Danny Suttles
Young people drop out of school for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s from boredom, sometimes because they’re struggling academically and sometimes due to personal circumstances. Even kids who have intact families and seemingly “normal” lives, interests and friendships can be overwhelmed and give up when faced with an obstacle they perceive as insurmountable. Who catches these students when they fall through the cracks?
For one Indiana high school student, the safety net was a Communities In Schools intervention that involved adjusting certain habits, working toward a goal, and finding creative solutions to reach that goal.
It also involved a one-on-one relationship with a caring adult mentor.
A few years ago, Daniel (Danny) Suttles was a typical teenager at Lincoln High School in Cambridge City, Indiana. Living with his parents, Charlie and Karla Suttles, Danny dreamed of becoming a professional bass fisherman and could frequently be seen in the yard practicing his casting technique. His passion translated into a talent that landed him in many fishing tournaments. In school, Danny’s grades had been average, but as a sophomore, he failed the math section on the state’s Graduation Qualifying Exam (GQE), a requirement for graduation. He also failed algebra twice, and the repeated failures took a toll on Danny’s self-esteem. Ginnie Bohlander, CIS of Wayne County site coordinator at Lincoln High, said, “Danny was recognized by the school guidance counselor and principal as a student who had ability, but was not progressing academically.” Bohlander spoke with Danny’s concerned mother in September 2005. “Both of Danny’s parents are involved and have encouraged their son along the way,” said Bohlander.
In fact, it was a family friend — Dr. Richard “Doc” Amick — who is credited with helping Danny to develop the confidence and work habits to succeed in school. Danny’s dad had approached Amick, a retired teacher and school superintendent, about helping Danny. Amick agreed, and Bohlander, who organizes the mentoring program at the school, paired Danny with Amick in early 2006. According to Bohlander, the mentoring program matches members of the community with students who need extra help in school. Mentors in the CIS program usually meet with their mentees at school once a week. They also attend athletic events, provide academic tutoring, and even celebrate birthdays and have meals with the students they are mentoring.
Amick met with Danny regularly and spoke with him on the phone as well. They had some common interests, including fishing and farming, so the two quickly became friends.
“Danny’s work habits were a major issue,” recalled Amick. Having failed algebra twice and on the verge of failing English, Danny felt sure there was no way he could graduate. “We decided that Danny had to learn to succeed in the classroom and gain the self-confidence needed to first pass English as well as his other classes during the junior year. I believed that if I could instill confidence in him, then we could work together toward academic success,” said Amick.
During the year and a half that they worked together, Danny focused on his study habits and enrolled in an evening algebra class at a nearby vocational school. He diligently attended night classes several miles down the road, even in bad weather. He continued to take algebra in high school, and worked with his math teacher daily. In addition, he was referred by the school guidance counselor to WorkOne (a CIS partner) for a math test that qualified him for a waiver to the GQE.
“Doc really helped me succeed in school,” Danny said about his mentor. “But the greatest part was being able to talk to someone about anything. I could tell him whatever was on my mind and really get things off my chest,” he added. Thanks to his mentor, his parents’ encouragement, a supportive principal, and dedicated teachers who worked with Danny throughout the year, Danny’s grades showed steady improvement. Ultimately, his perseverance paid off. Danny received his diploma, graduating with his class in May 2007.
“On the last day of school, Danny found out that he had passed the test that allowed him to graduate with his classmates. When Danny got the good news he called me from school,” said Amick. “We both shed a few tears of joy.” Amick attended Danny’s graduation party, and is proud of Danny’s overall achievements in high school. Most of all, he’s proud of the fact that Danny learned to work towards a goal.
“I knew that if I didn’t get myself in gear, I wasn’t going to graduate,” said Danny. “I was scared. Doc was there by my side every step of the way…he always got me pumped up and gave me the confidence to believe there was nothing I couldn’t do.” Danny’s dad echoed that sentiment. “I don’t know what we would have done without CIS and Doc. If it hadn’t been for Doc, I’m not sure Danny would have made it.”
These days, Danny (now 19) works full time coordinating factory orders for a hardware store. “This is where the real world begins,” he observed. Most evenings, he grabs dinner around 5:00 and then heads out to his other job working on local farms — including one owned by his grandfather. He plans to enroll in a heavy equipment training class in the spring of 2008, where he’ll learn to operate bulldozers, cranes, graders and other construction equipment. The 12-week course offers job placement at its conclusion; Danny hopes to return to Indianapolis for a construction job after completing the training. “If it’s outdoors, there’s a pretty good chance I’ll like it,” he said.
Danny still dreams about becoming a pro bass fisherman someday — knowing that his education and a stable income will put him on the path to pursuing that dream when he’s ready.
12/01/2007