Developing a culture of continuous learning is crucial to the future success of our students and community. The days of the one-size-fits-all approach to education are well behind us. Today, for communities to thrive school districts must provide educational settings where all learners — children, adolescents and adults–can succeed.

At Niles Community Schools, we take great pride in laying a foundation of learning that will enable our students to quench their curiosities throughout their lifetime. Whether it’s in our traditional schools or our non-traditional schools, which include Cedar Lane Alternative High School, Homeschool Partnership, W-A-Y (Widening Advancements for Youth) and Niles Adult Education, our focus is on challenging our students intellectually so that they achieve continuous academic improvement. We are grateful for the tremendous support these programs receive from our community members.

Were it not for the diverse course offerings we provide, many might fall between the cracks. The impact would not only be felt by these individuals, but by the entire community as well, as it is a well-educated and growing community that prospers.

A prime example of the benefits that our non-traditional learning opportunities offer local residents is Reneé Mark. Reneé dropped out of River Valley High School after her sophomore year more than two decades ago to help her parents financially whenever she could.

Years later, when her husband became disabled, she hoped to secure a better job to support her husband and their two daughters, one of who is autistic. However, without a diploma, opportunities for employment were limited. Fortunately, Reneé was able to attend our adult education program and graduate.

Today, not only is she employed full-time with Niles Community Schools’ Maintenance and Operations Department, but she is also enrolled full-time with Liberty University Online.

As we all know, traditional high school can be uncomfortable and overwhelming at times. For some, the discomfort becomes too much to handle. Additionally, there are those students facing life challenges that prevent them from completing their credits in the typical time frame.

For more than 20 years, Cedar Lane Alternative High School has provided a high quality, innovative educational program for students requiring more personalized attention. While many alternative high school programs across the state have been converted to computer labs with online courses, as part of the district’s ongoing commitment to the families we are fortunate to serve, Cedar Lane remains one of the few alternative programs in the state of Michigan to still offer teacher led classes.

Ideally, lifelong learning should be the objective of everyone throughout the Niles community. Learning inspires us to reach our fullest potential, strengthening our relationships, our careers, our lives. On behalf of the educators at Niles Community Schools, I invite you and your family to take advantage of the invaluable educational services we have available to all age groups. I hope to bump into you in our hallways in the future.

 

Rich Klemm is Assistant Superintendent at Niles Community Schools.