How Two Schools Benefit Our Community: What You May Not Know

By Chaney Ferguson
The Times of SWLA




Lake Charles-Boston Academy of Learning and College Street T&I Center are two schools citizens pass by everyday. Their success often goes unnoticed.

The LCB Academy of Learning is divided into four areas: advanced studies, distance learning, fine arts, career and technical education.

“The whole design of the school is to fill the gaps that are in Calcasieu Parish high schools. We aren’t here to replace anything. We’re here to enhance the curriculum,” said Charles Adkins, Director of the Academy.

Throughout the day students are transported to the Academy for classes.
“We will transport you regardless of where you live,” says Adkins.

Former principal of Barbe High School, Adkins became director of the Academy because of the focused curriculum and the options it offered students.

Career and technical education provides certifications or introductions into possible career paths such as EMT training and television production.

“The advanced studies program offers AP classes and McNeese offers dual enrollment so they get college and high school credit,” said Adkins.

The fine arts program offers movie production, music mastery, and other art classes.
“Music Mastery is a class where students interested in learning more about instrumental music study under different band directors throughout the parish. We had over a hundred kids enrolled,” said Adkins.
Roger Creel and George Albers reviewing plans for the new expansion

Adkins explained that a child under the instruction of one band director might get to study under a different band director and learn a different style. He says it will strengthen high school bands in the area and help students develop their talent.

The distance learning program, an online option with occasional labs held on campus, has the most room for growth.

“Students can get credit by taking online classes.

We also help students take classes through the Louisiana Virtual School, an online school where they can take a variety of coursework,” says Adkins.

According to Adkins, a common misconception is that students must have a 3.5 GPA. There is no grade point requirement except for courses McNeese offers for dual credit.
The Academy also offers a new credit summer school.

Students can take up to two classes during the summer and the classes are every day for three hours and forty-five minutes.

“We have to do the same number of hours as a regular school year,” explains Adkins.
“One course we are really trying to start is a ‘successful strategies in reading’ course. It’s designed for students going into 8-10 grades,” said Adkins. “If you struggle in reading you’re going to struggle in everything else.”

According to Adkins everything the school does is an effort to help students.
Another school in the area focused on the success of the student is the T&I Center on College Street.

The T&I Center offers opportunities to learn skills in auto-tech, auto body repair, carpentry, commercial art, construction, culinary art, outdoor power equipment, and welding.
“Our programs are nationally accredited with NCCER certifications,” said Roger Creel, Director of Career and Technical Education in Calcasieu Parish.

The NCCER stands for National Center for Construction Education and Research.
According to Creel, the NCCER keeps a database of certifications which allows students to travel around the country to work without having to repeat any courses.

“They can pull up a student on the database and see that he is on level one module seven and he can pick up from there,” explained Creel.

The Center as well as the skills it teaches is gaining attention from local industry.
George Albers, Director of the T&I school, explains that local industries are going into the schools and speaking to students, encouraging them to look at the career and construction trades.
“They work with us and steer students into our programs,” said Albers.

Creel adds that all of the programs are geared towards helping students transfer credit to post-secondary training.

The instructor’s first priority is to help the students become successful, says Creel. Evidence of that success is found in student achievement.

“One of our students in our carpentry class went to state and finished second in cabinet making,” said Creel.

The culinary arts program boasts three certified junior culinarians.

Despite success of the school’s programs, Albers and Creel face a constant struggle when speaking with parents, students, and the community.

“Our struggle is convincing students and parents that this is a viable option they need to look at for their children. Everyone wants their child to go to college or they feel like they are a failure. That’s not true,” says Creel.

According to Creel the old mentality of sending the behavioral problems to shop class lingers. He shares with people the dignity and importance of acquiring a skill.

“Look at all the work that needed to be done after the hurricanes,” says Albers. “We had more
work than qualified workers to do the job.”

T&I Center has an enrollment of 225 students with smaller programs located on DeQuincy, Starks, Sulphur, Washington/Marion, and Westlake campuses.

Due to student interest and increasing needs in the program, the College Street T&I Center is expanding.

“The city and the parish are donating a half a million dollars each,” said Creel.
Expansion will provide new courses in electrical, pipefitting, plumbing, and HVAC. Students will enjoy the new facilities in the 2010-2011 school year.

Each school offers students opportunities to further their knowledge of possible career paths and get a leg up on the competition. If the schools are successful, the region is too.