Shannon Stearns’s class is over for the day, but the education isn’t. The soft-spoken petite educator addresses one of her students about the new clothes he will need soon. “We’ll have to get you some new pants,” she says eyeing the baggy jeans, cuffs dragging the floor, “before your job
interview.”

Stearns is more than a career teacher, she is an advocate for the Focus Team Council and a mentor. She fulfills the very definition of mentor; an experienced and trusted advisor. An experienced person in a school who trains and counsels students.

One advantage Stearns shares with her students at Inn Sight Alternative High School is identification. She moved here from Wisconsin , with her sister, at the age her students are now. She knows what its like to feel left out, to not fit in. To complicate matters she was pregnant.

“Personally I understand, because of my situation when I was a senior in high school.”

She was pregnant and on track to graduate but did not see herself completing school because she planned to have her daughter before graduation. Stearns explained, “I wasn’t going to leave her and I wasn’t going to go back to school. But one of my friends told me about the alternative teachers at the high school and they had everything figured out for me. I never asked, but they were there to help.”

“I know – and realize – how hard it is to fit in. I wasn’t from around here. “Now I just like to help kids at risk,” she smiles.

“Some of these kids get hooked up in different lifestyles that are either undesirable or they get into trouble and become alienated. They still deserve chances in life. I think that is important for them to know there
are folks who will help them achieve their goals. I feel like they need to understand there is something out there for them. They don’t have to continue doing the things they do in order to fit into which ever group they are trying to fit into. They can have a sense of success.”

Inn Sight does just that, besides providing education. “We implant a lot of democratic policies here,” Stearns says. “The kids have a big say in what’s going on. We have a democratic system. The students themselves help enforce the rules and determine the outcome from matters that arise such as attendance or behavior infractions. They don’t want to see their classmates screwing up their lives. We also have a student run president.”

“You have to deal with issues that come up, demand accountability right then,” she continues. “For the most part the new students are willing to learn and like it here.”

“Don’t lead by bad example,” she encourages the class. Stearns, with her youthful looks, could be mistaken as a current student, clarifies by adding “the mentoring here at Inn Sight is the staff that works here. We do a lot of one on one talking with the kids. We have 39 and we get to know them a lot better since we have the same group with us all day long. They tend to call on us a little bit more, and utilize us in a sense that we can help them with more than just school work, we can help them figure out problems. And if we aren’t able to assist them, we know other resources to put them in touch with, so they don’t feel awkward asking. They
know we can help them,” she says with her gentle eyes smiling.

Stearn continues, “we do a career exploration with the students, and we help them with a job shadowing program. Some employers are getting less tolerant of that, due to insurance regulations. We also do a college exploration and help them with placement tests. Inn Sight works closely with Rogue Community College for placement tests and financial aid,” she says.

“We’re part of the non-profit Inn Between; Inn Sight (the alternative high school) and L.I.F.T. social survies project (Life through Independence, Family and Trust) programs are projects of the Inn Between Corporation. L.I.F.T. is the homeless youth program. We have an advocate in that program who works a different schedule than the school, but also in conjunction with Inn Sight, she’s here during some of the hours we are.
She serves the 21 and under youth, which are usually the street kids. And that’s one of the objectives we have; to get those kids enrolled in school. Just not anyone can come here, the student must be referred by the high school they would normally attend. Those include Grants Pass, Hidden Valley, North Valley and Illinois Valley high schools,” she says.

Stearns mentors every day, in the form of guidance and asset building. In fact she won the Social Competency Builder award in 2007.

“They’re kids, they make mistakes, but there are certain things that we do not tolerate, and drugs around the campus is one of them. They can be suspended for that, and if a second time occurs they are then referred to Drug and Alcohol Treatment in order to maintain their space here. Even in that case we don’t want to give up on kids, because … where else do they have to go ? And we know that a lot of kids are here to make changes but they need a little help and they help each other a lot.”

“We also expect regular attendance,” she emphasizes. “Even if this means giving rides to students who needs rides. However, public school buses are provided for students. But they need to communicate with us, if they’re having problems.”

Stearns says, “Some of the kids are here because they’ve been expelled from their high school, it’s not like they’ll never be allowed back, but they might have done something on their campus that they can’t be part of their school.” She elaborates further, “some of them just don’t go to school, don’t like the cliques at the school.”

“We have some really talented kids here that are not stupid by any means, and that can probably go back to their high school, but it’s just tough for them to be around the social environment, that in itself can be a problem. Many who have graduated through here, are doing quite well. It’s not like they came here for an easy way out, because they still must complete state testing requirements, they still have to pass all the same classes as in the high schools. We use the same core classes as the high school, we get our text books from the high schools. We are accredited, but we don’t issue diploma’s, their home school gives that,” she says.

“So they are not rejected from their home school,” she describes further. “Some students go back to their home school, if they play sports or whatever. They can go back to their high school at the semester. This is a pretty therapeutic place.”

Inn Sight began as a GED program over 27 years ago for teen parents before Stearns came aboard 14 years ago. She fills in a little background, “Brian Burgess the executive director of the Inn Between was asked to open a high school alternative completion program. He decided to try and he hired an administrative company out of Seattle to start things up. I came two months afterwards as a volunteer for Inn Sight.” However it didn’t take too long for Stearns to get hired.

Currently negotiations are underway to purchase the Avista Utilities building on SE J Street where Inn Sight and L.I.F.T are located. “It does look promising we’ll keep the building,” Stearns says.

The nurturing services have leased the building since 1997. “We don’t really want to move,” Stearns sighs.

“These walls are movable, and we have computer stations , finally the technology is coming together. The students can do state testing requirements right there. There are a lot of benefits why we should stay here at this location. This area is not too rural , not too residential. We’re accepted by our neighbors.”

“I like it here,” Stearns beams. “I would hate to see anything happen to a place like this, because I do know the value of it.”

Her message to the students is clear. “There are people out there that do care about what happens to you and you can do it, and it’s your job right now. Above all don’t quit and don’t give up on it. Because this is something you can never go back too, these high school years. Sure you can go to RCC to get an adult diploma but you can’t go back to high school.”

“We ask them, do you really want to get a GED, when a diploma is available? Stay in school.” She knows a youth will regret getting his GED, when a diploma is so accessible. A diploma increases the job opportunities
they need.

Stearns is expecting her second child in July. She plans to return to the classroom and students she cares so much about in the fall as soon as she’s able.

“I like it here, I would prefer to work here than other places because our boss is very dedicated. He thinks the same way we do, and understands the way kids are nowadays. He will come and speak to the students and be involved. He’s a great director .”

by Mary Ann Bullard