GOSOEd participants (from left): Elijah W., Elijah M., Keybo C., and Ravone A.
It’s June, which means it’s graduation time here at GOSO! This year the students in our GOSOEd school have really thrived in the classroom and are graduating with high school diplomas!
GOSOEd is one of 90+ NYC Department of Education-run “Pathways to Graduation” (P2G) programs that provide free classes to help students earn High School Equivalency diplomas. This program has helped us put together an amazing education staff — teachers Brian Morris and Alyssa Nosworthy, and school social worker Priya Seshan — that works with GOSO’s Director of Educational Programming Lauren Bricker to keep students on track for success.
“I’m just so proud of our students. The quality of the work and commitment that I saw all year was unparalleled,” Lauren said. “Each student we had in class really wanted to obtain their diploma. We also had two new teachers [Brian and Alyssa] who were able to work one-on-one when students needed extra help. They really made a point to tailor the experience to each participant.”
After a break for work, Keyon J. came back focused as ever and committed to finishing the program. “He experienced a lot of personal challenges along the way, but charged through and earned his diploma,” Lauren said. And of another committed student Elijah W, she said: “I’m really proud of how he balanced both school and going to work right after.”
Keybo C. is one of 2019’s standouts. So much so that at the P2G graduation ceremony District 79 superintendent Tim Lisante presented him with the Executive Superintendent Award for overcoming obstacles. He credits a lot of his achievements to the supportive environment that our educators created: “You all embraced us and you pushed us. Even when we were having a bad day and found it difficult to be in class, you encouraged us to come. If not for you, I don’t think I would have been able to do it.”
Perseverance was a theme this year, and all of our graduates made us proud — congrats guys!
GOSOEd graduates, Ravone A. (left), and Keybo C. (center) with our Pathways to Graduation staff: Alyssa Nosworthy (2nd left), Brian Morris (2nd right), and Priya Seshan (right).
GOSO Director of Educational Programming, Lauren Bricker, and Elijah W.