NEWS

Motivating, connecting, building: New HCPS multilingual program helps 27 seniors graduate

Lurah Lowery
Hendersonville Times-News
Diego Ascenció poses with his Dogwood Trust program advocate Jose Gutierrez (far left) and his family after receiving his East Henderson High School diploma earlier this summer.

As the end of Diego Ascenció's senior year of high school crept closer he didn't think he'd graduate but thanks to one-on-one help, he received his diploma this summer.

Henderson County Public Schools received $225,000 from the Dogwood Health Trust – an Asheville-based private foundation – for a new program that pairs multilingual students at risk of failing or not graduating with support advocates.

Twenty seven Class of 2021 seniors graduated through the program when they might not have otherwise. Two graduates, including Ascenció, participated during the district's six-week summer school.  

Students were referred by teachers, administrators and counselors to Areli Perez-Nava, HCPS Migrant Education Program coordinator. She matched the students with advocates based on personality, interests and learning style.

The advocates aren't meant to just tutor students, Perez-Nava said.

"It was about motivating them, connecting with them and building that relationship between the school and the student," she said. "They would talk to teachers about what assignments needed to be prioritized, goal setting – things like that.

"The model of this was to also be the bridge for communication between the school and the parents and helping them all sort of build a support group around the student."

Advocates were available to answer questions and assist students as well as their families during and outside of normal school hours.

"We had several students, especially due to the pandemic, that were working full-time because their parents weren't able to," Perez-Nava said.

'A lot simpler'

Diego Ascenció poses with Jose Gutierrez, his advocate through HCPS' Dogwood Trust grant program, after receiving his East Henderson High School diploma.

Ascenció said he lost his motivation for schoolwork during virtual classes. 

"I didn't see any point," he said. "I just couldn't bring myself to do it. It felt tortuous because of how long – seven hours a day – just looking at a screen doing these online classes."

In-person classes were a better fit for him. He missed the connection and had a bit of senioritis. Meeting with his advocate "lit the fuse" and gave him his initiative back, Ascenció said.

"It felt like the load was a lot easier and it kind of made what looked complicated a lot simpler," Ascenció said. "It was about getting it done."

He needed to finish and pass civics and an English class to graduate. He was paired with advocate Jose Gutierrez.

"When I met him he seemed pretty open to getting some help and he was very willing to work," Gutierrez said. "I think the main impression was to just be someone that he trusted and have someone for support if he needed it."

Their meetings were more conversational and about listening to Ascenció rather than formal teaching. It's important for students to feel comfortable enough to be themselves, Gutierrez said.

"I just wanted him to succeed," he said. "I told him from the start, 'This is going to take a lot of work so this is up to you. I'm here for your support but it just depends on you. If you put in the work then you'll get it done.'"

Diego Ascenció poses with his mother, Veronica Hernandez, and father, Ernesto Ascenció, after receiving his East Henderson High School diploma earlier this summer.

Ascenció's mother, Veronica Hernandez, is thankful for the program because she was worried about her son's future. Ascenció had previously been a straight A student and she knew getting his diploma would open a lot of doors for him, she said.

"One day I got a call from the school and they said, 'Diego has completed everything. He can graduate,'" Hernandez said. "I ran to his room and I was jumping for joy. I was very happy."

She and her husband, Ernesto Ascenció, were thrilled to see their son graduate. He was one of three East Henderson High School seniors that graduated after successfully completing summer school. A ceremony was held at the school for the students.

"It was such a short period of time that he had to succeed and I didn't think he would be able to and so watching him walk in his cap and gown was something very beautiful," Hernandez said. 

Ascenció is proud to have his diploma. He hasn't decided yet what he'll do next but he's interested in possibly pursuing a career in business, electronics or music, he said.

More summer learning success

This year's HCPS summer school led to 376 high school students completing 674 course credits and 23 seniors graduating. 

Students from all six of the district's high schools participated. 

  • Henderson County Career Academy: 18 students completed 35 credits and four seniors graduated based on those credits. Four students moved up to the next grade.
  • Henderson County Early College: two students completed two credits.
  • East Henderson High School: 108 students completed 168 credits and five seniors graduated based on those credits. Thirty students moved up to the next grade.
  • North Henderson High School: 98 students completed 157 credits and six seniors graduated based on those credits. Thirty two students moved up to the next grade.
  • Hendersonville High School: 102 students completed 228 credits and eight seniors graduated based on those credits. Forty students moved up to the next grade.
  • West Henderson High School: 48 students completed 84 credits and nine moved up to the next grade based on those credits. 

Lurah Lowery is the education and city government watchdog reporter for the Hendersonville Times-News, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at llowery@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @lurahlowery and Facebook.com/lurahjournalist.