Supporting At-Risk Students in Charter Schools

Traditional high school can be tough but imagine being part of a vulnerable population, or having children of your own, or even facing homelessness while in high school. Suddenly, something tough, but manageable seems impossible. That is where charter schools like Fusion Education come in.  

Fusion Education runs six charter schools throughout Columbus, and more throughout Ohio, and makes it possible for students to work at their own pace. They are given the opportunity to learn trade or technical skills while finishing high school.  

However, most schools are not equipped with the best ways to help at-risk students who struggle with behavioral health challenges. That is why Fusion approached Boundless about creating a new position in three of their schools. And in true Boundless fashion, Boundless staff jumped in with no hesitation and created positions for therapeutic behavior services specialists, or TBS specialist, and then hired three highly qualified people to fill those roles. 

The TBS specialist is part counselor, part case manager. They help students inside of school and outside of school by assessing needs and making a plan for the best way to move forward. “They are looking at the aspects of the student that the school is not as able to address but are impacting their ability to graduate,” explained Kirsten Crummel, behavioral health services administrator. This can be coping skills, connecting kids to resources like transportation or food pantries, or even state-funded childcare. 

“A typical day is talking to students, finding CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) activities and/or resources for the students, finding ways to help with navigating them in the right direction with situations in school or out of school,” said Markita McCune-Pugh, one of the new school-based TBS specialists at Boundless. “Some of the focus in this job is to help develop a plan that works on an individual’s behaviors and emotions and provide therapeutic activities that will help them to cope through their behaviors and emotions.”  

But these jobs are not just working directly with students. From Monday through Thursday our TBS specialists work with students, but on Fridays they are involved in training school staff members and other activities. Some Fridays, the TBS specialists conduct training sessions for teachers and school staff on how to best help students who may be having a hard time emotionally. The goal of this partnership is to bridge the gap for students going through challenging times, and the most effective way to do that is to also include teachers and staff so that students have extra support at all touchpoints.  

Normesha Perry, also a TBS specialist at Boundless, said, “I want people to know that my job is to help. I love that I am able to do just that. Helping in any way I can.”  

Crummel emphasized that this job requires autonomy and a lot of problem solving. TBS specialists work directly in the schools, not in Boundless-owned buildings, and not everyone will immediately understand what they do. It is also not a desk job because most kids in these situations can’t and won’t seek help because most of them don’t realize help is available. TBS specialists must meet the kids where they are and help them to open up about what barriers they face. “I will greet them as they enter the building and sign in for the day.  I visit the different classrooms to observe and to also make myself seen and available for anybody that needs to talk,” explained Tiffany Mosley, another TBS specialist at Boundless. “I want them to know that I can advocate for them and be their voice for them when they feel as though they are not being heard.” 

Perry also said, “My favorite part of my job is being able to help the youth. Being able to listen to them and helping them learn things like communication skills, simple life skills and other things that will help them succeed in life.” 

Boundless and Fusion hope to expand this program to the other Fusion schools in Columbus by the end of the year.