Eastlake High School senior Charles Schultz had the grades to earn his diploma but fell short of graduating due to excessive absences.
Unsure what to do about his loss of credit and afraid to ask for help, Schultz decided not to return to school for the 2024-25 academic year and gave up on earning his high school diploma.
“He's got everything to finish school and graduate,” said Ezekiel Schultz, Charles Shultz’s father. “I understand he doesn't want to be embarrassed, but he needs to put that aside and continue on with school.”
However, Charles Shultz’s fears were subsided on Saturday morning when Eastlake High School Principal Gilbert Martinez and assistant principal Jesus Vasquez knocked on his door. They were at the Schultz’s home to discuss Charles Schultz’s options for returning to school during SISD’s 10th annual Walk for Success on Sept. 14.
The administrators proposed a plan for Charles Schultz to return to school on Monday and start making up the lost credits. If Charles Schultz followed the program and attended school every day, even during fall intersession, he would be able to finish high school before Thanksgiving this year.
“He can do it. I know he can,” Martinez told the father and son.
As part of the plan, Charles Schultz would also share his experience with freshmen in the hopes that they stay on track in high school.
“I'm fine to tell them that and make sure they don't do the same thing I did,” said Charles Schultz, who planned to return to school Sept. 16.
Team SISD is ALL IN to Walk for Success
The Schultz residence was among the 142 homes visited by Socorro Independent School District teachers, school administrators, SISD board trustees, and Interim Superintendent James P. Vasquez during Walk for Success.
SISD Board President Michael A. Najera thanked volunteers for impacting students lives for the past 10 years.
“It’s amazing and inspiring that you are here spending more time to make a difference in kids lives,” Najera said.
Since 2014, Team SISD employees have been ALL IN to encourage students who have not enrolled in the new school year to return to school. They walked the neighborhoods surrounding high school feeder areas and talked with the students and their parents or family members about the opportunities available to re-enroll in school, earn their high school diploma, and pursue their higher education and career aspirations.
Vasquez lauded the many opportunities SISD offered returning students, such as attending Options High School, a non-traditional high school for students who seek a flexible learning environment that will enable them to earn a high school diploma. The school offers numerous academic options and a unique competency-based learning system.
Vasquez added that students who were not interested in pursuing higher education could obtain a certification from the district’s Career and Technical Education programs.
“Even if your child doesn't want to go to college, they can earn a career certification to become a mechanic, a barber, a pharmacy tech,” Vasquez said. “There are so many opportunities, and the facilities in which we provide these opportunities are amazing.”
SISD Board Secretary Paul Guerra, along with Vasquez and school administrators, met with a family in the Socorro High School feeder pattern. The family's daughter had left high school, and after discussing her options to recover credits and complete her high school education, the student decided to restart school on Monday morning.
"It's exciting when the student wants to come back, and the mom says, 'Yes, bring my daughter back, and thank you, guys, for coming,' to her to her house," Guerra said. "Hopefully, she's going to go back on Monday morning. She wants to come back. She's eager. She's excited."
A high school diploma makes a difference
From the first day of school, Team SISD has reached out to 748 former students. On, Aug. 24, volunteers, including principals, assistant principals, and counselors contacted former student in a districtwide callout event at the SISD Technology Services Center. During the callout, they spoke to 252 students about re-enrolling in school. So far, 42 students have returned to SISD schools this year.
Among them was Americas High School senior Saray Hernandez, who had a hard time finding a job without a high school diploma. She fell behind in school and struggled to catch up, eventually leaving one week before the end of her junior year.
During that fateful call, her high school counselor suggested Hernandez try Options High School to make up lost credits and earn her diploma. She was nervous about starting Options High School on Sept. 17 but was looking forward to a future full of opportunities.
“(A high school diploma) is really important. You need it for everything,” Hernandez said. "There's other jobs that I wanted to apply to, and I did need a diploma, and I wasn't able to apply or even start working because I didn't have a diploma, and that’s when I realized that I really do need it.”
Changing lives one knock at a time
In 2023, Team SISD visited more than 400 homes. This year, volunteers knocked on 142 doors. Angelica Hernandez, SISD director of attendance, attributed the significant drop to SISD’s successful efforts in bringing students back to school.
Hernandez said that over the last five years, Walk for Success has helped to recover 268 students.
“So those are 268 lives that we have changed to make better careers for themselves, for their families,” Hernandez told the volunteers.
One person whose life was affected by this year's event was Oscar Hernandez.
He had just arrived home from working the graveyard shift when the Pebble Hills High School team, along with Board Trustee Alice Gardea, showed up at his house.
Oscar Hernandez, no relation to Angelica Hernandez, spoke to Principal Ivan Ramirez about finishing his education at Options High School. He said he did not intend to drop out of school but had lost focus.
“I like that (Options is) definitely better for the kids that wouldn’t want to go back to the same high school,” Oscar Hernandez said. He looked forward to getting his high school diploma and going to college. “It just makes it easier.”
Gardea said that building personal connections with students and their families can help inspire students to re-enroll in school.
“There's nothing greater than the power of a conversation with another human being, especially an adult that cares that way,” Gardea said. “They know that ‘OK, there's somebody that I can turn to if I feel lost.’”
Helping students overcome obstacles
Montwood High School Assistant Principal Manny Lothamer emphasized that students could always return to school, regardless of their circumstances.
During one of their visits, Lothamer and his team connected with a student who left school after giving birth prematurely. The student’s baby needed a lot of attention, and she was not comfortable starting school this year. Rather than returning to Montwood High School, the team informed her about the option of bringing her baby along to Options High School.
“We were able to talk to her about Options, and the different programs that they have there, and the fact that she'll be able to bring her baby with her to Options,” Lothamer said. “And she's encouraged to come back and finish.”
El Dorado High School Principal Venessa Betancourt said Walk for Success was a tremendous opportunity for the school and district to attract students and prevent dropouts.
“This program is more than just a walk; it symbolizes our community’s commitment to turning challenges into achievements,” Bentancourt said. “By joining forces, we demonstrate that we are all in this together, dedicated to supporting our students’ educational journeys. It sends a clear message that every student matters and that we are here to help them succeed, no matter the obstacles they face.”