Before the start of the school year, college seemed but a mere dream for Krista Lucus. The 19-year-old has a seven month old daughter, works 35-hours a week to support her family, and thought her only chance of getting a diploma was by passing her G-E-D.
Today, not only is college a possibility for Lucus, but an expectation.
"When I first found out I was pregnant, I was going to drop out and get my G-E-D. It was the easy way out. College was pushed to the back burner," she said. "Now, I am getting my high school education and moving on to college. It's not, 'Oh I think I'm going to do this,' it's a "Oh I am going to do this,' type of thing.”
Lucus is close to earning her diploma at Oakland High School in Lafayette which opened last fall to cater to students who struggle in a traditional setting.
She then plans to take classes at Ivy Tech Community College and eventually transfer to Purdue.
Oakland Principal Clare Lutgen is hesitant to categorize Oakland as an “alternative school,” but admits it does offer a unique experience.
"I'm starting to think we are more of an experimental educational environment," she said. "If I were to say every single day was intentional and purposeful, I would be misrepresenting Oakland High School. Because when you are talking about people and the things that they need, you have to have, I think, that level of flexibility and recognize that each one of these kids here comes to use with an individual set of desires, and individual set of wants and needs.”
Fewer than 60 students are enrolled at Oakland, which allows for more individual attention. Some classes have a student to teacher ratio as low as eight-to-one.
Senior Megan Chiles says such interaction inspires personal confidence and focus, which has resulted in greater academic success.
“I'm now graduating a year early instead of a year behind. Being here is amazing," she raved. "There is always someone to talk to whether it's a student or staff member and they make you feel important because you are here.”
Chiles and many of the other students who are part of the inaugural class at Oakland haven’t had easy lives. Their situations are all unique, but no less challenging.
English teacher Josh Roadruck says he is amazed by what these students are doing to overcome some of life’s obstacles in an effort to create a brighter future for themselves.
“I can't imagine going through what some of these kids have gone through and not just with family, but with friends and other situations," he said. "I've really learned how to handle adversity in life. I've had some things happen to me since I've been at Oakland and part of the Oakland team that if I hadn't seen how these kids have dealt with it, I think it would have been much more difficult for me to deal with it. I say 'If these kids can deal with this and show up every day at school, so can I.'"
And Principal Lutgen says that is one of the special aspects of Oakland. She says the school is centered on the concept of family, where everyone, both students and staff, grow and get better together.
“We are no different than any other family," said Lutgen. "There is some really good things about being part of a family and there are some very challenging things about being a part of a family. We do not turn a blind eye to behaviors. We handle things in a pretty head-on, upfront, and personal kind of way.”
That type of tough love approach keeps Chiles motivated. She often felt lost at her former high school and was rarely excited about her classes. But, says Oakland’s staff has given her a renewed sense of purpose and focus.
“They work with me. They don't yell at me. They pull me aside and say 'you need to do this. Why don't you know this material? What can we do to help you learn that?,' and it makes me want to comply and makes me want to push on.”
But, Oakland isn’t for everybody. There are no musical or sports programs, as of yet. And credits are earned in a unique way.
As opposed to having a set time frame, such as quarters and semesters, Oakland students receive credit toward their degree by proving they fully understand the material. Lutgen believes this method helps students better retain and apply the information.
“Basically it isn't the time spent, it's the quality and the level of proficiency the child has displayed. And when we see that they have mastered the standards we give them the credit and then that also means in response, we have to have something ready for them to move into that allows them to continuously move toward graduation.”
And graduation now seems as close as ever for Krista Lucus who hopes to one day become a police officer.
“I think it's more of a college setting. When you come to school, you come to school to work. You don't come to school to mess around and play games. This is my work. This is what I do," she said. "I just love it. I love coming to school.”
Lutgen believes Lucus and the other students who are part of the first ever class at Oakland are setting a strong standard for the future.
She thinks these students should serve as an inspiration not only at school, but throughout the entire Lafayette community.
“I hope that it also helps them to recognize that they can help change things," she said. "That story that you may currently living in doesn't have to be your story forever. They can change it up at any time and that they have the ability, the capacity, and the skills to do that. And I think that is the most important thing that we can teach kids, it's never too late to change your life.”