Former head of ATF works with Albuquerque’s homeless children
At age 61, Don Whatley’s life just gets more and more interesting. A middle school teacher for many years and the former president of the local American Federation of Teachers union, he’s now part of a team of Albuquerque Public Schools educators working to reach some 3,000 homeless students in the city.
Together with Helen Fox, who heads the Title 1 program that funds the homeless outreach effort, Whatley is part of a passionate team of people who pop into motels, RVs, shelters, even cars, to see that school-age children are getting to school. They also make sure students have the necessary uniforms they may need, school supplies and mental health and health referrals.
The impact on kids’ lives is enormous. “Most wouldn’t be in school,” he reports, without their help and support. Beyond the everyday challenges of homelessness, these students also run into roadblocks when trying to register for school because they may not have a birth certificate, shot records or a permanent address. “We constantly remind schools that these kids exist and they must be enrolled,” he says.
“I lead a team of people who enforce the McKinney-Vento federal law that covers the education rights and needs of children who are considered homeless,”Whatley says. “It’s a comprehensive law with broad interpretation. You don’t have to be living on the street in a cardboard box to be considered homeless under this law.” Families living doubled up with other families in an apartment can be considered homeless.
Don also teaches in the tutoring programs offered through the Title 1 program and says they are life-changing. Students learn a computer-based curriculum and he says their data shows, “terrific results in academic improvement.” Students can see the difference tutoring makes in their lives. One student wrote Don, “Thank you for making this program possible, not only for me, but for all the kids who are in it. Not all of us in the program may appreciate this now, but later I think all of us will be glad to have had this opportunity. So thank you for putting forth your time, energy, and efforts." A full-time summer tutoring program in June, and an academically focused half-time program in July are also offered.
He’s especially keen about a new career exploration program that gives homeless students information about careers and what they need to do to get there. Day trips with an employment theme, like a recent ride on the new Rail Runner commuter train, help students see a specific path for themselves.
Working directly with kids in the classroom has always been key to his happiness. Looking back on 25-plus years in the classroom, Whatley sees mostly good changes in education.
“To me, one of the biggest changes is the standards movement that now drives curriculum. Also, the changes in teacher licensure and compensation which provides a higher teacher salary based on a professional model that involves teacher improvement through professional development,” he says.
Young teachers now can make top dollar in seven to ten years, “whereas it took 30 years when I was young. It will hopefully keep good teachers in the classroom,” he says.
And yes, students seem different since he began teaching years ago.
“They’ve changed radically in outward terms: their dress, behavior and language. What you hear today in an average school hallway would have been unthinkable a few decades ago. I’m glad I’m hard of hearing. But inside, the meaningful part of children’s lives isn’t a whole lot different than it ever was.” |
