At the Shoshone Learning Center, it’s a family thing, said Shannon Blackmore, the newly appointed SLC coordinator.

This year, two seniors will graduate with their child in tow. The two students had a premature child eight days into their freshman year.

“Not only are they on track to graduate in four years, but they’ve learned to co-parent, they’ve dealt with disabilities in their child and both of them will be in the workplace by December … it’s a family thing,” Blackmore said. 

“Alternative philosophies [are] built on the idea of taking a student and building an academic plan that includes the wraparound programming that’s unique to their needs,” Blackmore said. “So we can’t be huge in numbers, but it’s very unique and when you do that, it’s a family thing.”

Shoshone Learning Center, Powell’s alternative high school, is roughly at capacity with 36 students to begin the year — one more student than what the school ended with the previous year.

“Our staff is excited about this and hoping that this is actually a new trend. Because our program can be so much more efficient if we can build everyone into our orientation process right off the bat,” said Shannon Blackmore, newly appointed SLC coordinator. 

The SLC staff is used to adding students when they have already been in the traditional school setting for part of the school year, and while this is important, Blackmore said that it does take time.

The increased enrollment in Blackmore’s opinion is a result of Powell High School and its counseling staff being able to identify students and their families who are struggling and walk them through the application process to the SLC.

“When there’s that collaboration between the schools, these families realize that their high school is advocating for them to get into a unique program,” Blackmore said.

Now that the students are at the SLC the school has focused on helping them move their “credit mountain,” prepare for life after graduation and foster staff and student connection.

Access to mental health care

The school also has the advantage of a full time counselor this year, a service that 80% of students use regularly. This means that 80% of students at the SLC have “pretty significant counseling plans,” Blackmore added. 

Previously, counselor Erin Curtis split her time between the SLC and Powell High. The school board voted last year to add a full time counselor at the SLC and another counselor at the high school. The SLC saw a shakeup in roles this year when Steve Lensegrav, Powell High’s assistant principal who also served as the SLC administrator, returned to the high school full time. Blackmore, who was the lead teacher, stepped into the role of SLC coordinator, while she still holds some teaching responsibilities. Leon Miller now serves as the lead teacher.

“Our program is based around changing habits and creating new habits, and if any of you have ever tried to change or cut a habit, it’s hard,” Blackmore said. “It takes consistent focus in support … and that is a piece that we have been missing on the mental health side of things is daily, consistent support.”

The SLC has also offered a book club on anxiety of which 14 parents of full-time students have signed up for — at the SLC there are 26 full-time students.

In addition to counseling, a large portion of education at the SLC is self paced with interventions taking place as necessary. 

What does the future hold?

While some students may look at pursuing a job following graduation, others may go to college. 

“An increasing number of our students have the confidence to dabble their toes in college life, the majority of these numbers are actually in the first year seminar course,” Blackmore said. “Our students aren’t necessarily ready for English 1010, or college algebra, although we’ve got some in the upper level math classes. But, what we’re trying to do is get them into that first year seminar class where they can learn how to college.” 

While in these first year seminar classes students reflect back and see that what they are learning about scheduling and organization is similar to the structure of the SLC.

“That’s fun, to watch them get into that class and say, ‘I thought this was gonna be harder,’” Blackmore said. 

The SLC also has a work experience program where Blackmore serves as coordinator. Her background is originally in career tech and vocational education and “she’s just excited to get more kids out in the field,” she said.