The Willow Glen Resident

Photograph by Skye Dunlap

Hard Lesson: Barry Shilman, Willow Glen Plus teacher, leads his high school students in a discussion about Nazi Germany.

Struggling students find fresh motivation at Willow Glen Plus

Low-pressure space for learning, small classes attract a big student following

By Christine M. Lias

A few years ago, Blanca Gomez saw only futility in school. Gomez used to cut a lot of her high school classes, perhaps jeopardizing her future along the way, simply because she lacked motivation.

Now the 17-year-old Willow Glen High School senior is eagerly anticipating graduation. She has plans to go on to Evergreen Valley College and wants to eventually become a probation officer in order to "help other people that may be as confused as I was at one time."

Gomez is just one example of the dozens of turnaround stories pouring forth from the six-year-old high school program called Willow Glen Plus.

The program's literature describes it as a way to "address the needs of students who find that six hours of school daily is a source of great frustration and failure" and says it provides "a therapeutic environment in which students can learn to manage their feelings about themselves and others."

The facility, located on the Willow Glen High campus, is designed to provide a relaxing, less conventional learning environment, says co-founder and social studies teacher Barry Shilman.

Instead of individual desks, the classroom is equipped with communal tables. Rose-colored couches and plump pillows are not far away. Students are allowed to use the bathrooms at will or work on projects together.

"We wanted to make the room look different, to depressurize school," Shilman says. "We've spread out the space and taken the pressure off. There are no bells."

From its very conception in 1992, the Plus program has proved to be quite popular--last year, the Plus program had two openings, and 15 students applied.

"At the time of the start of the program, we had students at Willow Glen High School that were quietly dropping out and not graduating. There was no special program to address this. We were losing students," Shilman says.

Today, however, it's a different story. According to Morales, in the last five years, only three students in the Plus program did not graduate on time.

"I've got parents calling me every day wanting their son or daughter to enroll in the program," Morales says.

Unfortunately, not every student can be admitted into the Plus program. Funding for the program comes directly from the state and is tabulated through class attendance. Basically, Shilman says, if a body is in a seat, the program will receive funding. State law caps the program at 40 students.

An ideal Plus candidate is usually spotted struggling with classes at the regular high school, Shilman says.

"Most of the students are very bright, but because of their behavior, they just get lost. There are gifted programs for the above-average level and special [education] for those below, but there wasn't anything for those in between," Shilman says. "The program looks for a certain type of student, one that is willing to turn his or her performance around."

Currently, five of the six high schools in the district have a Plus program. At Willow Glen High, the program employs two teachers and one counselor to oversee 40 students.

"In a normal high school, a teacher may have 150 students. I only have 40. I'm not just their teacher; I'm their adviser, friend, confidante. I've even called some students in the morning to get them up out of bed," English teacher Janett Supp says.

Supp shows off a red binder crammed with thank-you notes and letters of encouragement from Plus students, attesting to the overall success and individual motivation that result.

"There are no discipline problems in my classes. Students are choosing to be in this program. They want to be here. Oftentimes, they come back after graduation to visit," Supp says.

Senior Andrew Lopez may soon become one of those visiting former students.

"I really like the program because it has helped me out and given me more opportunity," Lopez says. "I've caught up in my credits. I'm really happy that I'm going to graduate."

Similarly, sophomore Nicole Butler has further educational goals.

"I used to daydream in class all day. Now, I want to go on to college," Butler says.

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