The subject of Carla Teare’s classes may not be part of a standard curriculum, but it is nevertheless an important part of student’s development: change.
Changes come from influences both internal and external and people deal with change in different ways. Teare, the Safe and Drug Free Schools coordinator for Clarkston Schools, works with students to deal with changes or to help them make some of their own.
Originally from Virginia, Teare moved to Michigan just before high school with her family. Like she encourages her students to do, Teare maintains a close relationship with her family. ‘I’m very close with my family? my sister is my best friend,? she said.
Having close family gives many people someone to talk to when they are faced with a difficult situation, but not everone has the luxury, so Teare works with those who might not.
Teare teaches ‘Reconnecting Youth? at Clarkston High School along with social worker Jim Butzine. The class gives students a chance to study themselves, their habits and their lives.
‘We wanted to reach out to kids in a different way than we had in the past,? she said.
Students spend the class discussing themselves, setting goals and developing plans to meet those goals. Teare said students are recommended to the program, but have to agree to participate in order to register.
‘To improve in school, you have to be ready, and if you are, we’re going to give you the skill to do that,? said Teare. For some students, Teare said the only thing they need to help them change is someone to listen to them.
‘It’s kind of a safe place for them they might not have,? she said. ‘They’re not only getting support in school, they’re learning life skills’It’s a curriculum that’s proven to be effective in reaching those goals.?
Teare’s work in the district started 15 years ago at North Sashabaw Elementary, but over time she’s worked all over.
‘I’ve been to most buildings in Clarkston,? she joked, saying she ultimately came to CHS to work with students at a pivotal stage in their education and lives. ‘I felt I could be more effective at the high school.?
Seeing the reflection of her own work on her students, Teare acknowledged that she has had to change many times as well.
‘I’ve changed a lot. Some of it’s not from me asking to? and even though you may not want to do it at the time, that change has kept me motivated about my profession.?
Teare said she’s seen students take the initiative and make real positive change in their lives, even when there are strong outside influences. Teare also works as the Health and Physical Education coordinator at CHS, and teaches students about keeping a healthy lifestyle. That means staying away from drugs and other risky behaviors. Fortunately, Teare says most students in her class have not gone as far as trying drugs, and that structure of the class is designed to be preventative.
But changing your personality and lifestyle can be extremely difficult and Teare said she knows she is asking a lot of her students, but it is worth it.
‘If you change one person you’ve accomplished a great deal,? she said.
But Teare knows the people who can help the most students are parents.
‘We know they have a greater influence on their kids lives than we do,? she said. Teare looked at other school districts for ideas on ways to help parents become more involved in their children’s education and development. Her primary focus was on the crucial time when students began to face more adult issues.
Thus, Teare along with administrators at Sashabaw Middle School introduced the ‘Healthy Transitions? program in May 2006.
The program is designed for seventh graders and their parents. Held at the junior high school, the students not only get a chance to visit the future school, but hear from guest speakers on topics like drugs and sex. Teare said the program is a way to counteract the exposure children get to these topics through the media. Likewise, Teare said the program has a two-fold goal for parents.
‘One is to give parents an understanding of issues going on with their children? the other is to let them see the curriculum,? she said. According to Teare, education for both groups can help stop problems before they even start.
‘The whole key in this is prevention,? she said.
So far, the program has had two successful runs. Teare said the only major complaint from the first year was that the program came too late in the year for students to choose their eighth class schedule. So for the 2006-07 school year, Teare made another change ? she rescheduled the program for Feb. 1.