Education Interrupted

Epworth Village Learning Center builds confidence

 By: Marcia Schlegelmilch

For youth diagnosed with severe emotional and behavioral disorders education can be difficult. Any combination of these factors can cause an interruption in learning; triggering academic setbacks which must somehow be overcome. Enter Epworth Village Learning Center (EVLC). With a faculty and staff second to none, EVLC is a very special place dedicated to building kids’ confidence in a real learning environment. Education Director Scott Wiles has been with Epworth Village for what will be six years in August. Wiles says, “The longer I’m here the more apparent it becomes that many kids have been given up on by schools.” He adds that parents and guardians often don’t know where to turn or what to do. “There is a huge need for places like EVLC to help manage behaviors and get kids back in the school system,” Wiles states. According to Wiles, EVLC gives kids the opportunity to continue their education within their treatment.

For many years, children in residential treatment lost out on the chance to keep learning while receiving help; as a result, kids fell further and further behind. “When kids come to us for treatment (which can last from 6-9 months, and occasionally longer) they don’t have to worry about credits; they can earn them right here,” Wiles informs. Kids can earn credits as they work their treatment plans because EVLC is K-12 Interim School under Rule 18 of the Nebraska Department of Education. Although not meant to be a permanent solution, Interim Schools perform an important function. Using a familiar reference point the Education Director explains, “For many kids school is difficult. EVLC is an opportunity to give kids the tools they need to succeed back in their home schools.”

Ideally, students departing EVLC should carry with them a tool box containing strategies for establishing and maintaining positive relationships with peers, a respect for authority, and the ability to manage themselves in a classroom.

“We want to give kids the confidence, plain and simple, that they ‘Can do it’ in school,” Wiles says with feeling. One important piece of the puzzle happens as soon as kids realize they are in a safe place where staff cares about them; when they realize they can indeed succeed at being accepted by peers and handling school work. These are the confidence builders of which Wiles speaks.

“All of this is important and EVLC is set up to make this happen. We are a smaller school with eight-10 children in a class for the most part. With eight kids and two adults we are able to give the needed attention,” the Education Director informs.

Another plus for kids coming in to EVLC is the school’s ability to start working from where kids are.

Admittedly, mainstream schools target academics. While at EVLC the energy is concentrated on behaviors, because as Wiles explains, “kids can’t be successful until they manage their behaviors.”

Things like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) interrupt learning for many EVLC students. That’s why identifying the struggle, meeting students where they are, and backing away a bit from academics is part of the plan. Flexibility is also an important component of the EVLC program.

Transitioning kids back to their home school is the goal. A good collaborative relationship with York Public Schools (YPS) assists in this effort; allowing kids to be mainstreamed into classes as they work through their individual plans.

According to Wiles, the mainstreaming experience gives kids the chance to see, “I am at a regular school and I am successful … I can be successful at a public school.”

EVLC also works with home school districts, sharing strategies from their tool box that work for each individual student.

For over 120 years Epworth Village (once Mother’s Jewels Home) has existed with a mission to help children and families; EVLC is operated as an extension of this objective. That’s why when Wiles talks to staff, he speaks of “creating a safe, caring environment where kids can learn.” He says, EVLC Faculty and staff “provide care and love; making this a safe place where kids can be held accountable,” just like any other school.  

Whatever brings kids to Epworth Village and EVLC the goal is one in the same, to teach and impact youth for the better; that is, to treat children and help them to be successful.

Nancy Elbracht teaches middle school English at EVLC, along with a fifth period class of Healthy Relationships and Creative Expression. She is one member of a faculty and staff totaling 27. Elbracht, who is completing her second year at Epworth Village, is a veteran teacher who appreciates the fact that “her” EVLC students are everyone’s students at EVLC. She loves the flexibility of her classroom and the way all departments work together for kids.

According to Elbracht, viewing students as “ours” demonstrates the way Epworth Village sees the “bigger picture” as it uses a team approach in everything it does; whether cottage, school (EVLC) or therapy … working together is key.

Elbracht uses patience, understanding and a respectful upfront manner to communicate with students. On this particular Tuesday, Elbracht and class were working on projects relating to a unit on Helen Keller. The class has read “The Miracle Worker,” seen the movie and are now building, writing, drawing, singing and working on skits relating to Keller’s life story. Working together as a team a pair of students busily constructs a replica of Keller’s Garden House. At another table pinecones are being painted green and added to a diorama. Meanwhile, Elbracht pauses to assist a student who wishes to add a swinging door to his creation. Each and every one of the vastly different projects will be presented to the class once completed.

Meanwhile, out in the hall near the office, a student from Mrs. Carol Baker’s elementary class stands, cup in hand, anxious to show his science project to secretaries Cheryl Steever and Deb Ramsey. Proudly, he holds out a clear plastic cup. As the women lean forward to take a peek, he talks about how little mealy worms morphed into healthy size beetles. Then, as largish brown bugs crawl around in cornmeal, it becomes evident; learning is taking place in this place.

Steever smiles a knowing smile. After 21 years on the job one can guess she’s met many a mealy worm-turned beetle and has gotten excited about each and every one. As Administrative Secretary to the Education Director, Steever has witnessed countless changes over the years. She has seen the school grow from a partitioned space in 1989, located in the basement of Mills Dining Hall, to a program spread across campus with classrooms in the Central Administrative Building, Spurlock Hall, Mills and the wood shop.

At one time “we had classrooms all over campus,” Steever tells, “we always made the best of wherever we were – our staff is talented at that.”

It was 1995 when EVLC moved into its current location, the former YPS North Ward Elementary School (Edison School).

What makes EVLC a special place is the children, first and foremost, according to Steever.

“Each one is unique. Each has a special gift and special needs. This building is full of people dedicated and determined to meet those needs and uncover those talents. This building is full of people with stick-to-itiveness. They are caring and supportive in Christian love. No one shies away from a challenge. They use their skills to defuse crisis situations.”

Administrative assistant Ramsey shares Steever’s sentiment. The pair works closely together in the office of the alternative school.

Ramsey says caring is what she likes about where she works, “There are so many caring people in this school. I see Christian love through so many. Christ’s light really shines.

“Clients (students) don’t always see improvement right away. Sometimes it is years later when they realize how much (caring) has been shared with them …” How many seeds have been sown.
Math teacher Andy Jensen sows seeds of success every day from his classroom on the second floor of EVLC. At a little after 3 p.m. Jensen is seated at his desk. The departure of students means it is time for the teacher to hit the books in another way.

This “catching up,” as he calls it, involves checking email, writing reports, working on paperwork, drafting schedules for new kids coming in and kids who have been discharged. He says, in his “spare time” he plans to grade papers and prepare for the next school day.

“I’m a math teacher trying to teach kids how to be successful in the classroom. I keep doing the best I can,” Jensen states. “We are planting seeds, and the seeds are the same for each (child). What is different is when they will be ready to grow.”

Jensen has been teaching at EVLC for 13 years; first as a para-educator, moving to in-house substitute and then full-time teacher.

It is tough assignment, teaching children with such diverse life experiences and abilities. When he needs a boost Jensen turns to Romans 12:12-13 in “The Living Bible, Paraphrased” which reads, “Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and prayerful always. When God’s Children are in need, you be the one to help them out.” He says he found this verse many years ago on a day when he was feeling very frustrated. The passage serves to inspire, serves as a reminder and provides guidance.

With that in mind, EVLC faculty and staff draw upon all available resources to help kids, whose education has been interrupted, find out it feels like to succeed.