Donna Boston has been named 2017 Teacher of the Year for her work with pregnant and parenting students.
"O-M-G! Mrs. B totally deserves this," says Gabrielle, a 17-year-old parenting junior at New Futures High School in Albuquerque, NM. "If it wasn't for her believing in me, I probably would have dropped out."
Boston teaches child development, parenting, and family financial management. She aso developed a new class designed to help students explore college and career options which is now a required course for all students. In addition to her work inside the classroom, Boston established a relationship with Big Brothers Big Sisters to provide students with Big Sisters who were themselves teen parents and overcame the obstacles.
Jinx Baskerville, principal at New Futures says, "Mrs. Boston has been instrumental to the success of our students. Our test scores have risen, absenteeism is down, and our graduation rate has increased every year since she has been with us."
Stacy Carter, mother of a graduated student, says, "Mrs. B is the reason my daughter is in college now."
Boston's style comes from an asset-based approach. "I believe it's important to find out what is going right in a child's life and build upon that in order for them to be successful. This applies not just in school, but it builds resiliency when facing all of life's challenges."
Excellent work and perspective to talk about teen pregnancy and graduation/support. All too often it seems that focus is primarily on traditional students. Another excellent link is your link to Big Brothers Big Sisters and the need for support structures to help our kids. The college preparation input was good too, congrats on becoming teacher of the year.
ReplyDeleteNice piece of weaving controversial and growth outside the norm. The concept of nurturing pregnant teens is an idea that has tremendous potential. Rising stars lost to a moment of hormonal passion are a failure of the system as it stands now. Excellent insight and inclusion of the controversial. I'd nominate you, vote and campaign for that reason alone. Insightful piece; President Nicholson will be waiting for you in 2017!
ReplyDeleteM-O-G my oh gosh! you are going to be an excellent teacher! It is so important for these young mothers to have someone like you in their lives. To have someone to hold their hands and let them know that there are things you can do, life isn't over, it's just starting for them. The idea of integrating the big sisters as mentors is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteHi Donna,
ReplyDeleteI think your ideas are wonderful. Yes, it is so important for pregnant teens and teen parents to have support in school. There are so many issues that they may need support, education, counseling and guidance with. Child development and parenting classes are excellent ideas! So are financial management and college prep (for everyone). I think that your ideas are very realistic, practical and needed. I think that you have addressed some issues that are often overlooked in schools, but are really important. College preparation is something that I think all public high schools should have. It is important not just to prepare the students academically, but also to help them with the college application process and navigating and adjusting to the whole structure of college.