Teacher support specialist, Martin Luther King Jr. Academy

"My first year in this position has been challenging and informative. My job responsibilities include training new teachers who are in an alternative school for the first time; working with veteran teachers who might benefit from a few suggestions; assisting with MAP testing, E-school and PLATO testing; and providing other assistance to the staff as needed.

"The mission at Martin Luther King Jr. Academy is to provide students with a positive educational opportunity that will allow them to succeed academically, behaviorally and socially to become responsible members of the larger community. I realize that with my training, I am not going to be successful with every student, but if I can make a difference in the ones that I can help, then my labor will not be in vain."