Partnership Principal
Leonard Franks

    
    “I like the underdog,” says Leonard Franks, principal, El Reno (OK) Academy.
  
   That is the driving force that keeps the former science teacher and coach going to work each day at his alternative school, which has between 80 and 90 sixth through 12th grade students at any time of the school year. The Academy provides a core program plus electives for students who are at risk of dropping out of school or not graduating.

    Few of Franks’ charges come to El Reno due to discipline problems. Rather, they are burdened with a variety of challenges ranging from having to work eight hours a day to help support their family to being a single parent to being homeless.

    “Our goal is to get as many of our students as possible to graduate high school,” indicates Franks, who has been principal at El Reno for eight years. “Clearly, it’s a lot cheaper for all of us for these students to earn a diploma than to be supported by society.”

   A major challenge facing Franks and his six person teaching staff is to explain the value of an education to their students.

    “Some of our youngsters don’t see education as valuable,” he explains. “They know legally they have to come, but they see no payoff for studying and working hard in class. Many parents tell the children that they got by without an education, and there simply aren’t a lot of role models for some of our kids as to the payoff of education.”

    On the other hand, Franks reports there are other students who are anxious to receive their diploma, citing a 19-year-old who came to the Academy this year without any high school credits.

  “We all hope he can maintain that commitment for the time it takes to earn enough credits.”

    While the school offers a core curriculum and electives, there also is a strong counseling component with counselors, teachers, and Franks advising them not only about the importance of learning but also about life skills.

    “We urge them to come to school, to say no to drugs, and even to pass on activities their parents are involved in,” he says. “Kids aren’t hearing enough of this. Sometimes we need to say, ‘You should still love Mom and Dad, but don’t do those things they are doing. It can get you in trouble.’”

    Although there are many challenges at El Reno Academy, there are also ample rewards. Between 70 and 80 percent of the students who enter graduate with many going into the military, some into careers such as nursing, and others onto college. One recent graduate entered the Marine Corps and was one of the Marines who pulled down the statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad.

     “My biggest reward is seeing students come here and really work hard and graduate,” Franks reports. “There is a sign out form all students must have completed before graduating, and my signature is the last one on the form. When I sign those forms, that’s my reward.”

     In existence since 1994, the Academy has been growing each year. It has the same requirements as any Oklahoma high school and students graduate with the same diploma. They also have the option of taking some classes at El Reno High, the district’s traditional high school, and many complete electives there or participate in student activities. They also can spend part of their school day at a career tech school to learn a trade.

    The Academy offers a six-period day, but students who are considerably behind in credits attend a seventh class to help them catch up. While the program is very similar to that of other high schools, Franks and his staff try to maintain a degree of flexibility to meet the special needs their students have.

     “Some of these kids literally have to work eight hours a day in addition to their school work to keep the lights on in their homes. There have been occasions when we had to give students a time out in order for them to regroup from working all night so they can handle their academic work.”

     Students come into El Reno Academy through an application process. Students, teachers or counselors can initiate an application, which must be signed by a parent, and then monthly a committee of school staff members reviews the applications and selects students to fill any openings.

   “We can succeed if students come here early enough and apply themselves,” says Franks. “If we get them as a sophomore or junior, they have a great chance of graduating. If they come as seniors and have severe credit deficiencies, the challenge is greater

   While Franks sees that alternative schools such as the Academy are increasing, it wasn’t until he joined The Principals’ Partnership that he found other principals who face the same challenges as he does. Now he has colleagues he can bounce ideas off of and ask questions on a daily basis.

    “Three years ago, my colleague at El Reno High told me that a guy from Union Pacific came in and told him UP was going to fly us to Phoenix to a nice location for a great conference, and all the bills were going to be paid,” Franks recalls. “My first question was ‘What’s the catch?’ because there had to be a catch. But we decided to go and discovered a program that provides outstanding resources for school leaders. Now I know I’m not out there by myself.”

    More information about El Reno Academy can be found at http://www.elreno.k12.ok.us/academy, and Franks can be contacted at lfranks2@elreno.k12.ok.us.

  
Past Focus Principals:

Focus- Stephanie Moore
Focus- Stephen Jupe
Focus- Blanca Cavazos
Focus - Gene Haynes
Focus- Dan Besett
Focus- Rodney Matheney
Focus- Catherine Guy
Focus- Bob Rodriguez
Focus- John Brumley
Focus- Nancy York
Focus- Jerrylyn Jones
Focus- Gloria Erkins
Focus- Ron Sing
Focus- Bill Hittman
Focus- Jeanene Sampson
Focus- David Gilligan
Focus - Joy Walton
Focus- William Roberts
Focus- Franklyn Wesley
Focus- Magdalena Gutierrez
Focus- Kent Bergum
Focus- William "Rick" Johnson
Focus- Ken Ball
Focus- Dan Tenuta
Focus- Charlesetta Deason
Focus- Rene Posey
Focus- Stuart Baker
Focus- Paul Smith
Focus- Christie Gestvang
Focus- John A. Butterfield
Focus- Janie Hill Hatton
Focus- Steve Warmack
Focus- Glen Clark
Focus- Kittie D. Weston-Knauer
Focus- William Dunn
Focus - Richard Pemberton
Focus- Dr. Anthony Spivey
Focus - John Weigel