REAL School's AmeriCorps of the Month Program

Mackworth Island, Falmouth -– The REAL School is an adventure-based alternative and special education school with grades 7 through 12 with minimally restrictive components of day treatment for students with social, emotional, behavioral, and academic needs from RSU14 and several other districts in Southern Maine.  We provide highly individualized, strengths-based educational programming to illuminate, celebrate, and leverage the inherent gifts in each student.  
 

In the summer of 2012, the REAL School was awarded an AmeriCorps grant to host thirteen volunteers to assist in the implementation of service-learning in the classroom. This year, we are having an “AmeriCorps of the Month” award, celebrating a one member and their particular achievements during that month.

AmeriCorps of the Month member: Jenna Pope

Jenna Pope is a 900-hour AmeriCorps State and National Service volunteer. Born and raised in Pownal, she attended Merriconeag Waldorf School from kindergarten to eighth grade, before graduating from Freeport High School. Currently, she is on track to graduate from the University of Southern Maine with a BA in English in December of 2013. 

Jenna has an extensive history of volunteerism, including volunteering with Portland School District’s “Make it Happen” program, which serves English-language learners, and Safe Passage, where she gave her time and passion to help underserved youth in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Knowing that she wanted to dedicate more time to service in her community, Jenna applied to several local AmeriCorps programs. 

At the REAL School, Jenna serves primarily in our Academy program, providing at-risk students with highly personalized curriculum and creating service projects intended to increase academic engagement. She has also spearheaded our garden program, which provides produce for the school lunches our students prepare every Wednesday through Friday for our and the Baxter School for the Deaf. It is an extremely complicated process, but she has risen to the occasion, engaging students in agricultural projects across Mackworth Island.

For more information visit www.realschool.org, or on Facebook.