No matter where you go to high school, there are disciplinary measures in place in order to address inappropriate student behavior. Suspensions and detention rooms for many schools seem to be the only solution. However, what if there was another alternative?
At John Dewey High School, this alternative has been in place for the last several years in the form of the ‘Intervention Room’, managed by Mr. Satira, an experienced educator of over 20 years.
Mr. Satira was a gym teacher in the past, and utilizes many skills and techniques he acquired during his many years teaching in order to have a huge impact on the students that are most at risk. The intervention program replaced an older program that John Dewey had for years, called the in-house-suspension program. The difference between the in-house-suspension program and the Intervention Room is that the latter is for students who need support due to their lack of school appropriate behavior towards their peers and Dewey faculty. Mr. Satira reflects this difference in concept, saying “Here in this program we are trying to intervene in trying to support the students”.
The intervention room doesn’t just serve as a hub for students with current behavioral issues. As Mr. Satira notes, ”This program benefits different students in different ways on different days”. If any student in John Dewey needs a break from school, the intervention room serves as a viable option since the program is for supporting students in need of any kind of help. Most students usually get along with Mr. Satira, and are willing to listen to what he has to say.
Many students who visited the intervention program have a soft spot for this program. One student who was often found in the intervention program had a lot to say. Senior Imtiyaj Prahar said that “This program kept me out of major trouble and the teacher helped me get on the right track to finish high school.”
Mr. Satira’s words inspire these students to push themselves to their fullest potential. Prahar also said, “I had been going through a lot my sophomore year, and now that I’m in my senior year he motivates me to finish off strong.”
Dean’s around the school can speak to the efficacy of the program. Mr. Ruiz gave his perspective on how he feels about this intervention program, saying “It’s kind of a way where students don’t have the need of being left out and being extremely punished for their actions. At the end of the day they are students who make mistakes and can learn from them. I feel like this program can help them learn from their mistakes and push them to succeed in the real world.” Although the Intervention Room is only in its third year of existence, its immediate positive impact on the students of Dewey has ensured that it is here to stay.
