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ACES program helps
teens be successful
GREENVILLE – The Achievement Center for Educational Success (ACES) has
a special focus – to help at-risk students that are credit
deficient. So what is at-risk? There is no simple
definition, but ACES finds each of the students in their program is
unique and has his/her own set of strengths and problems.
At ACES, an alternative education program, students are given a
different option of learning at an off-site learning setting from their
home school district. Jeff Vaughn, program coordinator said,
“ACES works to help students to get caught up on their credits through
self-directed courses, regular classroom instruction and additional
online courses. The overall goal is to assist students to thrive and
succeed in achieving their high school diploma and move forward to a
positive future. If the students are willing to put the effort
forth and work hard, we’ll get them to their goal. It’s up to
them!”
This school year, ACES has worked with 51 students in 9th through 12th
grade from six schools in Darke County, one Miami County School and one
Mercer County School. At the end of the 1st nine weeks, we are
excited to report that students earned a total of 63.5 credits and two
students completed all their requirements to obtain their diplomas from
their home schools in May, 2015.
Jeff went on to say, “We are seeing several different trends over the
last few years; first there are more mental health issues that keep
students from functioning well in a regular school setting and this
year we are seeing more female students in our ACES classrooms.”
To help with these and other trends, ACES along with Gateway Youth
Programs provides support services, which include providing mentors to
the students and referrals to other service providers to ensure the
students’ needs are being met throughout the school year. In
addition, Kelly Harrison from Darke County Wellness and Recovery
facilitates Life Skills courses that provide education in health and
personal development, along with how to handle independence and the
responsibilities they encounter as young adults. Also starting in
January, Jamy Hanes from the OSU Extension Office will be teaching food
and nutrition courses.
ACES also encourage and assist students to develop employment skills
and obtain employment through a number of resources. This
semester there have been 9 students gain employment at various
employers (Whirlpool, Staff Mark, McDonalds and local dairy farms).
Congratulations go to our “Honor Roll” students during the first
grading period. “A Honor Roll” – Page Waterbury- Arcanum and
Courtney Cozart- Mississinawa Valley. Also with “A-B” – Toni
Brower, Ashley Banis, Kaitlyn Mogle and Kala Cramer from Tri Village;
Dillion Stamper, Dylan Hinch, Isaiah Tedore, and Jared Myers from
Arcanum; Jesse Clark, Taylor Yant, and Tiffany Craun from Bradford; Ben
Abernathy from Newton; Adrianna Shell from Franklin Monroe and Kathryn
Zeller from Mississinawa Valley. We are proud of their
achievements.
The program staff includes a certified intervention specialist, a
trained teaching assistant, and the program coordinator. The staff does
an excellent job motivating the students to be successful because of
the relationships they build with the kids. ACES also have a volunteer,
Dawn Coy, who assists in the classroom on a weekly basis that has been
a big help.
For more information about the ACES program call Jeff Vaughn, program
coordinator at 937-548-8002 or check the web site at
www.councilonruralservices.org. The Achievement Center for
Education Success (ACES) and Gateway Youth are programs of Council on
Rural Services … programs for innovative learning.
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