Pete has been a student at The Lake Academy for three years. When he first attended he was very quiet and shy. He spoke to no one and walked around with his head down. he would not make contact with anyone and seemed to have no friends. His academic work did not seem to matter much to Pete and he did just enough work to pass his classes. As he continued, he let himself go physically, abusing his body with piercings and treating it with general neglect. As a result, he found it difficult to get a job and therefore, he was not adhering to the work-study part of The Lake Academy's Program.

During his  junior year, I had Pete in my English class. he spent much of his time with his head down and did barely enough work to pass. Because he was so very quiet and unassuming, myself and other teachers often overlooked him. As a result he was not getting the help he needed. If he did not understand something, he would not ask and we would not offer. He attended a technical school for half of the day, and by the time he got to The Lake Academy he seemed to be worn out.

As a senior, Pete began the school year with a good attitude. Although he had quit the technical program he was in, he seemed focused on making his last year of high school a successful one. He did his English work diligently and even finished some quarters early. He challenged himself by reading novels and completed an outstanding career project. he started taking better care of himself, found a job and even earned an Employee of the Year award. He made friends, attended prom, and blossomed into a focused young man with goals. Although he did have a few rough patches personally, he still managed to complete all his work and keep his job. He wants to attend a technical college and keep earning money. As long as he continues as he has been, nothing will prevent him from doing just that.  

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Success Story 2009-2010

Tommy started at The Lake Academy March 2009 for the end of the 2008-09 school year. He started at The Lake Academy being on probation with the Lake County Juvenile Court. As a seventh grader, Tommy was often frustrated with his Math course and would rush through his work with many errors. Tommy was tutored in Math through the end of the school year. Inappropriate language got him in trouble with the classroom teacher. Tommy's end of the year report for 2008-09 asked for his renewed commitment to keep his phone off, use appropriate language and conversation, and to develop conflict resolution skills so that he could be more effective working through his issues in a peaceful and productive manner. Tommy finished up seventh grade and enrolled for the full 2009-2010 school year as an eighth grade student.

Tommy joined the peer mediation group and became trained and certified as a peer mediator. He was also chosen to participate in the transition program; meeting with a teacher and another student two classes per week to enrich his curriculum with more in-depth and advanced course work. Tommy started the school year with many commendations about his focus and diligence in completing his work. Tommy began to receive 100% on his Art and Career Based Intervention Related classes and 80-95% in other classes. In January, Tommy's Personal Education Plan was changed to be enrolled in Science I and Social Studies 9. By February of 2010, Tommy was receiving all "Outstanding" ratings for his tri-weekly scores. On his relationships with other students, Tommy had some setbacks and had to be suspended for violations of The Lake Academy Values. Tommy will finish the school year in good order with 80-100% grades and will return to the Willoughby Eastlake Schools (North High) with 2 credits as a freshman.

I have enjoyed talking with Tommy in the morning when he comes to the office to let me know that he rode his bike to school with permission from his parents. Tommy recites poetry that he has written about his girlfriend and his family members. He is learning to talk to others (students and staff) in a more peaceful manner.

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For more information please contact:
Mr. John Weiss, Director
Phone: (440) 942-7401
Fax: (440) 942-1790
E-mail: jweiss@lakeesc.org