VALDOSTA — A new administrative hire this year will come with expansive changes across the halls of the Lowndes County Schools alternative program. 

When Dr. Derald Jones retired from his position as assistant principal of the alternative program last spring, Lowndes County Schools wanted to find someone to fill the job as well as have new ideas for the program.

“Because we knew we were getting a new administrator there, we felt like it was kind of a good time to bring changes on board,” said LeAnne McCall, Lowndes High School principal.

New year, new curriculum

Danny Redshaw, former assistant LHS principal, was chosen as the right fit.

Starting this school year, he said he plans to have more face-to-face instruction in the alternative program.

How the school has primarily run is with students using a computer program, Edgenuity, to do their coursework. There are teachers to help the students out, and they move from class to class just like other middle or high school students would.

The changes to come would allow for more traditional class structures — a teacher instructing students — and less of the curriculum being on a computer program.

“For a lot of students, the computer work is easy for them,” Redshaw said. “But a lot of the students that we serve (at the alternative program) don’t do as well — they need direct instruction, so we are going to a blended learning platform.”

Redshaw put a percentage on it: 50 percent Edgenuity, 50 percent traditional class instruction.

Support for students

Implementation of counseling and support services will also take effect this year, with the hire of a new guidance counselor.

Redshaw said this is one of the more important steps in changing the program to help students succeed.

Though there are various other reasons students come through the alternative program, most of the students are there because of disciplinary issues they might have had at Lowndes middle schools or the high school.

“Most of them are there for punitive reasons,” Redshaw said. “We think those additional support services will help those students solve or deal with the problem of why they’re here in the first place.”

The counselor would provide guided group lessons as well as individual sessions to work out any issues the student might have.

Part of the support system will give wraparound services, a care-management system that focuses on a student’s needs. It could help with a range of issues from drug and alcohol use to anger management.

Change is never easy

This won’t be an easy adjustment for teachers, Redshaw said.

The structure of the alternative program can get complicated because it is a 90-day program — though this is sometimes extended — so students are usually in and out of the program throughout the year.

It’s also challenging to teachers because most students are at different tracks in their education. Redshaw said there’s usually no more than two students on the same track.

To better acclimate teachers to changes, Redshaw said the middle and high schools need to have better communication with the alternative program teachers.

Teachers will also be part of professional learning communities at the other county schools.

Redshaw said he doesn’t see the changes as huge roadblocks for the teaching staff, partly because the changes are only an expansion of what the staff is already doing.

It’s also because they want to make a difference, he said.

“I want the teachers to feel like they’re being successful and making a difference,” Redshaw said. “It takes a special person to teach at the alternative school. They have to want to do this.”

Prioritizing student success 

First and foremost, the changes are for student success.

Redshaw said he wants them to succeed in the alternative program, but he wants them to eventually go back to the middle and high schools and succeed there.

“Not only do we want them to fix their academics while they’re there, they’re going to learn how to prevent themselves from coming back in the future so they can be successful at Lowndes High School,” Redshaw said.

Katelyn Umholtz is a reporter with the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256.