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THE LITTLE RED SCHOOL HOUSE
2008 WINNERS
East Dakota Educational Cooperative - "Transition
Advantage Program"
&
Lemmon School District - "A School Within a
School"
The Little Red School House Award is
presented to a school district that is selected for
implementing the most significant, innovative and successful
education program or project.
Lemmon
School
District
Tucked
within the
Lemmon
School District
high school is a
20’ by 30’ room filled with individuality where students
who had previously experienced little success within the
traditional school setting are now thriving.
Rick Herbel, Superintendent, developed the plan for a
school within a school that was flexible and structured by
each student’s needs.
Supervisor, Toni Huber, meets with each student to
map out a plan of action.
In
less than 5 months everyone involved has been impacted by
the Alternative School.
The major keys to this success are embracing
flexibility and focusing on the whole student.
The innovative idea of this Alternative School is
really based on what has worked in the past – the little
country school setting in 21st century style!
East
Dakota Educational Cooperative
Director,
Dan Goodwin, along with the Directors of Special Education
from the member districts determined that there was a gap in
services for students with special needs ages 18-21.
A program was needed to provide assistance and
support of these students whom have met their high school
requirements but not yet met their transition goals.
Betty Twiss, Director of Special Education, and
Bobbie Williams, Employment Specialist, were contracted by
EDEC to develop and implement the community-based program
emphasizing employment and independent living skills.
During
the initial year of this program, five participants
demonstrated growth in self-advocacy and self-determination.
Participants are taking responsibility in learning
specific skills and moving toward independence.
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