SPAN graduates make major comebacks after minor setbacks with graduation

By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

S.P.A.N. of Chilton County graduated 18 students from its program on July 31 and got them back on track to academic success. The students were honored for their hard work in completing the program with a graduation ceremony inside Clanton City Hall.

Special Programming for Achievement Network, better known as SPAN, was started in Chilton County in the 1990s. With the help of Judges Bill Speaks, Red Turnipseed and George Ramsey and former Alabama State Rep. Curtis Smith, the program aimed to “bridge the gap to success” for at-risk youth in the county. The program serves students ages 12 to 18 who are around two years behind in school. Each student is referred to the program through the juvenile court system, but not all are necessarily in legal trouble. However, each student does have issues they are dealing with at the time that the program can help them figure out to catch back up in school.

“They come to us, and we help them either catch up to their current grade level, or get their GED,” Amanda Hicks, S.P.A.N. of Chilton County Program Director, said. “We also help with any behavioral, family or other issues they may be having … We really want to work on the whole person, and not just the academic work because we want to get to the root of the issue that got them behind in the first place, so it does not happen again.”

The program has two teachers, Sherry Hartley and Josh Helms, and two counselors, Leah Friday and Timothy Whaley. The program serves around 20 students each time, and along with Hicks, the students are given a more individualized approach to schooling. An approach that traditional middle and high schools could not provide due to the large number of students.

The students come into the program and complete an orientation to find out what their goals are throughout the program, where they are currently at and where they hope to be when they finish. Throughout their time in the program, students test every three months to see the progress they are making. Depending on where the student is, some may need remedial work and some may just need to refurbish just some basic skills like multiplication or grammar. The program works closely with Chilton County Schools, and any high school credits the students earn in the program are transferred over when the student returns to their traditional school back in good academic standing. Regardless of the route each student takes, the SPAN staff gives each one the same individualized approach to help them get back on track.

“We get students in who may not be coming from the best place, but we always let them come in with a clean slate, and we do not ever judge them based on what someone else says,” Hicks said. “Our staff is just amazing, and when I say the teachers and counselors go above and beyond, they really do. It is all about if (the students) do not have their basic needs, how are they going to learn?”

Hicks commended the community for its support of the program over the years, and to the program’s staff for going the extra mile to ensure the basic necessities are being provided to them. SPAN also has an advisory board with members on it throughout Chilton County including mayors, program directors, emergency personnel and other delegates that provide students with needs outside the classroom. A student may come in with shoes that do not fit well, or a student may be sleeping in a chair sitting up. The advisory board helps solve those issues for the students to set them up for success.

“This (graduating) group has just been appreciative of everything that has gone into them, and it really makes a difference when someone shows they are thankful and expresses it,” Hicks said. “Their heart and attitude (were into it), and I think this group is going to be something special. I encourage them to keep on this road to success, because all of them have done so well.”

The 18 new SPAN graduates were treated to a reception inside Clanton City Hall for them and their families following the graduation ceremony. Five of the 18 graduates received their SPAN GED, while the other 13 graduated the program to return to their traditional schools. Kendall Williams was the commencement speaker for the ceremony, and the graduates were presented their certificates by Judge Chris Speaks.

S.P.A.N. of Chilton County Program Graduates

Melanie Aparicio (GED Graduate)

Mia Bradley (GED Graduate)

Nickolas Dunaway

Brayden Fedrick (GED Graduate)

Esai Gonzalez

Joshua Jones

Zachary Jones

Samuel Lander (GED Graduate)

Hayden Lawley

Casey Love (GED Graduate)

Nataleigh Mims

Jimison Minor

Ameiah Naugher

Patrick Naugher

Joel Ramirez

Kaydynce Robertson

Gina Sanders

Latrell Simon

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