Techniques Feb 2013 - 6

Leading Edge

What Is an At-risk Student?
At-risk students can be students
who have made poor choices that have
negatively impacted their academic career. Adults can
also be at-risk students if they have been out of higher
education for an extended time or have a physical
limitation that was not identified before they enrolled
in higher education. Some at-risks individuals are
more easily recognized than others.
I have had the honor and privilege to teach
many of these students. Several in this group have
graduated and gone on to be productive citizens in
our community. Students who drop out of school
struggle to make ends meet because they must take
Karen Mason
lower-paying jobs, sometimes working two jobs in
order to pay their bills. Numerous at-risk students lack parental support and often have
a low academic self-concept; consequently, these students often struggle in school.
Career and technical education (CTE) teachers are willing to dedicate extra time
to help make their students be successful. Career and technical student organizations
(CTSOs) provide opportunities for students to excel in leadership activities and provide
opportunities to prepare students to be college and career ready. CTE provides
approaches to learning that improve student achievement through applied learning
opportunities. The relevance of CTE coursework is one of the keys to engaging students
and motivating them to learn. I use Facebook to follow my former students. I love to see
their successes and accomplishments.
I want to share a story of a former student whom I will call Jane. Jane was definitely
an at-risk student. I taught her in several of my courses throughout her high school years.
Her senior year she moved out of her parents’ home, held down a job, came to school and
paid all of her bills, which included rent, phone, a car payment, insurance, etc. Jane had
never had parental support and, in fact, her father had said to her on numerous occasions
she would never amount to anything and most certainly would never graduate from high
school. A month before school was out Jane decided she was going to quit school. She
was struggling to pay her bills and needed to work more hours. When she came in that
day to check out, I tried my best to talk her out of quitting school. I actually played what
I thought was my last card to talk her out of it. I said, “So you are going to let your Dad
win?” She said, “What do you mean?” I told her, “Your Dad told you that you would
never graduate from high school, and you are going to let him win.” She left but returned
about fifteen minutes later to say she had changed her mind, and she was not going to let
him win. Jane graduated and is working full time. I encourage her when I see her posts
on Facebook. I believe that someday Jane will be very successful. CTE teachers touch
many lives and impact young people far more than they may know! Thank you for what
you do to impact the lives of your students.

Karen Mason
ACTE President

6
Techniques

February 2013

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Techniques Feb 2013

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