California Educator

October 2015

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Simon Lakkis teaches English and parenting classes at McAlister High School. He tells his students "they are just as capable as any other student in any other high school." "In regular high school, the other girls would just stare at you and everyone judged you," says Crystal Ramos, 17. "When I felt sick, nobody understood. It was just too much." By Sherry Posnick-Goodwin Photography by Scott Buschman A Nurturing Education In supporting teen moms, McAlister High staff delivers Being pregnant in a regular high school was so stressful that Ramos transferred to McAlister High School, a small alternative campus in Los Angeles Unified School Dis- trict (LAUSD) for pregnant and parenting teens. She gave birth to daughter Darla a few months ago, and continues her studies there, planning to earn a diploma soon. It's not easy. While other teenage girls think about proms, the latest hair and clothing styles, and hanging out with friends over the weekend, R amos is focused on coming up with enough money to pay for rent in the apartment she shares with her boyfriend, buying diapers, and finding child care. "I want to be a role model for my daughter," says Ramos. "I want to succeed. I want to prove to people that they were wrong when they said that I would drop out. I want to get a job, go to college and become a nurse." 46 cta.org Learning

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