With teamwork, student graduates on time

Published 9:03 am Friday, June 14, 2013

Last week magic happened! We saw an example of true academic teamwork when seven dedicated staff members from Kamiak (Stephen Shurtleff, Alexandria Johns, Christine O’Connell, Alvin Kroon, Anne Windsor, Erika Nuttbrock and Branda Anderson) teamed with Academic Link Outreach, a student, a parent, and the system to beat all odds in getting a student graduated on time!

Kudos to the staff for going above and beyond in continually supplying data and support to allow this to happen. If society only knew what challenges teachers and students have to deal with on a daily basis, they would not be as quick to criticize. This “on-time” graduation was an example of what should be happening throughout our state to increase our graduation rate and get all students off to a better start. One only needs to look at the Edweek website to see that Washington is rated 42nd in getting kids graduated. Is that not appalling? Isn’t it time that communities rally to help schools where “life happens” and students themselves are struggling to graduate on time? We are sure that all of you know how great it felt to walk across the stage and shake that hand with a diploma in it. It is not difficult but schools cannot do it alone.

Jan Link

Mukilteo