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Nothing speaks to the difference SEI’s programs are making in students’ lives as well as a success story about an individual student. We’ve highlighted some recent successes below.

success story #1
success story #2
success story #3

success story #1

His teachers had felt that Brandon* was a nice young man with good prospects in life. His mom, though she had a limited education herself, was actively involved in his school, highly respected in the community, and determined that he would succeed. But both of his parents fell ill and were largely unavailable over the summer and early fall of Brandon’s senior year in high school. Brandon, struggling with frustrations and self doubts and living in a neighborhood where gangs were powerful, felt the allure of gang life and started disrespecting his teachers, getting involved in fights, and engaging in petty theft. Two weeks into the first semester, Brandon dropped out of school.

The situation came to a turning point when Brandon came home from a party where there had been gunfire. Brandon was grazed by a bullet and was scared but otherwise unhurt. Brandon’s SEI School Coordinator had stayed in touch with him and heard about the incident immediately after it happened. The coordinator seized the teachable moment, quickly connecting with the other adults who played a major role in Brandon’s life: his parents, his SEI after-school tutor, and his coach. Together, they had a serious conversation with Brandon about his future. Feeling the concern, commitment, and expectations of this group of caring adults, Brandon quickly realized that he needed to get back in school and back on track with his life. Brandon began working daily with an SEI case manager to set up strategies to resolve conflicts, return to regular attendance at school and stay out of trouble. His case manager arranged for a mentor from the Portland Gang Task Force and played basketball with him every day to give Brandon an alternative to hanging out with gang members. He also set up a contract with Brandon to maintain 98% school attendance, end referrals for inappropriate behavior at school and run-ins with the juvenile justice system, and bring his grade point average up. They would celebrate meeting each major goal with a ticket to a Blazers game, a new pair of Jordan shoes, etc.

With his new plan and the backing of his family, school, and SEI team, Brandon stayed out of trouble, came up to a three point grade average, and graduated the following spring. This year he is attending Portland Community College. Even though he’s made it this far, Brandon still sometimes lets his frustrations get the better of him. He stays in touch with his coordinator and his case manager, and his mom’s SEI parent coordinator still works with her to make sure she has the tools she needs to keep supporting Brandon all the way.

*The student's name and some details have been changed to protect confidentiality.

 

success story #2

“My teachers say I’m a loser, I’m a troublemaker, I’m fat,” Tony* complained in the fall semester of his seventh grade year. Tony was close to being expelled. He was known for beating up other students and other behaviors that got him kicked out of class every other day, sometimes bringing his teachers to tears. Although he showed high intelligence in tests, between his many absences and his apathy towards learning, his grades were barely above failing.

When his SEI school coordinator met him, Tony affected disinterest in everyone and everything. But the coordinator managed to find a way in to Tony’s well-protected but caring heart. “Hey Tony, come cook with me at lunchtime.” Tony gave no answer, but he showed up. The coordinator made nachos, which Tony at first turned up his nose at, but he ate them and came back the next day to learn how to make them. Tony and his coordinator started cooking together every day. In this relaxed setting, they had a chance to talk about what was going on in Tony’s life and possibilities for change. The coordinator learned that Tony’s mother had left long ago and he was being raised by a hard-working but largely absent father. SEI’s Boys Mentoring Group seemed like the ideal way for Tony to get regular support to increase his self-esteem, have positive interactions with peers, and tackle his behavior issues. The coordinator invited Tony to join the group. Tony was dubious at first, but as with the cooking, he came anyway.

Within a month Tony realized it was to his advantage to turn around his approach. He dropped the aggressive behavior, paid attention in class, and his grades improved dramatically. He invited his dad to come meet his coordinator and teachers. When Tony showed his dad what was to be the prize for best behavior in the Boys Mentoring Group, they both got excited about the prospect of Tony riding home on the shining silver bicycle. With his coordinator’s and his dad’s support, Tony met the winning criteria: not engaging in a single fight, having no more than one absence from school, no problems with teachers, and participating fully in class and Boys Mentoring Group. When he was presented with the bike, he beamed with pride.

Tony’s teachers were amazed. “What did you do to Tony?!” Tony says he just realized that he had a choice. Now he asks, “How can I be an example to other kids?” In spite of his remarkable success, Tony’s coordinator knows the struggle is not over. “The transition from middle school to high school is going to be critical for Tony. We’ll keep on working with him all the way.”

*The student's name and some details have been changed to protect confidentiality.

 

success story #3

This fall, Jasmine* entered the fourth grade. When she entered Portland schools a little over two years ago, Jasmine was not sure she would ever pass second grade.

Jasmine’s mother’s drug and alcohol use during and after her pregnancy left her daughter with many neurological and emotional challenges. In school, this translated into Jasmine having trouble paying attention, getting failing grades, disturbing other students and disrespecting teachers. And she was often moody and resistant to going to school in the mornings.

Jasmine is being raised by her grandmother, who struggles hard to care for her six grandchildren (and often the parents who come in and out of their lives), but gets by with SEI’s family support program. “Whatever I need for my family, I know SEI will help me get it.” This kind of support and confidence has helped her grandmother be fully involved in Jasmine’s life at home and at school. She has conscientiously worked with SEI parent and school coordinators and Jasmine’s teachers to help Jasmine get on track and stay on track.

When Jasmine entered the program, SEI tutors worked with her every day after school so that she could catch up in reading, writing, and math. The SEI school coordinator helped Jasmine understand and succeed in the school culture. They started with the basics: raising a hand instead of shouting for attention, sharing or negotiating with others instead of grabbing whatever she wanted, etc. Jasmine learned to focus on one task at a time, finishing each task before she started the next, a strategy which greatly accelerated her academic progress. The coordinator also met with Jasmine’s teachers and grandmother to help them understand and support Jasmine through her challenges.

Having a team of people she could count on and meeting specific goals in each area gradually built Jasmine’s confidence, success, and positive relationships with all those around her. By the end of her third grade year, Jasmine’s test scores had risen two grade levels, and she had only a few referrals for inappropriate behavior. Most telling of all, her teachers gave her the highest of compliments, describing her as “eager to learn” and “a joy to have in class”. Jasmine still has her ups and downs, especially paralleling her mother’s continuing struggles with substance abuse. But now she knows she can learn and be friends with her teachers and classmates. And almost every morning she bounces out the door of her grandmother’s house, happy to go to school.

*Student's name and some details have been changed to protect confidentiality.

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