Collection:LPB

Genre: Panel

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2014-11-26

Duration: 00:55:54

Subjects: Education | Filmed panel discussions | High school dropouts

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Scott, Robert Travis Host
• Gautreaux, Kevin Producer
• Leon, Crystal Interviewee
• Boudreaux, Burnell Interviewee
• Jackson, Jonathan Interviewee
• Morrow, Laurie Interviewee
• White, John Interviewee
• Byrnes, Matt Interviewee
• Gaines, Keishad Interviewee
• Moore, Hayden Interviewee
• Smith, Ronald Panelist
• Ratcliff, Kellye Panelist
• Daniel, John Panelist
• Drake, Warren Panelist
• Smith, John Panelist
• Rocheleau, Juliette Interviewee
• Lee, Jourdan Interviewee
• Evans, Jonah Interviewee
• Young, Craig Interviewee
• Ganucheau, Andrew Interviewee
• Craven, Simone Interviewee
• Jackson, Kayla Interviewee
• LaCour, Mark Interviewee
• Clark, Richard Interviewee
• Yessayon, David Interviewee
• Johnson, Justin Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from November 26, 2014, features Beth Courtney and Robert Travis Scott leading a town hall meeting between the audience members and panelists on Louisiana’s high school dropout prevention programs. A background report on the topic precedes the discussion. It includes interviews with: Crystal Leon, the early learning coordinator in West Baton Rouge Parish; Burnell Boudreaux, the chairman of Project Excel with the 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge; Jonathan Jackson, a Project Excel student; Laurie Morrow, the dean of the Northwest Louisiana Technical College; State Superintendent of Education John White; Matt Byrnes, the principal at the Rapides Alternative Positive Program for Students; Keishad Gaines, RAPPS student; and Hayden Moore, RAPPS student. A panel of experts then joins the audience to answer their questions. The panelists are: Ronald Smith, the executive director of the Exxon Mobil YMCA in Baton Rouge; Kellye Ratcliff, a ninth-grade counselor at the Ruston High School Freshmen Academy; John Daniel, executive director of Boys Hope/Girls Hope in Baton Rouge; Warren Drake of the Louisiana Department of Education; and John Smith, the vice president of operations for 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge. They discuss: the biggest challenges to addressing the high school dropout problem; the reasons for the higher dropout rate for minority students; the importance of community engagement; after-school resources; the reasons why students dropout of school; helping students with behavioral issues; extracurricular activities; and help for teenage parents. This program is a part of the American Graduate initiative.