Jon Morse's passion for children, education and community led him to the charter-school movement. He has needed every bit of that passion during the four years that it took to get approval for a Big Picture school.
Finally, in August, he signed a lease with St. Alphonsus Church in southwest Fresno, and the school -- grades 7 through 10 -- opened a few weeks later with 88 students.
If you don't know the Big Picture story, here's the condensed version. Rhode Island-based co-founders Dennis Littky and Elliot Washor believe that education is everyone's business. In 1996, they started a regional career and technical center in Providence for at-risk kids uncomfortable or struggling in public schools. Ninety-six percent of the students from that first class graduated and virtually every graduate entered college.
This success brought media attention, awards and financial grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Now there are more than 60 Big Picture schools in 14 states -- each providing students with real-world learning opportunities.
The schools are smaller than typical urban high schools and strive to make students feel that they are part of a culture bigger than themselves.
"We are here for the kids who need something different," says Morse, executive director of Big Picture Fresno. "All kids love to learn. They just don't all like education."
The key to Big Picture's success in other cities has been pairing students with mentors. High school students do three or four job shadows with potential mentors. Then, if a mentor and student are interested in furthering the relationship, an 8-to-10-week internship follows.
The goals and responsibilities of the internship are set by the mentor, student and a school counselor. In keeping with the school's philosophy, internships aren't automatic. They must be earned.
"We're not going to send out kids who aren't doing well in school," Morse says. "Mentoring and community partnerships are important to us because they allow the students to form relationships and to see what's possible. We expect the students to put in a lot of time and to really perform."
Relationships struck by the Big Picture school in Sacramento offer a sense of the possibilities. Students there have designed a cell phone tour for the Sacramento Zoo, researched mental-health issues for a suicide hotline, prepared animals for surgery at a veterinary hospital, produced newspaper and radio stories and interned for the state Assembly.
Big Picture in Sacramento also has formed partnerships with Sacramento City College and several arts groups.
According to the school's Web site, nearly every student from its three graduating classes was accepted into college.
Morse says that Big Picture needs about 35 internships. Areas of student interest include medical care, automotive repair, culinary arts, law enforcement, law, media, computer technology and graphic design.
Big Picture's mentor program differs from some others in that students go to businesses instead of mentors visiting campus.
Fresno has struggled with high dropout rates and a shortage of skilled workers for decades. Big Picture, which is chartered by the Fresno County Office of Education, is trying to do something about both problems.
But the school can't succeed without community support. If you want to be part of the solution -- and offer students a chance to experience the world that awaits them -- let Morse know. He can be reached at (559) 908-1714 or jonmorse@bphsf.org.
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