Day One

She is a beautiful young girl with a bit of mischievousness  in her eyes. She can be sullen, withdrawn, and the anger she bears can be explosive. But in spite of the tough girl façade, Mindy is a child that has been hurt, rejected, and confused. I introduced myself to her, asking her about the great hair extensions she proudly handles with her fingers. She smiles and with that we begin our conversation. The path home for this young girl will be arduous, helping her to manage her impulses will be a challenge, supporting her to stay in school will require patience. But you can’t look into her eyes without wanting only the best for her. For us that means making the extra effort by assigning additional staff to her and tailor services that are individualized to address her needs specifically. These efforts require resources that are often in short supply. So the task at hand is to make the most of the resources we do have to provide the greatest impact possible for this young girl and all those that we serve at Hillsides.

This task was made easier by the passage of Proposition 30 that will allow continued funding for education. That being said, additional resources are only part of the solution. Just as important as an improved funding stream is the need to establish clear priorities, identify efficiencies that allow funds to be best utilized, and employ methods that clearly demonstrate impact. Let us not be deceived by the passage of Proposition 30; resources continue to be constrained and the challenges are many. Smart utilization of limited resources is the only answer. This is an era of doing more with less without sacrificing what is best.

So given this scenario, what advice would an advocate of the children and youth we serve provide President Obama on day one of his second term? I would suggest that the first task would be to establish common ground among all parties and state that education and the needs of the most vulnerable children and families are a national priority. Regardless of our constrained economic situation, we are united in addressing the needs of the children and families that depend on us to be successful. There is no better investment in our future than what we do today for our children

As much as we must not underestimate the assistance we received from public sources, the truth is that for an organization like Hillsides we are very dependent on the generous support we receive from the private sector. Last year 10% of our operating budget came from funding provided through individual donors and grants from private foundations. The impact we are able to have on the lives of the children we serve is dependent on the generosity of our donor community.

Regardless of the outcomes of this year’s election, we continue to be very dependent on private funds to augment what we receive from the public sector. In that sense nothing has changed and the challenges continue to mount. However, the efforts we make are so worthwhile, the impact we have is so significant, and the ability to restore hope to children and their families is priceless. Challenges aside, we must not give in to the cynics who wallow in doubt and worry, but rather look to what has been achieved as an indicator of what can still be accomplished, never losing hope to create lasting change for Mindy and other children and their families.

Teacher of the Year

One of the hallmarks of Hillsides is the longevity of its staff. This past week we celebrated the 30^th anniversary of one of our teachers, Debi Szilagi-Johnson. As one of the very first teachers at Hillsides Education Center, Debi, like no one else, can tell the story of the school’s evolution, attempting to be responsive to the constantly changing needs of its students.

Recently, flooding in the school building impacted Debi’s classroom. As I walked through the school assessing the damage, it was clear to me that Debi was very upset. I attempted to reassure her that we would replace what had been damaged, but soon I realized what upset her more than anything else. It was not the supplies that could easily be replaced, but rather it was the “priceless” mementos of the past thirty years that were irreplaceable. Aside from being a great teacher, she is de facto our archivist, cataloguing the many pieces of treasure from the last thirty years. These treasures in her classroom told the story not only of her career and the evolution of instruction at the school, but more importantly served as the repository for the memorabilia of countless students.

Inevitably when alums return to visit, they make their way to Debi’s classroom to recall those formative experiences and, once again, take pride in the achievements they were able to make while at HEC. She is one of those memorable teachers that leave an imprint on the lives of those she instructs, an indelible mark that lasts a life time…a truly great teacher!

Debi’s style is a great example of the approach that we take at Hillsides with all those we serve–to be an essential resource for them, driven by a desire to see them achieve success. This year’s annual fund appeal, Together on the Path, reflects our hope that those we serve will move beyond the trauma they have experienced to being restored to an unencumbered and full life.

This great mission requires resources that go beyond the public funding we receive. Hillsides Education Center alone requires about $250,000 a year to maintain the quality instruction it provides because of the growing funding gap resulting from significant cuts to public education.

Support Debi and so many other dedicated staff members like her by contributing to our annual appeal. Your support makes a big difference in our efforts to together walk the path that leads to achievement and success for all we serve. Thank you!

Commencement 2012

With the largest class of graduates in recent history, 2012 is a banner year for Hillsides Education Center. Six students who participated in commencement exercises last Thursday joined three peers who received their high school diplomas in January. In addition to the high school graduates, 14 8th grade graduates had their own celebration on June 1^st. These celebrations are made possible by the extraordinary commitment of their teachers and classroom staff, led by Jay Bechtol, a longtime Hillsides staff member and director of the Education Center. It is their commitment and unwavering belief in the potential of these students that make it all possible. Our hats are off to all the graduates who have indeed lived up to the great expectations that have been placed upon them. 

This is a time to celebrate the achievements of the graduates.  I am happy to cheer them on from the side lines and honored to be called upon to confer the diplomas. As I milled about the post graduation celebration, the mother of one of the graduates came up to me to introduce herself and then proceeded to tell me how grateful she is for all that her son has achieved while at Hillsides. He joined us and she continued to acknowledge with great pride his accomplishments. I remembered the first time I met him; his cocky self assurance masked his vulnerability. In the course of several months, he has come to grow in a sense of achievement and become truly confident.

Among our graduates, we have some who are college bound, one off to a music institute, while others are still entertaining their options. However, all of them leave with a sense of pride that will serve them well in life and hopefully provide a foundation for their success.

What can you say to graduates that has not all ready been said? I would only add that I hope they know they can count on Hillsides to continue to support them. Our commitment to those we serve is not defined by their length of time in care, but rather by our resolve to be a resource for them and their families whenever they call upon us.

Jay Bechtol challenged the graduates to stay in touch. He suggested they come back to next year’s graduation to share what has happened to them during the year with another group of graduates as a way to encourage another class to hope, dream and achieve.