Sunday, March 15, 1998

Experiencing an entirely different sort of public school

By Candace Shelton

Imagine teaching in a school where students must fill out applications and write explanations of why they want to finish their education. In addition, imagine a school where there are no detentions, no in-school suspensions or other disciplinary plans because the students want to be in school.

Imagine, as a teacher, being allowed to plan your own room, to have a strong voice in setting your schedule and to rearrange everything when needed.

Imagine students who are polite, who work hard and who care about their peers and their teachers.

Sounds too good to be true, right? However, such a program does exist at Excel Education Center, and after 29 years of teaching, I consider teaching at Excel the perfect job. Throughout my teaching career in Ohio, Louisiana and Texas, I have never had a job that is any more rewarding or any more challenging!

What makes my job so fulfilling are the students who are committed to earning their diplomas and the teachers and staff who are determined to help them.

Excel is a relatively new program in the Abilene Independent School District. In the fall of 1994, the staff reported to Woodson High School to begin our new adventure. We met in one room without equipment, books, curriculum or students. In four short months, we ordered everything, designed our rooms for the AISD carpenters and workmen to complete, suggested a school name to Mr. Hundley and wrote our curriculum.

Though the students must complete the same curriculum as in other high schools, our presentation of the material is totally different. Since the units of study are written to be self-paced, our task was not easily completed.

By January, however, our principal and counselor had sorted through the applications, determined who was eligible to enroll at Excel, interviewed and accepted students. (To attend Excel, a student must be 17 years old and behind in his/her credits.) Finally, on Jan. 9, 1995, we opened our doors to students. Now in our seventh semester, our student population numbers about 200 and our staff includes nine teachers, one principal, one secretary, one counselor and three lab managers.

If you think I am exaggerating or if you are just interested in visiting us, please come by anytime. We love guests, and your visit will not be an interruption. We are located in the south wing of the former Woodson High School building, 342 Cockerell.

If you do visit us, you may be surprised. Because of our small size, expect to observe that all students and teachers know each other. Expect to hear almost no noise as we have no bells or passing periods. Expect to see the counselor talking with students or recording newly earned half-credits. Expect to see teachers helping students one-on-one as we do not have traditional classes. Expect to see computers and other technology used in every classroom.

Expect to see our principal in the hall talking or working with students. Expect to see teachers and students who are friendly to you and to each other.

And if your timing is just right, expect to see a proud new graduate, since 100 students completed graduation requirements at Excel last year.

Finally, it seems appropriate to mention that our students wanted to share with others and collected enough money to furnish Christmas presents for four young disadvantaged children. The students' generosity of spirit and their desire to help truly make Excel more than just a school; it has become a family.

Candace Shelton teaches at Abilene's Excel Education Center.