Words like love and respect and no b.s. are sprinkled throughout their conversations about staff and each other. Relationship-based learning While the school's existence may be little known, there's no secret to its success. It's not a place where kids can power through to make up credits or do packets at home. Coming to school is part of our culture. The center's Advocate Groups are key to building strong relationships.
OMLC teachers have two roles as educators and as advocates for their students.
They share problems, confidences, and feelings. Teacher-advocates will go to bat for their kids, and have been known to argue on their behalf at faculty meetings. They also work with parents and other organizations in the students' lives, such as counselors and probation officers. It is also a very powerful force, more than even I imagined. Anderson had just learned that some of her students were having trouble making the transition to their new advocate, since Anderson will be leaving to start OMLC's new middle school.