Ohio Department of Education Representatives Hear from MVCTC Youth Connections Students
Dayton, Ohio – Ohio Board of Education Vice President, Charlotte McGuire and State Superintendent, Paolo DeMaria visited the Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) Youth Connections programs on Tuesday, January 28, 2020. Also in attendance were Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, and Lisa Gray, President of Ohio Excels.
The MVCTC Youth Connections is an alternative educational program that serves the Miami Valley area. Youth Connections targets students who are:
- Disconnected from school due to non-attendance or an inability to succeed in a regular school setting
- Lacking in credits for his or her age group
- Deficient in the areas emphasized in the End of Course Tests
- Under expulsion for non-violent reasons
Youth Connections is based on instruction in a small personal setting with a great deal of flexibility and a curriculum that will allow students to receive their high school diploma and gain skills necessary to lead to long-term employment. All students enrolled in Youth Connections are a part of the Career Based Intervention (CBI) program.
History of Youth Connections
The Montgomery County Commissioners created the Montgomery County Out-of-School Youth Task Force in January 1998. The county commissioners asked the Task Force to develop recommendations on what action the community should take to reclaim and serve the at-risk youth of the Miami Valley.
Educators on the Task Force determined that an alternative kind of public education could serve the needs of those students who leave high school and those students who have not been able to succeed in the traditional educational system.
A team of Miami Valley Career Technology Center & Educational Service Center educators formed to look at curriculum and funding for an alternative school and to conduct focus groups to determine the students' needs. Their goal is to return these young people to a suitable educational environment where they can gain the necessary skills for the workplace and life.
The Task Force recommendations were followed. With the financial backing of the Montgomery County Commissioners, and the experience of Miami Valley Career Technology Center, "Youth Connections" opened for its first students in the fall of 2000. The dream of many became a reality. Youth Connections added a program for 8th graders in the fall of 2007. The program is designed to give those students who are behind the opportunity to get back on track with their classmates and be prepared for a successful high school career.
To date, Youth Connections has helped 1,020 students graduate, and many of these same students that were on the brink of dropping out of school entirely not only completed high school, they have gone on to earn over $1.3 million in college scholarships. These students were given the support they needed to finish high school and realized they had a very bright future ahead of them.
The visit to Youth Connections included a tour of the facilities and a chance to speak with current students and staff and see the educational experience in action. Visitors also had the opportunity to hear from one Youth Connections graduate, Jerry Garcia (Huber Heights), two current students, Bradly Carpenter (Valley View) and Tristin Harmon-Shoecraft (Dayton), and Youth Connections Math Instructor, Aden Penrod.
Million-Dollar Man
Youth Connections Graduate Jerry stated, “high school was not going well for me. I was getting in trouble. I had the option to try the Youth Connections program and not only did I earn my diploma my attendance increased to 96%. I didn’t dread coming to school anymore. The teachers [at Youth Connections] are phenomenal! And I am the first in my family to earn a high school diploma, I am setting a good example for my younger siblings and I have big plans in the future.” Jerry graduated thanks to the Youth Connections program and is employed as a mason working with his father in the family business. He plans to have his own business someday and will strive to become a millionaire.
Youth Connections is a God Send
Current Youth Connections student, Bradly Carpenter, shared how he was struggling in school and was so far behind as a sophomore. He had become extremely discouraged as well had his family. He had the chance to enroll in Youth Connections, and everything started to turn around. As you listen to him share his experiences, you can see the pride in his accomplishments in his smile. Bradly shared, “attending Youth Connections is nothing short of a God send to me. Something just clicked here. I did not think anyone believed in me before and I did not believe in myself. Here I knew the staff believed in me. I was able to do the work at my own pace and not forced to do the work on someone else's schedule.” Bradly will graduate soon and plans to continue his education using the scholarship he will earn from Youth Connections to attend Sinclair Community College.
Dreams to help others
Tristin Harmon-Shoecraft, a current Youth Connections student, was also very far behind in earning her high school credits to graduate. The feeling of being that far behind was defeating, but thanks to Youth Connections, she is getting her credits caught up and sees a future full of opportunity. Tristin plans to attend Sinclair and has career goals that never would have been possible before. She would like to help others by studying for a career in law enforcement and possible work in the juvenile courts.
All three students repeatedly shared the importance of the Youth Connections staff and how their encouragement and interest in their students made the biggest difference. A visit to Youth Connections makes it evident that this is a special program doing amazing work!
For more information about MVCTC Youth Connections, please visit http://www.mvctc.com/youth-connections.
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