Students 'aspire' to service

Sixteen-year-old Tyler Jeffers said integrity is hard to define.

"I think it's doing what's right when no one is looking," he said. "That's a good definition."

A sophomore, Jeffers struggled at Douglas High School before joining the school district's new alternative education program.

He is one of 28 seventh- through 12th-graders in the ASPIRE program, which is housed at Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School.

"It challenges all of us to hold each other accountable," Jeffers said. "I've gained a lot more respect for others. A lot of students, including myself, had a lot of problems with teachers and didn't get along with them, but now that's improved."

ASPIRE is an acronym for All Students Pursuing Integrity, Responsibility and Education.

"Initially, no teenager thinks they can do all these things," said ASPIRE teacher Miki Trujillo. "But they slowly become believers, believing that they are people capable of integrity, and that feels good to them."

Trujillo, a former Pau-Wa-Lu health teacher and author of "Teens Talkin' Faith," said the program was designed to help students make up credit deficiencies while providing "character education and value clarification" for those who've struggled in more traditional settings, including expelled students.

"They are taught decision-making and life skills," Trujillo said. "They are asked to find their purpose in school and in life, and they start gaining responsibility."

Trujillo said students must undergo an intake process to join the program, including referrals from schools as well as interviews with parents.

"I truly believe the kids want to improve themselves," she said. "That sets them up for success."

Trujillo said a large part of the program is community service. She and fellow ASPIRE teacher Chuck Pope aim for two to three community projects a semester. A anonymous donation to the program has helped fund those projects.

"Sometimes it takes serving others to find purpose," Trujillo said.

Most recently, students went door to door collecting food for the Carson Valley Community Food Closet.

"We raised over 700 pounds of food," said 14-year-old Angel Hart. "This was my first community project, and it made me feel good about myself, that I was making a a difference."

Trujillo said students had read a newspaper article about donations being down at the Food Closet.

"They were proactive," she said. "They saw a need and decided to do something about it."

Later this month, students will be undertaking a "Pay-It-Forward" type of project at Walmart, focusing on acts of kindness. This spring, they will be soliciting local artists to help them with a mural memorial for teenagers who have passed away in Carson Valley.

Students will also be required to complete a show and tell presentation at the end of the semester, detailing an individual action of integrity or responsibility. Besides an oral presentation and written report, students must log five hours of work outside the classroom.

"When I first came to the program, I was a little shy," said Hart, "but ever since I've been in here, I've been making better choices. It's really showed me how to step up.

"Now, I know how to face problems. I can't change the past, but I can focus on the choices I make right now, and I can look forward to the future."

Academically, Trujillo said students use tutorial software to work at their own pace. However, the educational program is transitional. Once credits are made up and behavior is changed, students return to their schools.

"The goal is for the students to transition back to regular education," Trujillo said.

Will Jensen, the intern administrator of the program, said he is fortunate to have the opportunity to "provide this type of project."

"We find that the small-group environment, where we are able to have individualized education plans, is really working well for those kids who are not fitting into traditional schools," he said. "The students are really excelling, both academically and in character development."

Ronnie Rangel, 15, said she is nervous to attend Douglas High School in the future, but said ASPIRE has helped her with issues of respect and responsibility.

"Everyone in the group wants to do good, and we give each other advice on how to do good," she said. "It's like a big family."