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Motorcars Honda Engages Success Academy Students
Students showing t-shirts
Nov. 2, 2018 -- Students in Heights Middle School's Success Academy took their learning out into the community recently thanks to a new relationship with Motorcars Honda. Success Academy is an intensive nine-week program for 7th and 8th graders who've struggled to succeed in the regular classroom environment. Located at the Delisle Options Center in partnership with the high school Options Program, Success Academy serves approximately 15 students each quarter and is run by Denise Lackey.

In addition to their regular academic curriculum, students engage in daily discussions guided by principles of Restorative Justice and PBIS, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. Parents and community members are frequently invited in as guest speakers to provide students with a wide variety of positive role models and exposure to potential occupations. Ms. Lackey recognizes the value of community partnerships and frequently tries to connect her students’ learning to the world around them. She found just such an opportunity recently thanks to Motorcars Honda, located in Cleveland Heights on Mayfield Road.

Three Motorcars employees, General Manager Trevor Gile, General Sales Manager Brian Zent and Service Director Don Shaffer each separately visited the students’ classrooms to talk about their career paths. Students then had the opportunity to tour the Motorcars facility on a field trip.

“Students were really very interested in what they saw,” said Ms. Lackey. “And were especially surprised when they learned how much money the technicians earn.”

The middle schoolers later visited the high school automotive tech department located in the Delisle building and were deeply impressed by what they saw there. “They’d never had an opportunity to see a classroom like that,” said Ms. Lackey. She hopes to bring the high school auto tech students with her new cadre of Success Academy students on another field trip next semester. 
 
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Male adult talking to class of students
 
Three adults standing next to each other