Families & Community

Stockbridge Series: a small town school district ensuring educational opportunity

Stockbridge is a village similar to many places around the state. The economy is tough, industry has gone, and the school system is one of few ways kids from the town can get a leg up. This is an inside look into this small town school district trying to make sure their kids have educational opportunity, even in the face of shrinking state aid and a tough economy. In addition to Sarah's reports, the Stockbridge project has moving and interesting radio stories, audio diaries, and photography from youth journalists at Stockbridge High School.

Real life in Stockbridge, MI: the pre-K to high school perspective

Michigan Public | By Kimberly Springer

Published February 15, 2013 at 4:43 PM EST

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Techinical education is an area of focus at Stockbridge High School

Rhegan Reasoner

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Youth Journalist Rhegan Reasoner interviewed Kayla Gallup about how she thinks farming isn't interesting to a younger generation.

Rhegan Reasoner

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Football, and all sports are now "pay to play" at Stockbrige, but participation is still high.

Devin Cleary

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Gabe Schray, one of the Youth Journalists, during the football season. Schray says football helped him succeed in everything else.

Kary Gee

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Youth Journalist Jenna Chapman described how she feels she needs to be a "super student" to suceed after high school.

Jake Chapman

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Jenna Chapman doing homework. Her parents encourage her to make sure she enjoys high school.

Lance Chapman

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Sports are a big focus at Stockbridge, like in many small towns.

Christa Maddick

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Youth Journalist Phillip McCleer wonders if a quality education is being sacrificed because of tight school budgets.

Phillip McCleer

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A student at work at Stockbridge High School.

Phillip McCleer

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Indoor soccer practice involving Youth Journalist Christa Maddick.

Christa Maddick

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A student at work in one of Stockbridge's technical classes.

Jordan

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Stockbridge has a comprehensive preschool program starting at year two and a half.

Angie Eagle

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Preschool kids lining up to go to the gym. Stockbridge's focus on Pre-K was of interest to Youth Journalist Angie Eagle

Angie Eagle

Part of the State of Opportunity's mission is to hear the stories of listeners as they experience their local communities. One of the best kinds of community engagement happens when we teach new skills or help others enhance the skills they already have. What reporter Sarah Alvarez and Michigan Radio intern Logan Chaddee found in working with the 17 young people in Elizabeth Cyr's journalism class is that they have a wealth of insight into interviewing their peers and getting at the "real" story.

In their proximity to their peers and on the cusp of young adulthood, they told their own stories and that of their classmates to give us a picture of their lives in one small, rural community. Some have aspirations beyond Stockbridge. Others love the place they're from and wouldn't think of leaving. This slide show and their audio stories show us a well-rounded and vibrant Michigan educational community as they go about the business of preparing their students for grade school, high school, and beyond.