Last year, many of the twelfth-grade students in Ann Butler's and Heather Garcia-Rossi'a Senior English classes seemed doomed to failure. Many students quit coming to school regularly, and many who did come to class found it difficult to focus. Soon the referrals and suspensions began. Then David dropped out, followed by Brianna. Olivia disappeared, and Kevin went to continuation school. Edna was gone more than she was in class. It was hear-breaking for the teachers to watch their students fail or drop out after having come so close to graduation.

One day after viewing "The Freedom Writers" movie, Cesar Valenzuela, one of the least motivated and least focused students in Mrs. Butler's class, asked if the class could read the book on which the movie was based, a collection of memoirs written by at-risk high school students in Long Beach after the Rodney King riots. The teachers managed to find money to purchase the book, and soon students were reading the diary entries with interest.

Soon, Mrs. Butler and Mrs. Garcia-Rossi were watching their students with interest. Almost everyone was coming to class. Everyone was focused and interested in reading real stories about real students. The teachers quickly shelved plans for essay assignments. Rather, they asked their students to do exactly what the Freedom Writer students had done: Write about their lives- their stories, their challenges, their fears, their thoughts. Students signed a contract that their identities would be confidential (identified by number) and that they would write only the truth.

"It was really hard at first and I could tell it was really hard for a lot of other people I knew," said Ariel Loyd. "It was kind of frightening at first, but then everyone got into it," said Lucia Fonseca. Andrea Mendoza recalled, "I couldn't believe all these things were going on. I looked at everyone different, but not in a bad way." Cesar Valenzuela said, "I guess they could trust Mrs. Butler with their words."

Students picked three of their entries and polished them in the computer lab. Then, the teachers found the means to publish the book online and, as a graduation present, gave each student a copy. Within days, the book was a best-seller at the online publishing site! Even better, most of the students in Senior English graduated! "I didn't know if I was going to graduate. I ws too busy being a stoner, not caring about school. I didn't think I was going to make it," said Cesar Valenzuela.

Ironically, Cesar was the spark that changed his classmates' and teachers' lives. He expressed interest in a book that that he thought might make his English class more relevant, and he was bold enough to ask if an original Freedom Writer could speak to the students. Indeed, last January, Maria Reyes, an original Freedom Writer, spoke to the students during the week the students began writing their own journal entries.

Then, something happened to Cesar. He made some changes in his life, and in a few short months the Chamber of Commerce recognized him with an award for being an inspiration to his school community. Cesar is currently enrolled at Santa Rosa Junior College, where he is studying for a degree in Administration of Justice.

The staged reading of "Take a Walk in Our Shoes: Stories from the 50's Hall was adapted and performed by the following members of Susane Byrne's Drama Production Class: Lila Atchison, Alyssa Greiner, Lizi Latimer, Julia Kaplan, Bradley Keith, Dan Menze, Ryane O'Ferrall, Chandler Parrott-Thomas, Paige Picard, Alex Sterling, and Scott Webb. Production staff included Producer Susane Byrne, Co-Directors; Jen Cote and McKenna Sones, Sound Design Team; Ryan Kozlowski and Paige Picard.

Members of the Viking community who missed the performance can catch it at an upcoming assembly being planned. Stay tuned for more details!