They envision a dropout prevention pilot program where high school-age
students mentor and tutor their middle school-age counterparts during
and after school – and get paid for it like a summer job.
Each district where the program was implemented would have a dropout
prevention coordinator, perhaps a teacher or counselor who has a passion
for the issue and is willing to put in the extra time. He or she would
receive a small stipend for their work.
The details still have to be hashed out, but State Superintendent of
Education Dr. Hank Bounds’ 20-member Youth Advisory Board are sure of
at least one thing: When the 2010 session rolls around, they will be
pushing legislation to implement such a program in several school
districts across the state.
The Youth Advisory Board, formed a couple of years ago to serve as a
voice for and to Mississippi school students on education issues, met on
Monday at the Mississippi Department of Education in Jackson. One of
their first duties after establishment was to lead Destination
Graduation: Teen Summit, a statewide dropout prevention program held in
January 2008. The Mississippi Board of Education has set the bold goal
of reducing the dropout rate to 13 percent by 2013.
Over the next several months, the group will be nailing down
particulars and finding research that backs up the idea for their
legislative project.
“In order to create meaningful change, people of influence in
education – including state lawmakers – should be seeking advice
from these students because they are the ones who can tell us exactly
how to keep their peers interested in school and in graduation,� Dr.
Bounds said.
House Education Chairman Cecil Brown, who spoke at the meeting on
Monday, advised Youth Advisory Board members to be clear in their
message.
“There are thousands of bills that are introduced every year,� he
said. “Yours needs to stand out and clearly target whatever you want
to accomplish.”
The three newly appointed members include:
– Samantha Alliston, 15, a 9th grader at Tri-County Academy in Flora;
– Grace Bozeman, 16, a 10th grader at Copiah County Academy in Gallman;
and
– Jennifer Michelle Lee, 16, an 11th grader at Gentry High School in
Indianola
Other members include:
– Will Brown, 15, a 9th grader at Hernando High School in Hernando;
– Brett Campo, 17, a 12th grader at Picayune Memorial High School in
Picayune;
– Jazmyne Clyde, 18, a 12th grader at Vicksburg High School in
Vicksburg;
– Rhea-Anna Donald, 15, a 10th grader at Hattiesburg High School in
Hattiesburg;
– Bonnie Dulaney, 15, a 10th grader at West Lauderdale Attendance
Center in Collinsville;
– Kristina Hope Duran, 17, a 12th grader at Ackerman High School in
Ackerman;
– Brianna Evans, 17, an 11th grader from Oak Grove High School in
Hattiesburg;
– JaPerry Gilbert, 16, an 11th grader from Pelahatchie High School in
Pelahatchie;
– Jasmine Johnson, 17, a 12th grader at Picayune Memorial High School
in Picayune;
– Aaron McGruder, 14, a 9th grader from Florence High School in
Florence;
– Neal McMillin, 17, an 11th grader from Madison Central High School in
Madison;
– Patrice Rodgers, 17, a 12th grader at Provine High School in
Jackson;
– Casey J. Sharp, 17, a 12th grader at Newton High School in Newton;
– Christopher Smith, 14, a 9th grader at New Albany High School in New
Albany;
– Cadedrie Spann, 16, an 11th grader at Webster County Career &
Technology Center in Eupora;
– Linn Vuong, 14, a 9th grader at Pass Christian High School in Pass
Christian; and
– Brandon Weir, a 9th grader at Biloxi Junior High School in Biloxi.
Youth Advisory Board to push dropout prevention legislation
They envision a dropout prevention pilot program where high school-age
students mentor and tutor their middle school-age counterparts during
and after school – and get paid for it like a summer job.
Each district where the program was implemented would have a dropout
prevention coordinator, perhaps a teacher or counselor who has a passion
for the issue and is willing to put in the extra time. He or she would
receive a small stipend for their work.
The details still have to be hashed out, but State Superintendent of
Education Dr. Hank Bounds’ 20-member Youth Advisory Board are sure of
at least one thing: When the 2010 session rolls around, they will be
pushing legislation to implement such a program in several school
districts across the state.
The Youth Advisory Board, formed a couple of years ago to serve as a
voice for and to Mississippi school students on education issues, met on
Monday at the Mississippi Department of Education in Jackson. One of
their first duties after establishment was to lead Destination
Graduation: Teen Summit, a statewide dropout prevention program held in
January 2008. The Mississippi Board of Education has set the bold goal
of reducing the dropout rate to 13 percent by 2013.
Over the next several months, the group will be nailing down
particulars and finding research that backs up the idea for their
legislative project.
“In order to create meaningful change, people of influence in
education – including state lawmakers – should be seeking advice
from these students because they are the ones who can tell us exactly
how to keep their peers interested in school and in graduation,� Dr.
Bounds said.
House Education Chairman Cecil Brown, who spoke at the meeting on
Monday, advised Youth Advisory Board members to be clear in their
message.
“There are thousands of bills that are introduced every year,� he
said. “Yours needs to stand out and clearly target whatever you want
to accomplish.”
The three newly appointed members include:
– Samantha Alliston, 15, a 9th grader at Tri-County Academy in Flora;
– Grace Bozeman, 16, a 10th grader at Copiah County Academy in Gallman;
and
– Jennifer Michelle Lee, 16, an 11th grader at Gentry High School in
Indianola
Other members include:
– Will Brown, 15, a 9th grader at Hernando High School in Hernando;
– Brett Campo, 17, a 12th grader at Picayune Memorial High School in
Picayune;
– Jazmyne Clyde, 18, a 12th grader at Vicksburg High School in
Vicksburg;
– Rhea-Anna Donald, 15, a 10th grader at Hattiesburg High School in
Hattiesburg;
– Bonnie Dulaney, 15, a 10th grader at West Lauderdale Attendance
Center in Collinsville;
– Kristina Hope Duran, 17, a 12th grader at Ackerman High School in
Ackerman;
– Brianna Evans, 17, an 11th grader from Oak Grove High School in
Hattiesburg;
– JaPerry Gilbert, 16, an 11th grader from Pelahatchie High School in
Pelahatchie;
– Jasmine Johnson, 17, a 12th grader at Picayune Memorial High School
in Picayune;
– Aaron McGruder, 14, a 9th grader from Florence High School in
Florence;
– Neal McMillin, 17, an 11th grader from Madison Central High School in
Madison;
– Patrice Rodgers, 17, a 12th grader at Provine High School in
Jackson;
– Casey J. Sharp, 17, a 12th grader at Newton High School in Newton;
– Christopher Smith, 14, a 9th grader at New Albany High School in New
Albany;
– Cadedrie Spann, 16, an 11th grader at Webster County Career &
Technology Center in Eupora;
– Linn Vuong, 14, a 9th grader at Pass Christian High School in Pass
Christian; and
– Brandon Weir, a 9th grader at Biloxi Junior High School in Biloxi.
Be the first to comment