Story about LSC Dayton featured graduate

Danielle Stokes said she doesn't like traditional schools and loves the flexibility of Life Skills Center of Dayton.

"I never liked sitting in class seven hours a day," she said. "I have the option here to do what I need to do and go about my day."

Stokes, 17, came to Dayton from a charter school in Florida and plans on graduating in January.

"It's an intimate setting," she said. "The flexibility is what I like here. The teachers care about you and check after you. There's no drama like public schools."

"I appreciate her consistency and her ability to work on her own," said
her American Literature teacher Chris Massey. "She takes the ball and runs with it.
She takes her work seriously here."

Life Skills Center of Dayton list of January 2008 graduates

Harold A. England, III ---- Dayton

Latitia Janee Barlow ---- Dayton

Storm Denier Smith ---- Dayton

Shaphan Jeshaiah Leavell ---- Dayton

Danielle Alexandria Stokes ---- Dayton

Staresha Leann Moore ---- Dayton

Demetrius Lynn Garrett ---- Dayton

Cameron D. Dolphin ---- Dayton

Jermaine De'Angelo Williams ---- Dayton

Aujanea Marae Zaquanna Lacking ---- Dayton

Marcus Dewayne McCoy ---- Dayton

Vernetta Ann Blanton ---- Dayton

Breanna Latrese Hagans ---- Dayton

Danielle Marie Tucker ---- Dayton

Timothy Allen Days ---- Dayton

Cedric Leon Williamson II ---- Dayton

Mark Anthony Dalton ---- Dayton

Jaytron Cooper ---- Dayton

Shalamarr Monae Evans ---- Dayton

JacQuilla L. Peterson ---- Dayton

Bryant Terrell Hamilton ---- Dayton

Tauruss Andrew Berry ---- Dayton

Ashley Marie Combs ---- Dayton

Khyanne Shanetta Vernnita Burns ---- Dayton

Ty-Anna Marice Simmons ---- Dayton

Takeshia Elaine Gardner ---- Dayton

Phillip Sutherland ---- Dayton

Shaqueena Elaine Owens ---- Dayton

Dakona Kai Twe ---- Dayton

Shantella Renee Young ---- Dayton

Laura Marie Huffman ---- Huber Heights

Andrea Michelle Goodson ---- Miamisburg

Chandra Nicole Scott ---- Miamisburg

Cody S. Magato ---- Tipp City

Anthony Mosley ---- Trotwood

Curtis Dontae Gilbert ---- Trotwood

Kristyn Deserey Danielle Myles ---- Trotwood

Andrew A. Mason ---- Trotwood

Kodiaz Jovern Williams ---- Trotwood

Life Skills Center of Dayton open house

The school, located at 1721 N. Main St., will host an open house noon-1:30 p.m. Feb. 20.

For information, call 937-274-2841.

Slide show from Life Skills Center of Dayton graduation

Studying leadership

Photos from Burnette Clingman's leadership conference at Life Skills Center of Dayton.

Life Skills Center of Dayton featured graduates

After a mix-up with his assignments flunked him out of his classes, Dayton resident Jamel Head said he was able to find redemption at Life Skills Center of Dayton.

"I had surgery on my legs, they messed up my assignments and I flunked out (of classes)," Head said. "I needed to catch up and a counselor suggested I try Life Skills."

Head, who has attended the school for one year, said he was able to earn needed credits there.

"Having teachers who believe in you and want you to go somewhere and make something of your life is important," he said.

After graduation, Head, 19, said he wants to take business classes at Sinclair Community College in Dayton and is eyeing a career in Radio/TV production.

"I want to own my own television station," he said.

In this video, Head talks about what he likes best about the school.



Jacquilla Peterson wants a high school diploma, not just for herself, but her two children.

"I want to change my kids life," Peterson smiled as she talked about her two daughters; Jasmine, 3, and Alexandria, 1. "I was tired of making $8 an hour. I want to help provide a better life for them (and be able to earn enough) to be able to spend more quality time with them."

It wasn't always easy for Peterson, 22, she credits her teachers for giving her the strength to continue her studies.

"There were times I wanted to quit, but the teachers told me to keep going," she said. "Their determination helped me."

After graduation, Peterson is planning on attending Sinclair Community College in Dayton to study Culinary Arts.

In this video, she talks about her favorite part of school.

Teacher presents at national conference

Life Skills Center of Dayton English teacher Elizabeth Fogle, a 2007 graduate of Ohio Northern University, recently presented at the annual convention for the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) in New York City.

She discussed the need for collegiate clubs focused on preservice teachers and also highlighted the need for peer-to-peer communication at the college level to aid in the development of prospective teachers.

"Overall, the trip was a wonderful experience for a first-year teacher," Fogle said. "Presenting at the national level helped to build my confidence in what I was doing and that I 'knew' what I was doing."

Life Skills Center of Dayton Master Teacher Teresa Fife also attended the event.

Fogle founded the Secondary Education Society along with four other students while at Ohio Northern University. One, a teacher in Maryland, and the other three, still students at ONU, also took part in the presentation.

"The workshops covered various topics concerning the teaching of English, and as the District Test Coordinator for the LSC Dayton, I focused many of the sessions I went to in regards to high stakes testing and state testing models," she said. "The networking potential and the ability to talk to others who are out either doing what I am doing as a first-year or gaining insight from those with many years of experience was invaluable."

The society meets on campus but also has an online forum for alumni to respond to student questions.

Fogle has been with Life Skills Center of Dayton for five months and is a University of Dayton graduate student. She graduated from Benjamin Logan High School in 2004 and currently lives in Riverside, Ohio.

State representative visits Dayton school

Ohio Rep. Arlene Setzer (R-Vandalia) visited the Life Skills Center of Dayton Friday.The visit was requested by Springfield GRADS Coordinator Peggy Kelly and coordinated by Ohio Coalition for Quality Education President Ron Adler.

Thirteen GRADS teachers as well as Mound Street Academies Superintendents Sue Garretson and Anne Bean joined Setzer in the visit.

Dayton No. 2 in nation in charter school enrollment

Read story here

Teacher to speak at New York City conference

English teacher Elizabeth Fogle, a 2007 graduate of Ohio Northern University, will present on Friday, November 16 at the annual convention for the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) in New York City, which is slated Nov. 15-18.

Discussing the need for collegiate clubs focused on preservice teachers, her presentation highlights the need for peer-to-peer communication at the college level to aid in the development of prospective teachers.

She founded the Secondary Education Society along with four fellow students while at Ohio Northern University. One, a teacher in Maryland, and the other three, still students at ONU, will also take part in the presentation.

"We wanted a way for current students at the university to stay in touch with alumni," she said. "Since I work at a charter school, it gives me an opportunity to share my experiences with those who are still waiting to get into the classroom."

The society meets on campus but also has an online forum for alumni to respond to student questions.

Fogle has been with Life Skills Center of Dayton for four months and is a University of Dayton graduate student. She graduated from Benjamin Logan High School in 2004 and currently lives in Riverside, Ohio.

Update from Life Skills Centers Southern Region

Tami Augustine, Ohio Southern Regional Director, reports that it’s an exciting time of year as the staff works on new and innovative ways to educate students.

The Life Skills Centers in her region have adopted a new lab model with subject-specific labs.

Students work in the labs after meeting with their homeroom teachers to establish daily goals.

Augustine reports the Southern Region is experiencing more consistent enrollment than ever before, indicating fewer students are leaving for different educational experiences.

Life Skills Centers in the region had their highest percentage of students taking the Ohio Graduation Test during the 2006-2007 school year.

Another result of the enrollment gains is more students taking part in the interesting field trips offered, such as a visit to the Ohio Legislature where students have voiced their support for school choice.

Students at Life Skills Center of Springfield have also taken part in the Muse Machine, a program which brings the arts to schools and students to Dayton where they visit various museums.

The staff and students at the Life Skills Centers of Dayton also seem to be excited about a pilot lunch program. For the first time last year, LSC students were served a hot lunch daily.

It seems to have contributed to increased attendance, fewer behavioral difficulties and, most importantly, more focused students.

The remaining six schools in the region hope to implement the lunch program this year.

School to continue pilot lunch program

Life Skills Center of Dayton will continue its pilot lunch program for students who qualify financially.

"We're in the process of talking to the boards this month about the program," said Life Skills Centers Vice President Rodd Coker.

Participating students are asked to fill out a lunch application before taking part in the program.

“Research shows that there is a correlation between good nutrition and student achievement,” said Life Skills Centers Special Projects Coordinator Ron Jones. “One of out goals is to provide every Life Skills Center student a nutritious meal at no charge.”

In addition to Dayton, the pilot program was started at Life Skills Centers of Summit County and Canton earlier this year and was successful, Coker said.

Parents pleased with school

John and Lilly Cavanaugh of Columbus recently sent a letter to Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted about their son, Wesley, who just graduated from Life Skills Center of Columbus North.

Last year, he attended Life Skills Center of Dayton before his parents moved to Columbus.

"Wes struggles with a serious medical condition which had previously caused him to drop out of school," John said in his letter. "With the help of social workers at Kettering Medical Center, we learned about the 'Fast Forward Program' and enrolled him at Life Skills.

"As a result of this individualized attention and caring staff at Life Skills, Wesley passed his Ohio Graduation Tests and is on track to graduate this June. This has been a life-changing experience for him and we ask you to ensure that these centers remain open across the state of Ohio."

Sinclair gives nine full-ride scholarships to Dayton students

Michael Carter from Sinclair Fast Forward Center presented nine Life Skills Center of Dayton graduates with the Taylor Endowment Scholarship during the June 22 graduation ceremony.

The scholarship program was administered in partnership with the Sinclair Community College Fast Forward Center.

Students had to be nominated by our faculty/staff, maintain 90 percent attendance, along with completing college entrance requirements.

The scholarship can also be used for tuition, fees, books, tools, equipment, uniforms, and other educational expenses.

The following students received the Taylor Scholarship:

- Kimberly Dawson
- Johnesisha Hanks
- Latoya Bibbs
- Destini Lynch
- Kendra Wilson
- Jessica Knapp
- Jeremy Miller
- Raushanna Sheffield
- Taylor Reitz

From left, Life Skills Center of Dayton Vocational Specialist Matthew Wingard stands with student Kristen Shelton, Master Teacher Teresa Fife, student Jessica Jones and Vocational Specialist Thomas Jagels recently at the school.

Get the Word on Main

Life Skills Center of Dayton has its own newspaper called Word on Main

Read Life Skills of Dayton's newspaper

Life Skills Center of Dayton graduation details

WHERE: Mandalay Banquet Center, 2700 East River Rd., Dayton 45439

WHEN: 6 p.m. June 22

SPEAKER: student speakers

Dayton school offering pilot lunch program

Participating students are asked to fill out a lunch application before participating in the program.

“Research shows that there is a correlation between good nutrition and student achievement,” said Life Skills Centers Special Projects Coordinator Ron Jones. “One of out goals is to provide every Life Skills Center student a nutritious meal at no charge.”

The pilot program is also being held at the Life Skills Centers of Summit County and Canton.

For information, call 937-274-2841.

Read story in Beacon Journal (sixth brief down)

Dayton summer educational opportunities offered

Life Skills Center of Dayton is offering students a chance to advance their high school education by enrolling as a Life Skills Center student this summer.

All coursework is computer-generated and supported by qualified teaching staff. Credits are awarded when students demonstrate 70 percent mastery of required material. Coursework is free when participants enroll as Life Skills students.

To register, students must withdraw from their home school effective at the conclusion of the 2006-07 school year and enroll as a LifeSkills Center student during the summer.

Seating is limited.

The average student should be able to earn one-half credit needed for graduation every three weeks.

Classes are four hours a day Monday through Friday and are available at three different times: 8 a.m. to noon, 10:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. and 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Times may vary slightly.

Classes being offered include fundamental math, pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, physical science, Earth science, biology, chemistry, history, geography and economics.

For more details, call (866) 543-3754 or visit:

www.LifeSkillsCenters.com

Life Skills Center helps change Dayton teen’s life

Life Skills Center of Dayton has greatly helped a local resident as she prepares for her nursing career.
Whitney McGary, 19, of Dayton, left Col. White school in Dayton in March 2004.
“I had to be on bedrest at the end of my first pregnancy,” McGary said.
She spent the next two years at home before deciding to return to school.
“I was taking care of my child and became pregnant again,” McGary said. “But I wanted to go back to school.”
McGary had to wait until she was 18 to reapply for school since she didn’t have a legal guardian.
“But I didn’t have enough credits to enroll,” she said.
That’s when McGary turned to Life Skills, an alternative education charter school which accommodates students ages 16-22 who are experiencing difficulties with the routine of traditional public schools.
In addition to her sons, Daquan, 3, and Antwain, 2, McGary also takes care of her 14-year-old brother and two sisters, 11 and 7, in a two-bedroom apartment in Dayton. She was temporarily awarded custody of her siblings.
“I haven’t seen anyone had to take on that much responsibility,” Administrator James Brown said. “She’s just a great kid, a star student.”
“She is remarkable and a really outstanding young lady,” said her teacher, Tonjua Wilkes.“To assume what she had and to keep going has been totally amazing.”
McGary was recently certified as a state tested nursing assistant through assistance from the Miami Valley Youth Career Services and is hoping to graduate from Life Skills in December.
In addition, McGary said the school helped her deal with setting up the funeral of her grandmother, who died from cancer in March.
“She was able to make sure the grandmother who raised her had a good funeral,” Brown said.