>>> ONCE KNOWN FOR HOSTING THE >>> ONCE KNOWN FOR HOSTING THE MUSIC FESTIVAL, THE CITY OF INDIO, CALIFORNIA, IS NOW THE FACE OF AN EDUCATIONAL CRISIS. HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS HAVE DISAPPEARED FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN THIS PREDOMINANTLY LOW INCOME LATINO DISTRICT. ONE MAN IS DETERMINED TO BRING THEM BACK TO THE CLASSROOM. JOINING ME TO DISCUSS HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS PUT STRUGGLING STUDENTS TO THE BRIMPG, THE STAND PRINCIPAL AT INDIO HIGH SCHOOL, THANK YOU. SO FOR BEING WITH US, RICHARD. AROUND 350 STUDENTS AT YOUR HIGH SCHOOL HAVE BEEN REGULARLY MISSING CLASS. WHEN DID YOU NOTICE THEY WERE MISSING? WHAT STRUCK YOU ABOUT THAT? AND WHAT COMPELLED YOU TO START KNOCKING ON THEIR DOORS TO FIND THEM? >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, FIRST OF ALL. WE NOTICED IT PRETTY EARLY BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR. JUST NOTICED THE ATTENDANCE WENT FROM 94, 95, TO AS LOW AS 70 ON MANY DAYS. I GOT TOGETHER WITH OUR DISTRICT LEADERSHIP AND OUR TEAM IN THE OFFICE. WE JUST STARTED MAKING PHONE CALL, ACCORDING TO THE REENGAGEMENT PROTOCOLS. AND ALL HANDS ON DECK. EVEN THAT DIDN’T PRODUCE THE RESULTS THAT I WANTED. SO WE ENDED UP SAYING, WHAT DO WE DO? I WANT TO RECONNECT WITH THE STUDENTS AND MAKE SURE THEY WERE OKAY. I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF AND JUST BASIC NEEDS BEING MET. SO I DECIDED TO GO OUT THERE. IT’S JUST SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE. >> GIVE ME A SENSE OF WHAT THOSE CONVERSATIONS WERE LIKE. YOU WOULD KNOCK ON THE DOOR, HOW DID YOU EVEN BEGIN THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THEIR LIVES, THE CHALLENGES THEY WERE EXPERIENCING DURING THIS PANDEMIC? >> I THINK THE FIRST THING THAT I ALWAYS DO IS I SHOW THEM HOW EXCITED I AM TO SEE THEM. I GENUINELY AM EXCITED TO SEE THE KIDS. AND FROM THEN JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THE REASONS THAT THEY’RE NOT ENGAGED. IS IT CONNECTION ISSUES? IS IT MORE BASIC ISSUES THAN THAT, BASIC SUSTENANCE? WHAT IS IMPEDING THEM ACCESS TO OUR CLASSROOMS? >> YOU WROTE, AND I LOVE THIS, IN AN EMAIL TO TEACHERS, THE MAIN SUBJECT OF EVERY CLASS SHOULD BE HOW ARE YOU? ARE YOU DOING OKAY? I THINK WE HAVE ALL REALIZED IF WE DIDN’T BEFORE THE ROLES THAT SCHOOLS PLAY IN SO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY. I WONDER, THOUGH, FOR YOU AS AN EDUCATOR, HAVE YOU HAD TO THEN ADJUST YOUR EXPECTATIONS IN ORDER TO KEEP STUDENTS ENGAGED AND IS THERE A LEARNING THERE THAT YOU HOPE TO CARRY INTO FUTURE SCHOOL YEARS? >> ABSOLUTELY. I DON’T THINK OUR EXPECTATIONS HAVE CHANGED. WE CAN STILL MAINTAIN HIGH EXPECTATIONS WITH THE LEARNING, BUT YOU CAN’T DO ANY LEARNING, AND STUDIES TELL US YOU CANNOT KPAEJ KPAEJ ENGAGE THE TEENAGE BRAIN WITHOUT FIRST ENGAGING THEIR HEART. THEY NEED TO BE PRESENT AND THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT SOMEBODY CARES FOR THEM. IF THEY DON’T KNOW THAT, IT’S HARD FOR THEM TO ENGAGE IN ANYTHING ACADEMIC. ANYTHING ACADEMIC. THAT’S REALLY OUR MAIN GOAL HERE
