Theo* came to the ECH School in seventh grade facing significant behavioral challenges. He was living in a residential treatment facility and struggling with anger issues that often led to destructive outbursts or threats to others.
At ECH, Theo learned how to manage those emotions in healthier ways. With the help of teachers, therapists, and staff, he discovered strategies to pause, think through consequences, and make better choices. Instead of lashing out, he practiced saying, “I need a break” and learned to step away until he calmed down. By his final year, incidents had decreased significantly as Theo consistently relied on these new coping skills.
Theo also participated in the Goodwill job coaching program during his time at ECH. Motivated by his dream of becoming a Walmart customer service representative, he worked to develop the social skills that would help him succeed in a workplace setting.
After years of hard work, Theo’s persistence paid off. He graduated from high school! Dressed in a cap and gown, he proudly received his diploma through ECH School’s partnership with Normandy High School. The smile on Theo’s face as staff and classmates gathered to celebrate his accomplishment was a powerful reminder of just how far he had come.
Theo’s story is an important one because it’s a true success story. It shows that this is a real school, with real credits, that can result in a real high school diploma. His journey reminds us what can happen when students get the right support.
— ECH staff member
*Name changed for privacy.