Institute Focuses on

Dropouts

"I became a teacher because one saved me," stated Brandon Cosby matter-of-factly. Cosby's dramatic story of how one man turned his life around held a roomful of educators spellbound at the School Dropout Prevention Institute: Supporting Academic Achievement and Postsecondary Success, hosted by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory in July 2004.

Cosby, who once was expelled from an Indianapolis school after breaking a teacher's jaw, is a former alternative school principal who is now earning his doctorate in education and serving as a small schools coach at the University of Indianapolis' Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning. He recalled how a high school speech teacher "stalked" him until he agreed to join the debate team. After winning a local competition, he was hooked and went from earning a 0.9 GPA to getting a full scholarship at the University of Indianapolis.

Cosby's message that "we make a difference, one kid at a time" inspired the audience, which was made up of representatives of schools that have been awarded U.S. Department of Education grants for dropout prevention and for smaller learning communities. Forty-seven conference goers—from Hawaii, Arkansas, Minnesota, and 13 other states—spent three days in Portland studying ways to improve math and literacy instruction, using online learning in alternative settings, establishing mentoring programs, and reaching minority students and their families.

Erin McGary-Hamilton, a NWREL program advisor, says the conference was designed to serve several functions. "We wanted to provide a conference program with plenty of substance and useful strategies that participants can immediately incorporate in their dropout prevention and school improvement plans. Also, we wanted to give the participants planning time and networking opportunities so grantees could connect with each other and learn about others' successes and challenges."

NWREL is the agency coordinating assistance to schools and districts around the country that have received U.S. Department of Education dropout prevention grants. As part of the program, NWREL conducts site visits and provides technical assistance and professional development to staff members from grantee schools, districts, and other agencies.