Student Successes
Potential.Opportunity.Success.
Christian returns to public school
When Christian came to the Roanoke Minnick Education Center, the first-grader handled his frustration with his fists. "Little things would set him off," says teacher Lesa Ballantine. "If he got upset, he would fight everybody and anybody; teachers, students. He was very hard to redirect." And, he loved to argue. Instead of dong his work, says Ballantine, "he would spend 45 minutes trying to convince you that the grass was blue."
Almost two years later, however, Christian has mastered the behavioral skills necessary to be successful in public school. In January, he returned to third grade at his former elementary school in Bedford County, and Ballantine says that she feels confident that he will do well. Christian is fortunate in that he will have a full-time behavioral specialist from Minnick to accompany him every day for the next three months to make sure he makes a successful transition to the public school environment where the pace is faster and the expectations high. Academically, Christian is on grade level and a good student.
Ballantine credits strong involvement at home, the multi-faceted program at Minnick, and a healthy dose of maturity for Christian's progress. Christian's mother, Nicolette Smith, adds, "We couldn't be more pleased with Minnick. I had never seen such love and encouragement from a school staff before. The staff worked together to help Christian as well as our family. Minnick not only educated Christian, they educated us, too."
School's first graduate makes great strides
Although it looked like any other graduation, complete with announcements, invitation, cap and gown and lunch afterward June 6, 2006, was a very special day for Jonathan, who graduated from the Harrisonburg Minnick Education Center with an IEP diploma. Jonathan is the school's first graduate, and he is thrilled.
When he came to Minnick from Hermitage Hall, a residential facility in Tennessee, the 18-year-old was withdrawn and depressed. Because of his complex special education and counseling needs, including serious cognitive delays, His home school system in Augusta County had decided that the best place for him was at Minnick. When he arrived, says case manager Jim Collins, he wouldn't make eye contact with anyone and would only speak when asked a direct question.
He was also seriously truant, until one morning when Collins went to his house and with his father's blessing, rousted Jonathan out of bed and brought him to school. That day marked a turnaround. "His behavior has changed dramatically," says Collins. "He shows up every day ready to roll and jumps right into school activities."
A supportive father and lots of one-on-one instruction and counseling have helped him make quick progress, says Collins. Jonathan reads and writes legibly and has mastered making change, which was a major goal of his Individualized Education Plan (IEP). He has also enjoyed using NovaNET, the school's new online learning system.