There are few things more powerful than watching a young person rediscover their potential and that’s exactly what was on full display during Buehrle Academy’s annual end-of-year celebration.
Buehrle Academy holds a unique and deeply important role within the School District of Lancaster. Designed for students who were recommended that need additional structure and support in their educational journey, the academy offers an alternative setting where young people can remain engaged in their academics while receiving personalized guidance, small group instruction, and behavioral supports.
Many of the students who arrive at Buehrle have faced obstacles, inside and outside of school, that have made learning difficult. Some may be navigating complicated personal circumstances. Others may need a break from the traditional school setting to reset, refocus, and build the skills that will help them return to their home schools ready to thrive.
What sets Buehrle apart is its intentional, relationship-based approach. Every student sees every teacher every day. Staff get to know each student, not just their challenges, but their goals, interests, and potential. Executive Director Joel Bacharach describes Buehrle as a place where students can “flip the script” on how they see school and how they see themselves. “We want them to leave here more confident, more connected, and with a better understanding of what success looks like for them,” he says.
The end of the year festival is one of the ways that growth is recognized and celebrated. Participation is based on a combination of attendance, academic progress, and positive behavior three pillars that reflect not just performance, but effort. For many students, especially those who have struggled to connect with school in the past, earning a spot at the festival is a significant achievement.
What’s happening at Buehrle Academy may not always make headlines, but it is changing lives. It is proof that with the right environment, the right relationships, and the right expectations, students can, and do, rise.
This is what education is all about, not just teaching, but transforming. And sometimes, all it takes to start that transformation is someone who says, “Let’s try again.”
#
For more photos, visit us on Facebook.
