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Breaking barriers success story - Hillsboro

September 21, 2009

Century High School, Hillsboro

Century High has learned to engage its Hispanic teenagers through activities. Century High School offers a girls’ dance program and a drama club for Hispanic students. Parents come to watch their children perform - and because they’re a “captive” audience, ESL teachers chose this time in a “non-threatening, community” atmosphere to share food, talk about the importance of high school attendance and academic success, according to Principal Dawn Montgomery. She notes a projected enrollment next year of 220 ESL students at Century - 20 percent of the school’s population. “My staff give lots of extra time on their own to make this program work,” she says. Gayle Speech-Marion is a good contact for more information, 503-844-1451.

Hillsboro also has a WINGS program aimed at all at-risk students by providing “small communities” of students and teachers within the school. To increase Hispanic teachers, the school uses Portland State University’s Pathways Program to encourage instructional aides to get teaching licenses.

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