Always seeing the best in people is a difficult challenge for some. For others, like Leslie Weber, it is a remarkable gift. Leslie teaches high school to at-risk students in the Orange County Department of Education’s Alternative Education department. She provides academic intervention for adolescents from the juvenile system, or who have been expelled from school for drugs and weapons violations or chronic truancy. Although many believe that hope has run out for these students, a precious few, like Leslie, believe that hope is never lost. And that is what makes her an SchoolsFirst FCU Hero in Education.
Leslie, who holds a master’s degree in educational counseling from UCLA, has worked for the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) for three years. She currently teaches a class of 22 at-risk students from the Anaheim School District, identifying their individual areas of academic need and helping them earn enough credits to graduate – or perhaps even transition back to traditional school.
But Leslie’s most challenging work isn’t in the textbooks – it’s in getting her students interested in school. Whereas many families place a premium on their children’s education, this is not the case for most of Leslie’s students. "No one shared with them that education isn’t just important – it’s vital," she explains. Many of Leslie’s students are dealing with very difficult family and social issues, and most have formed negative ideas about education – specifically their abilities to succeed in school. Leslie first addresses her students’ personal issues and fears, and then works on getting them to like school and see it as something positive in their lives. Ultimately, her greatest joy is "getting a kid to a point where they realize that coming to school, learning, and graduating is totally attainable." Her work seems to be paying off – in the time Leslie has worked for the OCDE, she has seen the number of graduates from North Orange County’s alternative education program steadily increase. Last school year, close to 200 students graduated.
In addition to getting kids excited about learning, Leslie works hard to promote the values of literacy and technology in her classroom (many don’t receive a newspaper at home or own books). The latter of these subjects inspired a breakthrough for some of her students last year when she created a project that required them to research, write, videotape and edit their own documentaries. At first it was tough getting the students interested in the project – let alone to show up to do the work. However, she remembers, "by the end, they were meeting us at the door at 7 a.m. and wanting to stay after 3 p.m. when it was time to go home." She was happily surprised to find her students had become proficient in video editing technology used by professionals, and had created amazing work, having started out with only limited background knowledge. She was especially proud when two of her students’ documentaries were featured on KOCE television’s "Schoolhouse Video" series, which airs student work once every semester. Since then, most of the students involved in the project have graduated or returned to the school district. Two in particular are now pursuing technology studies at Anaheim High School.
Leslie’s colleague, Karolyn Zebarth, a Special Education Teacher and Resource Specialist for the OCDE, isn’t surprised by Leslie’s outstanding success with her students. "She is truly a gifted teacher. She doesn’t just accept things – she tries to change things." She appreciates that Leslie goes above and beyond her job duties, staying late at work many nights, and planning a kayaking trip for her students as a graduation present. "She even got a license to drive the county van so she could take them herself," Karolyn recalls. Demonstrations of dedication and commitment like this were part of what led Karolyn to nominate Leslie for the SchoolsFirst FCU Educators First Award, which she won along with nine other educators last year.
Karolyn also points out that while Leslie isn’t much older than her students, she holds the line when it comes to discipline. "She has extremely high expectations for these kids. She doesn’t allow them to swear or make obscene gestures – she holds standards that she would for her own kids. They need a teacher like Leslie."
With all the value Leslie brings to her students’ lives, both academically and personally, she admits to receiving as much from them. "They’ve taught me humility and patience," she reveals. "I work with some of the most generous students I’ve ever come across. Being from low-income families, you’d think they wouldn’t be able to give. Yet they’ll offer another kid a dollar, and whenever we have a clothing or canned food drive, they are beyond generous."
In her spare time, Leslie loves baking and traveling. She is also a huge fan of college sports, especially football and basketball. In fact, she admits to being obsessed to the point that she turned down her first date with her husband to watch UCLA’s first game of the season. Fortunately, Leslie’s husband, Daniel, forgave her. And, when it comes to his being a fan of anyone, it’s clear that Leslie tops his list. "I’m amazed by the incredible dedication she puts into her work and the amount she invests in her children," he shares. "She’s always worrying about them, asking how they are doing at home, and how she can give them support."
Although there are clear frustrations and pressures in Leslie’s work that aren’t found in a traditional school environment, she is happy to be where she is. "This is something I love - I’m not going to step away from it. I wouldn’t have what I consider the pleasure of getting to know these students and the chance to push them in the direction of their uniqueness," she explains. Besides, she adds, "the kids make it fun and enjoyable. At the end of the day I feel good about what I do."
Leslie is able to see beyond her students’ troubled circumstances and illuminate the potential that lies within each of them. She just wishes that they could all see it themselves. "The humbling part is, I know I won’t be able to get through to some of these kids," Leslie admits. "But the ones that I do get through to... it can change their lives." For all the lives Leslie Weber has changed and continues to change, we are proud to call her a SchoolsFirst FCU Hero in Education.
