The National At-Risk Education Network

NARENnews

2010 Conference Update:
Wednesday Keynote Announced!

Dr. Stephen Sroka

NAREN is proud and excited to have Dr. Stephen Sroka, speaker and television guest with Oprah and a CNN Talk Back Live expert on school violence, as giving our keynote and seminar on Wednesday, February 17th, 2010!

Steve grew up in poverty in a housing project in a single parent family. His third grade report card read, "Parent notified boy is retarded." In the ninth grade, after being involved in a school fight, he had two hip operations and was told that he may never walk again. The doctor told him he better start to listen to his teachers. And, as he tells students today, the more he listened, the smarter the teachers became.

Education was the only way out of the ghetto for Steve. When he graduated from high school, he worked full-time to get his family off welfare before entering college. His childhood offered unique challenges that helped him become a better educator.

Today, Dr. Stephen Sroka is an internationally recognized speaker, trainer, author, teacher and educational consultant on sex, drugs and violence prevention education, school safety, brain-based learning, alternative education, parenting, and dropout prevention.

Dr. Sroka speaks in schools and communities around the world and often on Native American reservations. He has keynoted many state professional conferences. Recent national/international keynotes include: ASCD, NASSP, NASRO, DARE, NCPC, YCWA, SSAC, NISBA, UNITY, US Dept Ed-OIE, NASN, SSWAA, PRIDE, AAFCS, NDPN, IATDP, NSSSC, NAEHCY, NAASBMA, NYAR, AAIE, and programs in Dubai.

He is an Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, Division of Adolescent Health, Case Western Reserve University, a former Adjunct Associate Professor of Health Education at Cleveland State University and President of his company, Health Education Consultants. He has worked in schools (K‑12) worldwide for over 30 years.

Dr. Sroka's spirited presentations stressing the importance of "Just Say Know" and the "ABC's of Sex" have resulted in guest appearances on many TV programs, including the Oprah Winfrey Show, as well as coverage in many newspapers including USA Today.

Dr. Sroka received the Outstanding School Health Educator Award from the American School Health Association, was selected the Disney Outstanding Health Teacher of the Year, and was inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame. But his most meaningful "award" was his six-year-old daughter telling him that he was smarter than the cartoon character, Inspector Gadget. Obviously, his wife does not agree.

For more information on Dr. Sroka's presentations for next year's confererence, see the tentative schedule on the Upcoming NAREN Conferences & Workshops page!

Spring '09 Grant Recipient Announced!

The B.R.I.D.G.E Program at the David J. McHugh Alternative Middle School in Lowell, Massachusetts, was awarded the NAREN Spring Grant for $250. They are using the funds to build unity within their program via a ropes course the children will now have access to along with BRIDGE logo t-shirts for each child. Sometimes small and simple things can make big differences. Our hearts and thanks, as well as NAREN money, goes out to the kids so ably facilitated by Ellen Spiegel, program director. Ellen and the class pet are seen in the lower lefthand corner.

NAREN has awarded over $10,000 in grant monies and educational merchandise since the inception of the grant program. The application process for the grant is expedient and is aimed at facilitating the effectiveness of at-risk education teachers in the classroom.The ability to apply for NAREN grants is one of the benefits of being a NAREN member. The Fall 2009 grant application window is open now.

Click for more information on NAREN's Program Grants!

International Council for At-Risk Education Announced!

ICARE was formed at the NAREN Conference on February 18, 2009, at the Edgewater Beach Hotel. The main need being fulfilled would be a central impetus to look at at-risk youth issues in education across the globe. The formative meeting involved interested international attendees at the National At-Risk Education Network Conference in Panama City. Pictured below are: (back row) Adelyn Poh (Singapore), John Tan (Singapore), Dr. Steve Parese (USA), and seated are: Dr. Anthony Dallmann-Jones (NAREN Director), Frank Kros (USA), Shannon Corbett (Canada), and Judy Yaron (Israel). A possible Singapore location for the first ICARE International Conference is being discussed. More on the goals, procedures, and resources ICARE will offer will be announced in the next few weeks.

Pics from the 2009 NAREN National Conference!

DeForest Wisconsin New Reflections Program Earns First Gold NAREN Certification!

Hidden away in rural Wisconsin beneath a Library lurks one of the most progressive ALTARED (ALTernative At-Risk EDucation) programs in the Midwest, if not the nation. On October 1st, Dr. Anthony Dallmann-Jones, Director of NAREN awarded DeForest High School's New Reflections the coveted NAREN Nine Certification Award. "I personally travelled to DeForest to award this plaque to Liza Verhelst, Coordinator of the program, because I had to see in person this extraordinary program for their junior and seniors. New Reflections — now in its ninth year — is a living, breathing truth that it CAN BE DONE. School can be an enjoyable, enthusing, close-knit community where learning at a high level can and is happening and going well."

Plaque being given by Dr. Dallmann-Jones to Liza Verhelst and her staff

New Reflections, the DeForest Area Alternative Program began in 1999. The program was originally funded through a five-year grant issued by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. The alternative program is now fully funded through DeForest Area High School. New Reflections was established in response to an increased at-risk population in the high school and the need to address their specific educational needs.

The alternative program provides an off-site learning environment for 15 to 25 students in the 11th and 12th grades. The program provides the opportunity to create positive working relationships and the chance for students to reconnect with the community. To support this effort, New Reflections is located in the downstairs level of the DeForest Area Public Library. This allows students and staff access to the library, a large classroom and the use of a fourteen-station computer lab.

In order to continue funding and ensure future success of the program, New Reflections students are expected to strive to meet four main goals. First, students must maintain a 90% or better attendance rate. This includes both excused and unexcused absences, tardies and individually missed classes. Second, students must remain alcohol and drug free while attending the alternative program. If use is suspected, a parent will be contacted, and the student will be requested to attend an alcohol and other drug abuse assessment program. This request may occur at the student's orientation meeting. The student will be required to follow the AODA assessment recommendations and/or treatment plans to continue in the alternative program. Third, students are expected to attain credits needed for graduation and to work toward their highest potential. Finally, students must follow the New Reflections non-harassment policy, show respect for other students and staff and treat the program facilities with care.

Dr. Dallmann-Jones with students and staff of New Reflections

Learn more about the NAREN certification process!

Dateline: June 15, 2009

Freeport-McMoran Foundation Grants NAREN = $6500!
Anonymous Donor Grants = $6000!
June Grants Total for NAREN = $12,500!

NAREN cannot do its work without the constant support of its associates and benefactors.* When we get that support we want to commend the beneficence by shouting if from the rooftops, or at least here, on our website.

Thanks to an anonymous donor's generosity, the Freeport-McMoran Foundation has matched the figure, plus adding an additional doubling of the first $500, bringing the amount to a total of $12,500! We thank our friends for not only noticing and commending our efforts on behalf of at-risk kids but also putting their money where their words were in the amount of $6000 and $6500. The monies applied and granted for were requested to upgrade and purchase new office equipment and fund grant-giving, conferences and workshops in 2009.

We thank you, our supporters!

If you are interested in standing up, please go to our contributions page right now!

* NAREN does not accept governmental grants. Much of our work is not necessarily in alignment with the very federal goals that contribute to the problems we are working hard to resolve. NAREN sees it as hypocritical to accept funds from agencies that are partially responsible for the problem.