While attending a conference focusing on alternative high school in Austin, Angela Zelaya was truly inspired by one of the speakers.
"The presenter had created a program called, 'Why Try' to show at-risk students how they are trapped in a cycle with no goals and that they are living for the present instead of looking toward the future," explained Zelaya.
The "Why Try" program has been successful in helping at-risk students overcome their challenges and improve outcomes in areas such as truancy, behavior and academics. It includes a series of 10 charts with several activities for each that shows students what life path they are on and steps and resources to help them make reach purposeful goals in their lives.
Zelaya has worked in the La Porte ISD for four years and teaches English to A and B side students at Dewalt School.
"The A-side of our school is the accelerated side for students wishing to get ahead or catch up on credits," said Zelaya. "The B-side is the behavioral side where we have students come from the high school for a short period of time for disciplinary reasons."
Realizing that "Why Try" could really benefit some of her students, Zelaya applied for a La Porte Education Foundation grant to purchase 100 "Why Try" journals and was awarded her grant during the 2008-2009 school year. Immediately, she saw how the program's lessons would impact her students.
"There are many different concepts taught in this program," said Zelaya. "One that is extremely eye-opening for the students uses cans of French-fried potato sticks to demonstrate that the 'labels' others put on us are not what we really are on the inside. When they open the cans, they are full of star-bursts and I tell them they are stars. So the label on the outside of the can is not what’s on the inside."
As they worked through the program, Zelaya saw students begin to realize they needed to follow rules, attend school regularly and find a good support person so they can reach for goals in the future instead of living for the present thrills which get them nowhere except in trouble, Zelaya said.
Zeyala encourages other teachers with visions for improving their classrooms to take advantage of LPEF's grants.
"It is wonderful to have this financial assistance available to us, so we can help our students become productive, successful members of society."
