May 16, 2015
Alternative educational setting key to student success at New Horizons
By Leonna Heuring leonnah@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Chris Butts is the first to admit he didn't make the best decisions early in his high school years. "I got into the wrong group of people and moved schools," he said. But the 19-year-old has certainly made up for lost time...
SIKESTON -- Chris Butts is the first to admit he didn't make the best decisions early in his high school years.
"I got into the wrong group of people and moved schools," he said.
But the 19-year-old has certainly made up for lost time.
With only half a high school credit-hour earned, he returned to New Horizons High School in Sikeston, and within the last year, he's earned enough credits to receive his diploma with the class of 2015 during the 7 p.m. graduation Thursday at Sikeston Public Schools Stadium.
Not only will Butts receive his diploma, but he also has a full-time welding job lined up with a major company in Scott County, starting out earning nearly $14 an hour.
"I don't think I would have made it (to graduation) without New Horizons," Butts said. "That's for sure."
Butts was one of New Horizons' 52 graduates this year who were honored with a graduate reception Friday in the cafeteria at its school on West Murray Lane in Sikeston.
New Horizons High School is housed in the Sikeston Alternative Education Center, enrolls students in ninth through 12th grades. Since the school first opened in 2003 -- and including this year's class -- 500 students have graduated from New Horizons.
"That program is an alternative setting for high school students," Principal Jeff Williams said. "They have core classes but they also have electives just like the high school but smaller setting, same requirements, same testing and the same number of credits to graduate."
Some New Horizons students attend SCTC for the welding and nursing programs and then attend the alternative center for the remainder of the day.
"We're really flexible in our program," Williams said. "We try to make it work for the uniqueness of the students."
Butts began his ninth grade year at Sikeston and them moved to to Alabama for two years. He returned to New Horizons his senior year, after having participated a year in the welding program at his Alabama school.
When Butts learned he could enroll in the welding program at Sikeston Career and Technology Center, he jumped at the chance.
"I would say I learned everything I know about welding from Trankler," Butts said about his welding instructor, Brent Trankler. It was Trankler who also helped line up employment opportunities for Butts at three local businesses.
The teen's road to earning his high school diploma wasn't an easy one, especially since he was so far behind in his credits.
"It's been stressful," Butts said. "... I know I have it in me to get it all done."
As a result, he attended his welding classes every morning from 7:40 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Sikeston Career and Technology Center. Then he would spend the remainder of the day attending classes at the New Horizons campus. To get even further ahead in his classes, he attended after school tutoring sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He also held down a job at a grocery store when he wasn't in school.
"It's been a challenge to finish high school," Butts said. "But I got this."
As great as it is, Butts' success story isn't the only one at New Horizons, the principal said.
Amber West and Donisha Newman began attending New Horizons when they were in the 10th grade.
"The teachers and principals here help you out a lot," West said.
Newman, who had a baby in August, said New Horizons' flexible schedule allowed her to continue with her education while caring for her baby.
The teens, who graduated earlier in the school year, said tutoring sessions and smaller class sizes contributed to their high school success. Both said they plan to further their educations at college.
The students will don their caps and gowns again on the district's official graduation day, but Butts and his peers relished their time on Friday.
After the principal welcomed family members of the New Horizons graduates, the students marched in to the cafeteria to "Time of My Life" by Green Day. New Horizons graduate Sean Sauceda spoke to his classmates, and then each received a certificate.
Following the brief ceremony, Butts posed for pictures with some of his family members. Kristy Butts hugged her son.
"I'm so proud of him," she said.
Butts said within in a year and a half to two years, he hopes to have saved enough money to put a down payment on the purchase of his own home.
He starts his new job on May 26.
"I will have to be at work at 6 a.m.," Butts said. "I'll probably have to get up at 4 in the morning."
He smiled.
"But it's all worth it," Butts said.
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