Crossroads High continues to enhance students’ experiences

Special to Leader-Press

Don’t judge a book by a cover or a student by the school he attends—or at least what perception you might have of the school. Crossroads High School continues to add mainstream activities to its campus including forming a student council for the first time this year and building an incredibly tight partnership with its Fort Hood military unit that includes soldiers working with students on a weekly basis. Students and staff are hard at work to educate the public that alternative education can be a positive option for hard-working, honest and bright students and created a video, under former principal Miguel Timarky highlighting the campus,. “Our community doesn’t really know what Crossroads is all about. There is a misconception that this is where they send students with disciplinary issues,” Timarky said. “I wanted to show the community that it is in fact another high school and kids typically go there because of issues in their personal life that are not accustom to a traditional high school.” The video, titled “What’s your story!”, was organized and prepared by Matthew Thompson, the campus technologist. He used some of his personal equipment. “The cost was free. I produce and direct short films and already owned some of the equipment. The rest I checked out from Beth Best in the (CCISD) technology department,” Thompson said. “I am editing at home in my spare time on my MacBook Pro in Final Cut/Adobe After Effects. I own a library of royalty free music I use for my films which I am licensed to use on any project I produce. So, we saved costs there.” Although the Disciplinary Alternative Education Program is also housed on the same campus as Crossroads High School, it is a separate education program. The video highlights individual students at the positive alternative high school. “Everyone has a story,” Timarky said. “I selected the students that I felt can have a say and impact the viewers.” Students Jordan Aldrich and Alyissa Guillet are two of only a handful of students selected as school spokespersons for the video. “Before I transferred over to Crossroads, I was going to CCHS, struggling with bookwork,” Aldrich said. Now that I’ve been at Crossroads, work has become so much easier and at my own pace. Crossroads is a great opportunity and I definitely recommend going here.” Guillet is really excelling both in and outside the classroom at Crossroads and was recently selected as one of only 11 students in CCISD to be a member of the inaugural district’s Youth Leadership Council. “I’m glad I made the decision to come to Crossroads because I’ve gotten ahead and feel so much more successful since I’ve gotten here,” she said. “The teachers and staff are wonderful, welcoming people. It’s such a great environment. The teachers push you and motivate you to always do your best and go over and beyond expectations. I love it here.” The video will be posted on the Crossroads webpage at http://www.ccisd.com/aes once final edits are completed. Crossroads High School graduates between 35-50 students annually.