"New Path High School" Gives Young Inmates a Second Chance

There's a new school in town, but it's not open to everyone

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By John Thain

Story Created: Aug 29, 2012 at 8:51 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Aug 29, 2012 at 8:54 PM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - There's a new school in town, but it's not open to everyone.

The Anchorage School District (ASD) teamed up with the Department of Corrections (DOC) to create New Path High School.

The goal is to help inmates younger than 22 years old get their high school diploma.

“Right now, I'm just refreshing my mind with social studies, math, and English,” said Darren Wasuli.

The 20-year-old has been in prison for over a year, and like many of his peers never graduated high school. He said it’s important so he can find work once he is released.

Carmen Gutierrez with DOC couldn’t agree more. She said that education is key in preventing men like Wasuli from going back to jail.

“We know that the lack of an education is one of the greatest predictors of future criminal behavior.”

The students will be learning from five teachers, who teach 32 students.

“When I first came in it wasn't on my mind to get my high school diploma, but I wanted to get my diploma when I got out so I signed up for this program so I can jump ahead,” said 19-year-old Devontay Gordon.

Wasuli has two years left, but he hopes to work in heavy equipment or become an electrician once he returns to society.

 

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Anonymous said on Wednesday, Aug 29 at 9:07 PM

good keeps them out of mischief and their minds busy

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Jeff said on Thursday, Aug 30 at 12:16 AM

Awesome. Let us hope we can live in a society that forgives one day.

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Anonymous said on Thursday, Aug 30 at 12:28 AM

Don't you wish that your non FELON children in school had the same teacher to children ratio??

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Town Crier said on Thursday, Aug 30 at 4:19 AM

SO with a 85% return rate how much did we spend on this program?

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