It has been almost seven years since Cindy Cowen (pictured, right) first advocated to bring Manny Scott to South Tahoe Middle School in California. Her tireless passion for students, alongside Principal Beth Delacour, make them Ink International’s October Page Turners.
Cowen, a sixth grade math and science teacher at South Tahoe since 1989, had a particularly difficult class in 2007, the year Freedom Writers was released. While she noted the current theory in education was to simply give students like hers more and more work, she took a different approach, raised money, and took them to the film. Inspired, the students expressed a desire to have a Freedom Writer come speak to them. By January 2008, with the proper funds raised, Manny Scott came to South Tahoe, an event covered by the local newspaper.
Since that engagement Manny has returned almost every year to speak to the students of South Tahoe and his messages have become woven into the culture; the students even continue to keep in touch with Manny.
“Beth and Cindy truly live lives of service—to their students, fellow teachers and administrators, and community,” Manny said. “They understand what it takes to reach young people and never lose sight of that. I am simply privileged to play a small role in the work done at South Tahoe Middle School."
Delacour, who has been in education for 35 years, explains just what it takes to connect with the students.
“If you look at 'our kids' and the challenges that they face in the world and their lives, you can’t help but see the needs at this age,” she said. "Broken families, drugs, poverty, abuse, and violence are a part of the fabric of many of our students and society. If we don’t listen, reach out, support, and then push the kids so that they know they are not alone and that someone at school knows their story, I think we are missing the boat. Kids at this age come to school for peer interaction and connections. Manny helps open up areas of our lives, our hearts, that are not always talked about. It is not always easy for adults to talk about these things, let alone kids. That is an amazing gift in and of itself."
Cowen echoed those sentiments.
"He makes them feel and makes them feel safe so they can feel,” she said. "He makes them feel but then he gives them tools to deal with it and step forward and makes them feel empowered that they can change, that they aren’t helpless. They find hope in themselves.”
Cowen is also involved in a program called Between Horses and Humans, which helps children that are socially, academically, and behaviorally challenged; their motto is leadership through horsemanship.
“The horses are intuitive,” she said. “We have a lot of success with the program. It’s the same thing—they’re safe. Just like Manny does, the horses make children feel safe and valued, and from that, they can come out of their old story and turn the page.”
The videos and recommended strategies that Ink International provides to those who participate in a Turn the Page Assembly—to better equip them to turn the page—have been well integrated into the work done at South Tahoe to keep the momentum going.
In addition, the students have been asked about the assemblies through an online survey. Delacour noted that to the Yes/No question of "Manny Scott presented information that was important for STMS students to hear.” - 93% responded “Yes.” To the question, “Manny Scott presented information that is important for me in the future.” - 83.6% responded “Yes.”
"We want the best for our kids and their futures,” Delacour said. "They can’t do it alone. Their stories are compelling and at times an uphill climb. I am lucky to have a staff and a school district that values taking time to find out their stories and lend an ear or a hand. When the day is done, the kids will remember how you made them feel and think. Manny is part of this mission at STMS. He is part of our family here. He cares as much as we do about our kids. I guess I always thought the kids were lucky to have Manny at our school, and they are, but as an educator I have been lucky to have met him as well.”