Idea to help WISD’s ‘at-risk’ students

In the Spring of 2019, the Texas Education Agency reported that 32.1% of Wimberley High School students are at risk. That means nearly one-third of the students are either failing academically, economically disadvantaged, or in trouble at school or with the law. And that means onethird are not as prepared as they could be, when they graduate and go out in the world on their own.

Fortunately, though, there is a whole-school improvement model that’s being implemented by thousands of schools in over fifty countries worldwide with tremendous success, remedying situations such as this. It’s called Leader in Me. (See www.leaderinme. org.) Once implemented, the model

1. Creates a school culture led by students who develop critical skills that help them successfully navigate their way through their lives.

2. Creates an environment of social-emotional learning that helps every student build self-confidence from the inside-out and discover his or her true potential.

3. Has proven to improve school attendance and students’ grades.

If readers are interested in learning more about the model and discussing how each and every one of us can become champions for supporting life-ready leaders in WISD, meet with me at the Wimberley Library this Thursday, February 20th at 2:00 pm.

As Principal Muriel Summers said, “We only get one chance to prepare children for a world that none of us can possibly predict.” Let’s do what we can do to promote positive changes in WISD.

Suzanne White, MEd, ABD/PhD