Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Teenage Dad Perseveres In School
FARMINGTON STUDENT RECEIVES STATE ALE AWARD
FARMINGTON — A year ago, at age 15 and only a freshman in high school, Gavin Barraza became a father.
The Farmington sophomore now is on track to graduate early, has a job and is looking toward the future. He attributes this to a new baby coming into his life.
Barraza is one of only 15 students in the state this year to receive a Diamond Award, given by the Arkansas Department of Education’s Alternative Education Unit and the Arkansas Association of Alternative Educators to recognize students who have persevered against insurmountable odds.
Barraza decided to enroll in Farmington’s alternative education program last year because he thought the program would be good for him.
“I mainly wanted to join because of this guy,” Barraza said, referring
to his 15-month-old son, Gavin Barraza Jr. “I want to get high school done with and get on with my life.”
He adds, “This has helped me get a lot closer to graduation than I ever thought I would.”
Technically, Barraza is a sophomore but through Farmington’s program, he has earned enough credits to be a considered a junior. The ALE program runs on a regular school schedule, 8-3 Monday through Friday, but Barraza, working at his own pace, said he’s able to get three times the work finished in a day, compared to what he would do in a regular high school.
Garraza admits he was scared when he first learned the mother of his son was pregnant. He also admits his first thoughts were for the mother to have an abortion. After dwelling on it, though, he said he knew an abortion was not right.
“I’m glad he’s here,” Garraza said. “I’ve very happy to be a father. It makes me want to do so much more.”
Garraza’s mother is rearing Gavin Jr., as a single parent. She also cares for Garraza’s two brothers. Their father is not in the picture.
Garraza said he wants to be a dad who is there for his son, something he did not have. That motivates him.
To be able to see his son, Garraza had to complete at least 16 hours of parenting classes. He went beyond that and completed more than 850 hours. To stay focused, Garraza also gave up football, a sport he loves. He played football in Greenland and Farmington and has played on a traveling football team. Garraza said he dropped football to have time for school and other priorities.
He hopes to graduate from high school one year early, buy his own car and enroll in a technical school to become certified as a welder. An uncle already has offered him a job in Texas as a welder making $26 an hour but Garraza said he’s not sure he wants to leave his mother.
“I want to be a supportive dad and a providing dad,” Garraza said. “I want to make sure he has everything he needs so he doesn’t grow up like I did. My dad not being there made things harder on my mom.”
Glenda Bollinger, director of Farmington’s ALE program, points out the program is not meant to be punitive. Some students come because they don’t do well in a regular classroom environment. Others are there because they need credits to be able to graduate due to failing a class or maybe because of a long illness.
Garraza’s older brother is in the program and that helped him see how it works, Bollinger said.
She believes it’s been beneficial to Garazza because it was his choice to join. In addition, she notes that Garraza’s goals changed now that he is a father. The ALE program allowed Garraza to achieve at an accelerated pace.
“In two semesters, he’s gone from a ninth-grader to a junior,” she said.
Garraza also credits the program with keeping him on track. He believes that without the program, he would have dropped out of high school to get a job so he could help support his son.
The ALE program has worked for him, Garraza said, because it is hands-on and one-on-one learning. Most of the work is online but three Farmington teachers come in during the week for instruction and to help the students with any problems they are having with their school work.
As a sophomore, Garraza is taking senior English this year. Classes he’s finished include biology, geometry and economics.
“We say he’s our poster child,” Bollinger said. “Circumstances are what brings these kids here so many times. Garraza’s situation changed drastically and this has enabled him to focus on graduation.”
The ALE program is located in the building that once housed Ledbetter Intermediate School but students still can be involved in high school activities. ALE students participate in the school’s career mentoring groups and are able to go to other events, such as pep rallies.
“They are still part of the high school,” Bollinger said. “We’re just in a different building.”
According to the education department, 11,395 students and 2,068 teachers across the state are involved in alternative education programs. In 2017-18, these programs offered almost 22,500 courses.