Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
|
“What is happening here in Thomasville is really quite extraordinary,” Albert said in an interview, following the panel discussion. “On the national level, very few school districts are offering what they’re offering here. Not only has it been going on for a number of years, but the variety of what they offer goes on and on.”
Joining Albert in the panel discussion were Mary Jane Akerman, wellness coordinator of Thomasville City Schools (TCS), Kay Phillips, executive director of the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Coalition of North Carolina (APPCNC); Rodney Crownover, program manager of the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services; Sarah Langer, HIV/AIDS policies and programs consultant with the N.C. Department of Public Instruction; and Sherry Barr, vice president of the Princeton Center for Leadership Training, as well as director of the New Jersey Teen PEP. Callie Kirsch and Demetria Mathis, two THS seniors involved in Teen PEP also participated in the panel discussion.
“We are one of the funders for the Teen PEP program here in Thomasville, and we wanted to see the peer-education performance and show support for the program,” Crownover said. “The evidence shows that this program is effective in delaying sex and preventing teen pregnancy.”
The assembly program began with skits, performed by THS Teen PEP members, which depicted situations and showed how to make choices involving circumstances that lead to teen pregnancy and the problems that come with it. Also on hand were educators from Rockingham, Burke Durham, Wake, Wilkes, Randolph and other counties, interested in getting such a program started in their school district.
“Some of you were asking about funding,” said James Carmichael, TCS assistant superintendant, as the panel discussion was coming to an end, “The main thing you need to do is get someone like Mary Jane Akerman, because without her this wouldn’t have happened.”
Carmichael pointed out that Akerman obtained the funding for this program. Jim Burchel, a THS Teen PEP coordinator credited Akerman with the same thing.
“Thomasville has been very supportive of this program,” Akerman said. “There are great resources throughout the state, but we couldn’t do it without the people we have in Thomasville.”
Among the proud observers of this showcase of the TCS pilot program was Susie Truell, chairman of the TCS board.
“It is wonderful that all these people are taking interest in the teen program that we have here,” Truell said. “I hope that others can get the program.”
So does James Martin, APPCNC development and communications manager, who moderated the panel discussion.
“I think we all agree that Thomasville City Schools is an extraordinary example of what we can do in North Carolina — but it need not be unique,” Martin said. “Any school system here can do it if its people have the desire to build public support.”
Staff Writer Kevin Reid can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 230, or at reid@tvilletimes.com.