Young parent program in Lee County sees surge in student success

LEE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — A Lee County school program that underwent major changes this year is now seeing growth in its students.

The Young Parent Education Program, also known as Y-PEP, shifted to a more online, self-paced learning structure after a charter school took over. WINK News reporter Camila Pereira shows how these changes drastically helped students achieve success.

Britany's life turned around when she had her daughter, Camila.

"I got pregnant at 15. Actually, had her at 16," Britany said. "I'm a single mother, so it is difficult."

A journey she did not have to go through alone, thanks to the Young Parent Education Program.

"They don't just take care of my education, they take care of, of course, my baby," Britany said.

"I'm really close to finishing this class, and it has helped me, because when you're in regular school, you can't really finish," she said.

But when Second Mile Education, a charter school, took over the program from the School District of Lee County back in January, success stories like Britany's became more common.

"We've had our first couple of graduates already, so that's amazing. Now they actually see that it's possible, and it can happen quickly through this self-paced learning. Now, everybody's in the room, like, Okay, I'm gonna get my work done. I want to graduate too. I'm next, I'm next, I'm next," Hagan, a teacher, said.

Like Liana, who is graduating early, even after having her little princess, Aurora.

"I'm literally about to graduate in a month, and I'm a junior," Liana said. "I'm one credit away from graduating, like, and that's, I was not that close up until they came in."

She credits it all to the change.

"Honestly, Second Mile was really helpful coming in here, especially because they have a much more flexible schedule that I need for work and the baby," Liana said.

"We are all a community, because at the end of the day, these are, this is our future," Alexis 'Lexi' Thomas-Giambrone, dean of students, said.

That's why they always remind the students to find their why.

"She's always there when I come home from work with a big smile on her face. You know, it's like, you know, it's motivating," Kristian, a student, said.