This session highlights the collaborative work of ALC Teacher Jesse DiMartino and Principal Anne Marie Adkins in restructuring a middle school Alternative Learning Center to better align with the Wake County Public School System Strategic Plan. The presentation focuses on designing a responsive support model that prioritizes student engagement, increased attendance, and the development of CASEL social-emotional competencies. Central to this approach is the belief that the Alternative Learning Center is a support structure for all students, not solely a space for those receiving disciplinary consequences. Instead, it serves as a proactive environment where students can access targeted interventions, build self-regulation skills, and strengthen their connection to the school community.Participants will learn how restorative practices, structured reflection, and individualized supports were implemented for students. The goal is to decrease student recidivism who repeatedly demonstrate Level I and Level II behaviors as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. The restructuring emphasizes skill-building, accountability, and instructional continuity with the goals of increasing students’ instructional seat time in core classrooms and decreasing suspension rates for minor offenses. Attendees will gain practical strategies for creating structured, supportive environments that help students develop the behavioral and social-emotional skills necessary to successfully re-engage in the general education setting.
