Essex Tech To Use $79K In Grants To Strengthen Support Programs

DANVERS, MA — A $79,000 state grant will help allow Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School transition to a new disciplinary philosophy and promote educational programs aimed at preventing substance abuse.

Essex Tech Superintendent Heidi Riccio said the grant from state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Department's Supporting Students’ Behavioral and Mental Health and Wellness Fund.

"Supporting and promoting social emotional learning as well as mental and behavioral health is a multifaceted, complex task, and we're very thankful DESE recognized our need as we work to implement new programs and provide professional development trainings to meet our goals in these areas," Riccio said. "These funds will directly help our current students, as well as generations of students to come."

A 2019 assessment identified areas of potential growth in the district to further support students with a variety of social and emotional needs. The district also launched the Success through Ownership, Accountability and Responsibility (SOAR) program, geared toward creating a culture reflecting those values within the school.

A five-year implementation plan of collaborative problem solving philosophies was put in place to help ensure that historically at-risk populations, including those with behavioral issues, who would have typically been disciplined instead are supported in a "pro-social way that encourages skill development and reflection."

This school year the district intends to train and support staff in implementing the problem-solving program, which includes training and coaching teachers on how to communicate in an effective, trauma-informed, evidence-based method with students who are exhibiting challenging behaviors.

It also plans to develop substance use and vaping education programs for students who are cause using or expected of using banned substances on campus, instead of imposing discipline.

The district also plans this year to implement curriculum from the Herren Project, former Boston Celtics player Christopher Herren’s foundation, to address student substance use.

(Scott Souza is a Patch Field Editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and = Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)