Children of Poverty
Dramatic turnaround produced model student
Danisha Anderson's turnaround was dramatic and inspiring. In elementary school and through her freshman year at Buffalo's Burgard High School, she fought with classmates, argued with teachers and took innocent comments as personal insults. Several times she was suspended from school the same day she returned from a previous suspension.
Now, as a junior, she's a model student.
Danisha raised her grades by more than 20 points, is pleasant and popular with students and staff, and recently wrote an essay on healthy bodies and minds that earned the school a $1,000 grant from a milk processors' trade group.
"I'm looking forward to walking across that stage next year [at graduation]," Danisha said. "I want to go to college and see the future. I want to be a successful person. I don't want to be like I was before. Never."
Danisha is so proud of her improvement that she approached Buffalo School Superintendent James A. Williams at a recent Burgard football game to tell him all about it.
"I was real impressed," Williams said. "Danisha is an indication that we can do it."Like many poor, urban students, Danisha brought problems to school with her. She describes herself as an emotional person who remains prone to anger and said her grandmother - with whom she lives - is not always able to help her keep calm.
But with maturity and lots of guidance, she learned to check those feelings at the school door and to plug into her better instincts.
"My hope is that the students begin to see what it is that makes them different, that makes them special, that makes them valuable," said Florence Krieter, the Burgard principal. "Every child has that."
Danisha, 17, gives Krieter lots of credit for her personal improvement. They talk at some length every school day, and Krieter recently drove Danisha to several local businesses to apply for a part-time job.
"She tells me to do the right thing," Danisha said. "She just changed me around. She's got a place in my heart."
Danisha's relationship with her principal typifies Burgard's philosophy.
All freshmen and sophomores meet with volunteer mentors in small groups every sixth day, and that system will expand to include juniors and seniors.
Krieter meets individually with dozens of students each day, leaving most of her administrative duties for after-school hours.
Williams applauds those priorities, saying students need role models, personal contact with adults and lots of encouragement.
"That's what's missing in our community," he said. "We're not talking to kids."
When Danisha got mad in the past, she fought with classmates or mouthed off to teachers.
But when her anger starts to bubble now, Danisha takes strength from her support system.
"I've got a principal that cares," she said. "I've got teachers who care. I've got a school that cares about me."
Ultimately, however, Danisha knows that her continued improvement rests on her own efforts and decisions.
When troubles mount, she composes herself rather than striking out.
"I'll just sit down and think about it before I start acting the same old way," she said.
Positive feedback reinforces Danisha's new direction. Classmates often comment on her turnaround, and she was ecstatic when her report card average, which once hovered around 60, jumped to 82 last year.
Danisha, who receives special education assistance because of a learning disability, wants to be a geriatric nurse.
"I've been thinking as I get older that I've got to do better," she said. "I want to make my family proud and make myself proud."
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