Kentwood — In this episode, “Study Hall” welcomes recent Crossroads Alternative High School graduate JB Barnes and his dad, Kevin Barnes. JB was recently featured as a Kentwood Public Schools Grad with Grit in School News Network because of his incredible academic turnaround — from nearly failing out of school to finishing his final semester with As and Bs.

JB has sickle cell disease, which causes chronic pain and other complications. He was hospitalized frequently during his school years, causing him to fall behind in class. He also had major behavioral issues, and the pain didn’t help his mood.

JB moved in with his dad, Kevin, at age 14, and Kevin’s guidance and advice helped JB make better choices. The pace and one-on-one attention at Crossroads also eventually led to a “180-degree” change for JB, teachers said, and a new outlook on the future.

Listen in as JB talks about why he made the changes he did and Kevin Barnes talks about why it’s important to keep believing in your children and supporting their dreams.

If you have ideas for future programs, feel free to send them to us at SNN@kentisd.org. Thanks for listening, and happy studying!

For more great stories about the changes and challenges of school districts in West Michigan, check out our website, School News Network.org. And if you have ideas for future programs, feel free to send them to us at SNN@kentisd.org. Thanks for listening, and happy studying!

Study Hall welcomes Jerry Hopkins, Kenowa’s superintendent for the past 13 years, and Robyn Bradford, a district teacher for the past 32. The veteran educators reflect on a tumultuous decade that saw students forced to learn at home by a global pandemic, controversies over books and teaching content, and changes in family dynamics. Through it all, they agree, “students are students,” and schools strive to meet their needs, support their learning and fuel their dreams every day.

For more great stories about the changes and challenges of school districts in West Michigan, check out our website, School News Network.org. And if you have ideas for future programs, feel free to send them to us at SNN@kentisd.org. Thanks for listening, and happy studying!

“Study Hall” welcomes Jordan Poisson, a Lee High School graduate who is now a school counselor at Westwood Middle School in Grand Rapids Public Schools. School News Network has followed Poisson’s story over the past 10 years as she went from a student overcoming the obstacles of living in poverty, to a college student pursuing several degrees, to now working as a school counselor herself. In this episode, Poisson talks about the highlights and challenges of working with middle school students, how she relates to them in a unique way and how she helps them learn about careers, college and other options for their future.

For more great stories about the changes and challenges of school districts in West Michigan, check out our website, School News Network.org. And if you have ideas for future programs, feel free to send them to us at SNN@kentisd.org. Thanks for listening, and happy studying!

Study Hall welcomes Lowell High School junior Ezequiel “Q” Gonzalez, who School News Network featured as a student leader in the article, "A voice for others, he inspires and educates." In this episode, Q talks about his involvement at Lowell High School in drama, choir and Model UN. As a person with disability, he talks about how systems impact people with disabilities, common misconceptions, and his dreams for the future.

For more great stories about the changes and challenges of school districts in West Michigan, check out our website, School News Network.org. And if you have ideas for future programs, feel free to send them to us at SNN@kentisd.org. Thanks for listening, and happy studying!

For more great stories about the changes and challenges of school districts in West Michigan, check out our website, School News Network.org. And if you have ideas for future programs, feel free to send them to us at SNN@kentisd.org. Thanks for listening, and happy studying!

Study Hall welcomes East Kentwood High School history teacher Matt Vriesman, who was recently named National History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Vriesman talks about his website Antiracist APUSH, which provides lessons to help students identify and expose policies that have led to racial disparities in American society. In his classroom, students learn that historians are on a quest for the truth and how learning the truth is empowering.

For more great stories about the changes and challenges of school districts in West Michigan, check out our website, School News Network.org. And if you have ideas for future programs, feel free to send them to us at SNN@kentisd.org. Thanks for listening, and happy studying!

Founding Editor Allison Kaufman and Managing Editor Erin Albanese talk about how and why our uniquely cool School News Network.org publication was formed, what our laser-guided mission is and how our team of go-getter reporters goes about covering 20 school districts. Plus a brief discussion of classic table-top study hall games. Yes, it gets crazy, but it sure is fun!

For more great stories about the changes and challenges of school districts in West Michigan, check out our website, School News Network.org. And if you have ideas for future programs, feel free to send them to us at SNN@kentisd.org. Thanks for listening, and happy studying!