Collection:LPB

Genre: Panel

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2015-04-22

Duration: 00:57:21

Subjects: Filmed panel discussions | Education | High school dropouts | Graduation rates

Contributors:

• Sanford, Shauna Host
• Erwin, Barry Host
• Gautreaux, Kevin Producer
• Davis, Brittni Interviewee
• White, John Speaker
• Bradford, Ken Interviewee
• Brooks, John Interviewee
• Thomas, David Interviewee
• Heaton, Destiny Interviewee
• Phinney, Frank Panelist
• Flowers, Gayle Panelist
• Ricks, Dominique Panelist
• Solis, Jeanne Panelist
• Luce, Alonzo Panelist
• Bell-Wickham, Trudy Speaker
• Scott, Zephra Speaker
• O'Connor, Debbie Speaker
• Coleman, Keisha Speaker
• Webster, Corey Speaker
• Shepard, Demarcus Speaker
• Breaux, Lauren Speaker
• Myers, Wallace Speaker
• Self, Brielle Speaker
• Vampran, Trevor Speaker
• Williams, Kasey Speaker
• Harrison, Ajita Speaker

This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from April 22, 2015, features Shauna Sanford and Barry Erwin leading a town hall meeting between the audience members and panelists on Louisiana’s improving high school graduation rate and the state’s continued efforts to prevent high school dropouts. A background report on the topic precedes the discussion. It includes interviews with: Brittni Davis, Youth Challenge Program graduate; Ken Bradford of the Louisiana Department of Education; John Brooks, Jump Start student; David Thomas, a former Big Buddy participant; and Destiny Heaton, a WorkReady U student. A panel of experts then joins the audience to answer their questions. The panelists are: Frank Phinney, the president of the Louisiana School Counselor Association; Gayle Flowers, the director of Career, Adult, and Alternative Education for the Caddo Parish Public Schools; Dominique Ricks, a Baton Rouge Youth Coalition graduate and a teacher in Iberville Parish; Jeanne Solis, the director of health education services for the Central Louisiana Area Health Education Center; and Dr. Alonzo Luce, the superintendent of the St. James Parish Schools. They discuss: the biggest challenges to keeping students in school; teen pregnancy; motivating students to think beyond high school; the importance of mentors; adult education programs; student health issues; the role of athletics; balancing extracurricular activities; the state’s new Jump Start program; how students can help their at-risk peers; using technology to keep students connected to their classes; and combating the achievement gap. This program is a part of the American Graduate initiative.