Noi Nanthathammiko
Junior
Marshall Campus

When Noi Nanthathammiko entered Marshall High school three years ago she found the large high school an incredibly boring place to be. She hated the way classes were taught. She didn't relate to any of her teachers, and all she could think about was how to get out of school. In fact, she spent so much time sneaking out of school to hang out with her friends she was failing most of her classes. At the end of her freshmen year, Noi had a .04 GPA.

Naturally, Noi's parents were not happy with her academic performance and no matter what they said to her about how important her education was she couldn't find anything about school that made her want to attend. School officials were very concerned and identified Noi as "at risk" for failure.

Noi was like thousands of other students in today's large comprehensive high schools - well intentioned, bright and completely disconnected from their teachers and school. "I just didn't see any point in going to school," said Noi. "I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew I didn't want to be there."

Fortunately, Marshall High School was undergoing a major transformation as part of the E3 Oregon Small Schools Initiative. The school received funding and coaching support to convert into smaller schools with different themes that appeal to student interests.

With the help of her parents, Noi enrolled in the new Renaissance Arts Academy a college preparatory arts focused small school on the Marshall Campus. "I was initially attracted to the arts classes," said Noi. "Ceramics was something I was always interested in, and they also offered painting, photography and things like music and theatre."

In addition to the arts classes, Renaissance Arts Academy and all the small schools at Marshall offer a rigorous college preparatory curriculum that includes 4 years of English, 3-4 years of Math, 3 years of Science, and 4 years of social studies. The school is committed to Expeditionary Learning principles which believe in student-centered learning that challenges students to grapple with relevant issues. "It was much harder than I thought it was going to be," said Noi. "But it's not just sitting around and talking about stuff, we get to get really involved in projects. That's fun."

Expectations of students are very high. Daily attendance, developing a strong work ethic, thinking critically, and making a positive contribution to a safe learning environment are required of all students. But strong support is also provided for each student.

Like all students at Renaissance Arts Academy, Noi attends a special class that meets daily called CREW. The CREW class ensures each student is known well by a teacher who cares about their future. Students stay together in CREW, work as a team and help each other succeed. CREW encourages citizenship, community building and helps students create a plan for college and/or career options. "I really like my teacher and the kids in my CREW," said Noi.

Two-years later, Noi still enjoys her art classes at Renaissance Arts Academy, and her other courses too. "Believe it or not, Geometry is my favorite subject now," said Noi, who in addition to working two part-time jobs after school is thinking about becoming a nurse. "I really like the idea of helping people."

With the change to the small school environment, and the help of caring adults, Noi has reconnected with her education. She is currently earning a 3.4 GPA, but most importantly, she is enjoying school again and understands how important education is to her future.

Noi is just one of the many students being transformed by the new small school model and by dedicated teachers who are working hard to make a real connection with students. The small schools story is more than just about putting students into smaller units. It's also about teaching in new ways, providing support for students and teachers, and about helping students reach their potential and succeed in school and life.