Updates from Looking Glass
The 14th Annual Looking Glass Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures breakfast fundraiser event, held Tuesday, October 15th at Venue 252 in Eugene, focused on Education programs with a panel of Looking Glass teachers from the agency’s alternative schools. In addition, Looking Glass recognized and honored this year’s Community Partner of the Year - Jennifer Montgomery, the Secondary Special Education Consultant for the 4J School District.
In December of 2023, Looking Glass Center Point School applied for and received funding from the 2023 EWEB Electric Mobility Community Grant to purchase an electric vehicle and charging station. Staff did a ton of research on cars and charging stations and, in the end, purchased a 2023 Kia Niro EV and Emporia charging station. Staff members mostly utilize the vehicle to run errands for school needs, including picking up food and other items for the students. The time and cost savings for Looking Glass has been extremely helpful.
Each quarter, the members of the Looking Glass Cultural Awareness and Equity Committee (CAEC) review nominations of staff members who have gone above and beyond their job requirements to promote cultural awareness and equity on the job. This quarter’s randomly selected winner: Andrea Fadich (she/they)-Education and Behavioral Specialist at Center Point School!
The students at Looking Glass Center Point School had a special visitor this week when Dr. Lois Youngen, one of roughly only 600 women to ever play professional baseball, stopped by to share her experiences. Youngen played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1951 until it folded in 1954 as a member of the Fort Wayne Daisies and South Bend Blue Sox teams during her four-year career. She primarily played catcher.
Center Point School held their physically distanced graduation in the parking lot behind the school on Friday, June 18th. We held an individualized ceremony for each of our 4 graduates with their families in attendance. William’s graduation is highlighted here. Center Point School Director, Lynda Whitener made opening statements. “About 25% of students in the U.S. do not graduate from high school because of the commitment and hard work that it takes; you should feel so proud of yourself for accomplishing this, despite all of the challenges you have faced.”
For the past 9 years, Ken Downing has been Center Point School’s Social Skills Development Teacher. Center Point School is an Oregon Department of Education registered private alternative school which offers academic services in a therapeutic environment for middle and high school aged youth with emotional, neurological, developmental, and/or behavioral challenges.
Ken received his degree in Behavioral Psychology with a minor in Philosophy and a 2-year music studies diploma with guitar emphasis from Utah State University in 1990. He can be seen using his guitar to teach during class, which has been engaging for youth.
Using an iPad and the app Stop Motion Studio, Looking Glass’ Center Point School students are designing, directing, and producing their very own motion pictures. “I wanted to teach some kind of filmmaking class, so when I saw this stop motion animation iPad application I thought it was great because the students can build it with their hands, they didn’t have to have specific drawing or tech skills,” explained Lin Boyea, Educational and Behavioral Specialist at Center Point School and the creator and teacher of the class.
The 2019 Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures breakfast fundraiser for Looking Glass, held on Tuesday November 12th at Venue 252, highlighted the magnitude of programs and services Looking Glass offers while showcasing the variety of education programs offered and from keynote speaker LaMonte Morgan focusing the effort of the community to invest in youth as preventative work.
At Looking Glass, we work to provide a variety of educational opportunities for teens that are homeless, have mental health issues, and for whom traditional education is inadequate to meet their needs. We have 3 alternative schools, therapists in 32 schools throughout Lane County, and offer educational services at each of our residential programs.
This year we had some amazing high school graduates from our three alternative schools. Riverfront, Center Point, and New Roads School provide high school degrees and GEDs to youth needing a specialized school environment. Our students have overcome much to reach graduation. From mental illness, learning disabilities, poverty, trauma, and other barriers to reach their education goals, we are so proud of all our students have accomplished.
