Although he’s still under house arrest for a methamphetamine
conviction, Mike, 17, has already passed both sections of the
California High School Exit Exam and is hoping to enroll in
California State University at Chico as soon he can.
Hollister – Although he’s still under house arrest for a methamphetamine conviction, Mike, 17, has already passed both sections of the California High School Exit Exam and is hoping to enroll in California State University at Chico as soon he can.
Like many of the 42 students at Pinnacles Community School, Mike has turned from a troubled teen into a college-bound scholar.
At Pinnacles Community School, one of four alternative schools in San Benito County, students learn more than just the state standards they will need to pass the exit exams and graduate from high school. They learn real life lessons about how to succeed, inside school and out.
“I’ve learned that school can be fun,” Mike said. “Its not as scary as it seems.”
Many students are sent to Pinnacles by the juvenile court system, but others enroll there because they have been unsuccessful at other schools, like San Benito High School or San Andreas Continuation School. After 10 days in juvenile hall, students are required to attend classes at Pinnacles. Other students are referred to Pinnacles by school or district administrators.
In addition to challenges such as the high school exit exams, the majority of Pinnacles students also have to overcome obstacles in their personal lives, such as drug abuse, gang violence and teen pregnancy.
Everything about Pinnacles is different. It starts at the top with Alternative Programs Director Mike Sanchez, who oversees all four alternative schools. Sanchez knows all of the schools’ students personally and usually meets with each once a week. The teachers are also different.
“They know you as a person, not just another student,” Mike said. “These teachers just know how to work with us kids.”
Teacher Anne Marie Filice, who has worked at the school for nearly a decade, knows how to work with students at Pinnacles, but that wasn’t always the case. The Pinnacles environment was overwhelming until she learned how to adapt to the needs of her students.
“The secret to success with these students is one-on-one (instruction),” she said.
And nine years later, she’s still hooked on alternative education.
“I love it here – the kids here are amazing,” Filice said. “I will always stay in alternative education.”
In addition to unique teachers and staff, the classroom environment at Pinnacles is also different from traditional schools, freshman Luke said.
“(At San Benito High School) I wanted to get in trouble to get out of class,” he said. “But you don’t need to do that here, the teachers make it easier for you to learn.”
Although students enjoy Pinnacles, some are anxious to get back to San Benito High School.
John, who was expelled from San Benito High School last year for fighting, is anxious to get back in order to be involved in the school’s Future Farmers of America program – something not available at Pinnacles. San Benito High School FFA Director Kelly Bianchi is one of John’s favorite teachers of all time, he said. John, who hopes to become a professional bull rider, will likely return to SBHS in January, he said.
But not all Pinnacles students want to leave. Sarah, who has been at Pinnacles for the last three years after being expelled from Marguerite Maze Middle School for assaulting another student with a pen, has no desire to return to a traditional public school. She has already passed both sections of the exit exams and hopes to graduate from Pinnacles before heading off to college in December.
“I’ve matured here,” Sarah said. “Now school is important to me.”
Editor’s Note: The names of the students quoted in this article have been changed to protect their anonymity.
Brett Rowland covers education for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected]
