My name is Daryl Hendricks. The things I like about the center are that you work at your own pace and the session starts at noon. The teachers are awesome and helpful in getting us prepared for the real world. My teachers at my center are very respectful and help out lots of people. If you can’t move on to the next program, they give you one-on-one help. One great thing I learned at Ombudsman is how to do math, because it wasn’t my best subject. I wasn’t good with it at all until I raised my hand and got assistance from Mr. Hudson and Ms. Austin. Thanks for all the help and thanks everybody at the center.
Posts Tagged Ombudsman
My name is Kelando Summers and I am 18 years old. A friend told me about Ombudsman and that we only had to attend for four hours each day, so that’s what caught my interest. I’ve been here since September. The program works like a progression of tests to keep you on track learning what you need for graduation. Its more hands-on. At my high school there are thirty students with one teacher all at the same place. Here its thirty students with five teachers, so you can get more help. I like the hours and the teachers here. I’ve learned to focus more on my assignments here. When I at my old high school I had a whole lot of distractions. I hope to attend Middle Tennessee State University and major in music engineering or business.
My name is Shalynn Massey. I came to Ombudsman to get my grades up and stay out of trouble. I have accomplished a lot here. Without this program, I don’t know if I’d be doing well in school. There are lots of reasons I like the Ombudsman program. I love the short days because I can get more done after school. I can work a full time job without getting home too late. Working on the computer is a big plus because I can work at my own pace. The teachers help us individually and it makes understanding the work a lot easier. Since Ive started the Ombudsman program, my grades have improved. Its easy for me to focus on my work here. I look forward to coming to school now and I’m excited to be graduating with straight As. My attitude about school has changed. I’m happy I made the change.
There are a lot of reasons that led to my decision to enroll in Ombudsman. I like the four-hour session and the relaxed work at your own pace atmosphere. I was also tired of being neglected as a student. Ombudsman was the answer to the 11 ½ years of problems I couldn’t overcome alone. From the personalized learning programs to the amazing staff, I became witness to the best thing for kids like me—hope. Although the road to graduation had been bumpy for me, I feel confident in myself again. Over time, I have learned not only academics, but who I was as a young adult. I was given the responsibility of a college student, and to my pleasant surprise, was eventually able to function as an upstanding member of society who could balance school, two jobs and a relationship.
Historically, Ombudsman has an 85 percent success rate for the students that we serve. What’s amazing about that is that 100 percent of the students that are referred to Ombudsman were at risk of dropping out or had dropped out of school. Our success is defined as students are able to remain in the program to earn credit toward a high school diploma. They meet their goals with us and are able to successfully return back to their home school or they graduate from high school. Ombudsman demonstrates its success through the data that we collect on a regular basis. We’re able to demonstrate that students can improve their attendance in our programs, can demonstrate that students are successful and can transition back to their school district closer to or on their grade level. We can demonstrate that student graduation rates improve. We do diagnostic testing when students enter our program so that we are then able to show their academic growth. And these tests are administered at the entrance and exit for each student and it allows to us demonstrate how many grade levels of growth or how many standard measures they can increase during the time that they’re in our program.
Students come to us for many different reasons. Some students are behind on credits, some are have missed too much class and some have adult responsibilities that keep them from attending classes during the day. For example, for students who have jobs, Ombudsman’s flexible schedules give them a better option for finishing their education while servicing and helping their families.
My name is Jermaine D. Mason and I’m 18 years old. I was one of the few who brought themselves to Ombudsman without being in trouble. At my high school I was distracted by my peers. I never went to class or did anything constructive. I finally woke up and told myself that I needed to get on the right track. So, I went to the principals office and requested to be sent to Ombudsman. A week later I came to Ombudsman, and on my very first day, I felt like this was the place for me. Ive shown a 100 percent improvement in my attitude and academics and I love it here. The teachers are there to help you with anything you need help with. It’s a great place for me and I’m sure it would be a great place of success for anyone.
My name is Chelsea Webster. I am 19 and the youngest of thee. I have been working since I was 15, and right now I am a supervisor at Pilot Travel Centers. I have always had a problem with going to school for seven hours. My teacher recommended Ombudsman to me because she felt I was bored and too mature for high school. When I got here, I immediately liked the teachers from their warm first impressions. I also enjoy programs on the computer and only going to school for four hours instead of seven. When I get out of school some days, I go straight to work. The program has gotten me more interested in going to college after I graduate and I have already enrolled. I believe that Ombudsman believes in me and I would recommend the program to parents and students.
My name is Shaquille Brooks and I am 17 years old. I came to Ombudsman to help with my attendance, build a better attitude about my senior year, and to help me get my high school diploma. My attendance and my attitude about finishing school got worse at the beginning of my senior year. Coming to Ombudsman has helped me change my mind about school, grow as a student, and want to further my education. Then I found out I was expecting and I thought my life and future were both over. But my teachers and social worker were on my side. They never gave up on me and always wrote inspiring messages at the bottom of my programs. They even gave me lessons about parenting and helped me understand my bipolar disorder, too. My learning experience with Ombudsman has been the best it could be. I love the one-on-one attention I get from my teachers; I definitely love the fact that I can work at my own pace on any subject I choose for the day. I’ve become a successful, new and improved young lady by attending Ombudsman. My attendance is great and now I am looking forward to graduating from high school, becoming a new mom, and becoming a freshman in college. I may not have known my teachers at Ombudsman for long, but they’ve inspired me to keep going and never give up!
Ombudsman Educational Services operates charter schools in addition to its school district partnership programs. Ombudsman currently operates charter schools in Arizona for students who are at risk of dropping out of school, who need additional credits or who need a shorter school day than public schools offer. Students can enroll in an Ombudsman Charter School at any time and earn their high school diploma in a personalized, safe, alternative environment. Charter schools are funded by the state and students attend free of charge. The Ombudsman Charter School program is aligned to state standards, ensuring that students learn and master the necessary skills and content knowledge they need to graduate. And, like other Ombudsman programs, Ombudsman Charter Schools offer students a flexible schedule, personalized instruction and computer-assisted learning that allows them to work at their own pace in a small learning environment.