intervention in neighborhoods.

Location

Session Five

Strand #1

Home: Family & Community Engagement

Strand #2

Health: Mental & Physical Health

Relevance

Our presentation focuses on how to leverage support from family, community, and other stakeholders to create and access opportunities for students in alternative education settings. This includes creating opportunities to show the best sides of our students in the form of positive press as they perform community service, conduct political awareness opportunities, or participate in dialogue with high profile and accomplished role models. We also established classroom relocation for students whose behavior is escalating negatively. In addition, we focus on our students’ and teachers’ mental health by incorporating trauma-informed educational solutions throughout our school day such as connect before you correct, positive daily affirmations, and teacher /students mentor groups.

Brief Program Description

UnCrippling Alternative Education informs how trauma impacts teaching and learning. Attendees will learn how implementing trauma-informed practices build trust and autonomy for students in alternative education programs, especially diverse populations such as foster children, adjudicated students, and emancipated students. At the core of the session is how, Fresh Start Academy & Fresh Start Institute, empowers students by providing opportunities for students to participate in their learning, disciplinary decisions, and school evaluation and how to leverage community support which included a campus visit from Georgia’s Governor, the honorable, Brian Kemp who participated in a discussion panel with students from Fresh Start Academy.

Summary

UnCrippling Alternative Education begins with transforming alternative education by living up to what the name implies, offering alternatives. For transformation to occur, understand that: 1.One out of every four children has been exposed to a traumatic event. 2. Exposure to trauma impacts children physically, emotionally, intellectually, and socially and 3. The approach to education and school culture must change.

Our session informs how trauma impacts teaching and learning for both staff and students. Attendees will learn how implementing the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) trauma-informed practices of peer support, collaboration & mutuality, and empowerment & choice work together to build trust and autonomy for students in alternative education programs. This is especially relevant for the diverse populations that we serve such as foster children, adjudicated students, and emancipated students. Additionally, our school culture emphasizes respect for individuality with regard to cultural and gender unbiased approaches to learning .Student involvement and collaboration go into development of individualized graduation paths that fit students’ unique circumstances and attributes such as anxiety, health, and mental health issues. Students receive discipline best when they participate in their own discipline and are immersed in strategic empowerment and autonomous advocacy. Likewise, modification of schedules accommodates today’s students’ unique responsibilities such as parenthood, full-time employment, probation meetings, and living on their own. With the amount of stressors added to today’s youth, job one is to restore confidence in defeated students. We accomplish this with rewards systems that are meaningful to them including: personal and academic milestone celebrations, nonacademic scholarships, athletic participation, leadership opportunities and exposure to new experiences.

We emphasize relationships at every level. One major theme is “connect before you correct”. Correction will be received more readily. Students are also involved in the continuous program evaluation to improve educational programs and services. In addition, students participate in their own transition into alternative education and seamless return to the traditional home school or external agencies. Students require support and positive interaction from their home school, parents and community members so many opportunities are provided to allow students to show their positive contributions.

Evidence

  • UnCrippling Alternative Education begins with transforming alternative education by living up to what the name implies, offering alternatives. For transformation to occur, understand that: 1.One out of every four children has been exposed to a traumatic event. 2. Exposure to trauma impacts children physically, emotionally, intellectually, and socially and 3. The approach to education and school culture must change.

  • Our session informs how trauma impacts teaching and learning for both staff and students. Attendees will learn how implementing the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) trauma-informed practices of peer support, collaboration & mutuality, and empowerment & choice work together to build trust and autonomy for students in alternative education programs. This is especially relevant for the diverse populations that we serve such as foster children, adjudicated students, and emancipated students. Additionally, our school culture emphasizes respect for individuality with regard to cultural and gender unbiased approaches to learning .Student involvement and collaboration go into development of individualized graduation paths that fit students’ unique circumstances and attributes such as anxiety, health, and mental health issues. Students receive discipline best when they participate in their own discipline and are immersed in strategic empowerment and autonomous advocacy. Likewise, modification of schedules accommodates today’s students’ unique responsibilities such as parenthood, full-time employment, probation meetings, and living on their own. With the amount of stressors added to today’s youth, job one is to restore confidence in defeated students. We accomplish this with rewards systems that are meaningful to them including: personal and academic milestone celebrations, nonacademic scholarships, athletic participation, leadership opportunities and exposure to new experiences.

  • We emphasize relationships at every level. One major theme is “connect before you correct”. Correction will be received more readily. Students are also involved in the continuous program evaluation to improve educational programs and services. In addition, students participate in their own transition into alternative education and seamless return to the traditional home school or external agencies. Students require support and positive interaction from their home school, parents and community members so many opportunities are provided to allow students to show their positive contributions.

Learning Objective 1

How to make alternative school a place students are proud to attend.

Learning Objective 2

How to implement trauma informed practices into the school culture.

Learning Objective 3

How to showcase your students.

Keyword Descriptors

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Trauma Informed Education, Community Collaboration

Presentation Year

2024

Start Date

3-5-2024 10:15 AM

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Mar 5th, 10:15 AM

UnCrippling Alternative Education

Session Five

UnCrippling Alternative Education informs how trauma impacts teaching and learning. Attendees will learn how implementing trauma-informed practices build trust and autonomy for students in alternative education programs, especially diverse populations such as foster children, adjudicated students, and emancipated students. At the core of the session is how, Fresh Start Academy & Fresh Start Institute, empowers students by providing opportunities for students to participate in their learning, disciplinary decisions, and school evaluation and how to leverage community support which included a campus visit from Georgia’s Governor, the honorable, Brian Kemp who participated in a discussion panel with students from Fresh Start Academy.