Focus on TUSD - May 2007

Open House Showcases APS Projects
April 4 was a very big day for APS students.

It was their day to shine, to showcase the projects they'd worked on all year at their open house.

Spenser Doyle and Angela Thomas led visitors to their audio book project, explaining that Doyle read the text of the children's book, "The Diary of a Worm," while Thomas supplied the dialogue and Morshaad Brooks read the introduction. They were part of the classroom video production team.

A tutor had helped Doyle learn to read for years in high school, but he still wasn't reading well when he joined the District's Accessing Post-Secondary Settings program. But reading to first-graders at Davis Bilingual Magnet School boosted his confidence. After hours of practice, Doyle flawlessly read the book to the delight of his teachers and family.
Thomas's voice hit exactly the right notes for the worm's voice, bringing smiles to everyone who listened to the audio book.

Doyle works part-time at an Albertsons-Osco Food Center and will be able to live alone. His family is especially proud of his success as they look back on his traumatic beginning in life. He weighed just 11/2 pounds at birth when he was born five months early, nearly 22 years ago. He suffered from scoliosis until he was 16 and underwent two surgical procedures to straighten his spin.

Jessica Ramirez and Dominique Tamplin, two other APS students, used a $10,000 state grant to buy books for the Davis first-graders, gathering recommendations from teachers and using the bus to travel to the Borders Books & Music store to make their purchases.

In another project, Tamplin aired the talk show she produced as part of the video production team. A younger version of Oprah Winfrey, she interviewed her classmates for "Destination Tucson Talk" about their favorite attractions in the city. On Tamplin's portion, which showcased Agua Caliente Park, she sang the lyrics she wrote and interviewed a park official.

Thomas chose Houston's Horseback Riding Park for her part in the video, saying the project helped her become more comfortable speaking in public and being interviewed. She said those skills would help her when she applies for jobs.

Erika Kahn, another APS student, explained her Community Based Instruction Board that showed her visits to local attractions. Her father, Russ, said the APS program has helped Erika become more responsible. "I'm all for it," he said. "I've seen a lot of growth and she's more mature. This is a big step forward. Education is something they can't take away from you. And being on the college campus is good for them."

Ramirez, Tamplin and Thomas are Sahuaro High School graduates, Doyle is from Howenstine, Kahn from Catalina and Brooks from Rincon.

Cara Smith, 23, an APS graduate, came to the open house with her parents, Barb and Dan, to touch base with the students. She rooms with Marsiela Ramirez, another graduate, and works at Eegee's. She rides the bus and attends Parks and Recreation classes in the evening.

Her father said his daughter's progress has been amazing, pointing out that she pays her own bills and schedules her van transportation a week ahead, as required.

The APS staff said they could tell hundreds of little success stories because they see changes in their students every day. Merry Ireland, the lead special education teacher, said, "There's a difference from when they start and this time of year is like night and day. It's not just academic. They come kind of beaten down. But when you show them they can learn in other ways than the traditional books, they really respond. TUSD is focused on differentiated learning and this is the epitome of that concept."

-- By Sharon Dunham
Communications & Media Relations

TUSD - Proud Supporter of Small Classes

All photos in the May issue by Jes Ruvalcaba of Communications & Media Relations.

The deadline to submit material for the June Focus is Friday, June 8. The Focus will be published Monday, June 18. Email submissions to Chyrl Hill Lander or Sharon Dunham in the Communications & Media Relations Department or use the Focus Online Submission Form.