October 2006
“My public school teachers knew I was smart, but they just couldn’t keep me from getting into trouble,” says Anthony, a student at Open Meadow Middle School. “I was talking to my friends too much and not doing very well in my classes.”

Although he was a little reluctant to leave his old school, it didn’t take Anthony long to find friends at Open Meadow. He also found teachers that push him hard and keep him focused on schoolwork. “The teachers are the best thing about Open Meadow,” he says. His teachers are nice, but they expect a lot, too, pushing him to do his best. They keep in touch with his mom, sharing good news as well as bad. “Before, my teachers would only call home if I was in trouble.”

Anthony has thrived at Open Meadow. During his first year, he volunteered with his advocate group at the Oregon Humane Society and made biodiesel in his science class. And for the first time, he also met the state’s benchmark levels in every subject: reading, writing, math, and science.

In the coming year, he’s looking forward to playing on the inaugural Open Meadow Middle School basketball team. He hopes to return to public school before too long.

Anthony’s not sure what he wants to do when he grows up. He’d love to play sports, while his mom thinks he’d make a great massage therapist. Whatever he decides, his future looks a little brighter today because of Open Meadow: “It’s a good school, with good kids and good teachers. Good things happen here.”