Educators and community members gathered at Santa Clarita Valley International for a symposium on student interaction.
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The Breaking Barriers Symposium invited several speakers to give presentations, and was led by a pair of featured speakers, Reese and Renee Bowen, who spoke about Reese’s unique challenges and how the school’s way of educating helped him.
Reese Bowen was diagnosed at age 3 with autism, and struggled academically for years before coming to SCVi. Now, he’s expected to be one of the keynote speakers at the school’s graduation next month.
“My mom had been searching so hard to find schools that fit me,” he said on stage. “I have been in and out of special education classes and general education classes.”
He said SCVi helped him find what he was passionate about, and worked with him to learn how he felt comfortable.
“Being at SCVi, I was able to customize my learning,” Bowen said. “Customizing my learning experience helped me get [ahead].”
Reese’s mother, Renee Bowen, said her son has always had a strong sense of curiosity, but it was never given the chance to flourish before SCVi.
Get live news updates about Santa Clarita by following KHTS on Facebook and KHTS on Twitter“He has been trying to figure things out since day one,” she said. He had been in and out of various educational environments.”
She praised the school’s different learning approach, giving her son a chance to chase his passions.
“You guys do things a lot differently than anywhere else,” Renee Bowen said. “From day one, there has been acceptance and collaboration.”
At least one of the breakout sessions used Reese as an example of how to work with students and leave behind positive change.
“In the end, that’s all part of Reese’s story and Renee’s story of who they became and how they are and where they’re going,” said Annyce Maddox, a professor in the School Education at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. “As educators, when we know we’re leaving a mark, it’s a great reminder for us to see what what we want to leave behind as imprints.”
She said teachers need to be aware of how they interact with students and make sure they are fostering positive interactions
“That is something we all have to remember,” Maddox said. “We can’t erase the marks we do leave behind. So we have to educationally engage and have students working with us on a positive [experience].”
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