Young Voices Extol Values of Archuleta County High
By Tess Noel Baker

Before Lucas Jones began attending school at the Archuleta County High School, he had a bad habit of skipping class, sometimes for weeks in a row.

Now, his attendance is up, he's earning credits toward graduation and has set goals for the future.

Georgia Ortega, the mother of seven, wanted a job that allowed her time off on weekends and holidays. To reach that goal, she needed a GED.

She attended class two nights a week, studied hard for two months and now is employed at the department of social services. She continues to work on her education, taking computer courses to enhance her skills.

Both Jones and Ortega give credit for their success to programs offered by the Archuleta County Education Center. They were only two voices among many - two voices willing to share their stories about "Making a Difference" with a crowd of 180 at the center's fundraiser luncheon Jan. 22.

They were followed by keynote speaker Maria Guajardo Lucero, the director of the Assets for Colorado Youth Initiative. Lucero, a licensed clinical psychologist, said if three conditions are present, making a difference in the lives of youth is easy.

First, she said, people must care, and care deeply. Second, they must be present in the lives of their children; and finally, they must form relationships with youth.

"It's about us as adults becoming irreplaceable to young people," she said.

As an example, she used a middle school "silent mentoring program." At this middle school, the principal went into a meeting with the building's teachers and placed the names of all the students in the school on the wall. The principal then asked the teachers to place ten stars by the students they had a relationship with that went beyond questions and answers in class. When the teachers placed the stars on the wall, about 25 percent of the students had three or four stars. Another 25 percent accumulated one to two stars. The rest had none.

After that, instead of instituting a whole new program with lots of fanfare, the teachers each picked a couple students and began a "silent mentoring" program, making it a point to get to know the students and ask about their day.

Since the start of that program, attendance at the school has increased and referrals to the principal have dropped, Lucero said.

But making a difference sometimes requires money.

Here, the education center is a non-profit organization. Besides the Archuleta County High School and GED programs, the center offers programs in adult literacy, English as a Second Language, vocational skills training, continuing education and after school youth events.

Attendees of the program were invited to leave "tips" at their tables to assist the center, which receives most of its operating funds from grants. Cynde Jackson, community education director for the center, said the luncheon was a success, but added that a dollar figure won't be available for a couple of days.

Cory Marshak, community education director for the center, said the event grossed $15,000. Planning has already started for next year's event.

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