Nelteisha Worthey clips and cuts for hours every day. She's one of only a few girls in the barbering course at CATEC, but one of the top in her class.
If she didn't come across this class, Worthey says she would have never known the skill and passion she has for the trade. But if she didn't transfer to a special classroom in Albemarle County schools, Worthey would never have pursued washes and shaves, let alone school.
"If I didn't go," Worthey explained, "I wouldn't have been anywhere."
Worthey says she was on track to drop out of high school when she started at the Enterprise Center. In a group of trailers outside of Murray High School, she joined about 30 middle and high school students who also don't learn as effectively in a traditional school setting, and would likely flunk out without the resources there.
Enterprise Center teacher Sandy Yeager said, "I'm not sure what would happen to these students, but I don't what to find that out. I would prefer to continue with a program like this so that we give students the opportunity. Hopefully they'll take that opportunity and be successful."
With a smaller student-to-teacher ratio, kids at Enterprise Center get more one-on-one attention. Teachers help each child develop individual goals and plans to achieve. For Worthey, the chance to learn in a new way outside of a conventional classroom - like using more online resources - made all the difference.
"The teachers have time to just sit there and help you more, and it helps you, like, than most regular schools because there are so many kids in regular schools," Worthey said.
"Some students learn best in a small environment, and so the individual attention is very important for them," Yeager added.
For a number of students, the goal is to get back to their base school where they started their education. For others, it means taking an alternative route to get on track for higher education or post-graduation careers. That's why the Enterprise Center has worked to expand its vocational programs, sending more children to CATEC and making more connections with area businesses to provide internship opportunities.
"It's always a reward to see students progress," Yeager explained, "continue on in their base school or the community, wherever they want to be."
Murray High principal Ashby Kindler oversees the Enterprise Center and witnessed firsthand just what kind of impact the program can have.
"At a point, you run out of options for them," Kindler explained, "and so this is a place we want to say we're not giving up."
Kindler says some of these kids find purpose in school for the first time because they're able to match their education with their talents.
Kindler said, "Other than saying school isn't an option for these students and they're not going to be in school, we're providing another opportunity for them here in a much smaller environment where they can get to know their teachers better, the teachers can try to understand what might be motivating for them, and help them figure out their goals."
Teachers say one of the biggest challenge is that motivation. Yeager says so often the educators are working to turn around a student's outlook on the importance of school. That being said, she says having her kids graduate is the greatest reward for her. Four students will earn their diplomas this year, and Yeager says that's a major accomplishment.
"That's why the teachers are here at the Enterprise Center because that is the goal and they do have a belief that students will be successful here," Yeager said.
"You have to be willing to give every student a fresh start every day," Kindler added, "and you have to believe in them, and you have to believe that somewhere through their relationship with you, you'll find something that's meaningful for them."
Back at CATEC, Worthey looks forward to earning her barbering license and start cutting hair professionally soon. She's also exploring music production programs in New York City and plans to use her hair cutting skills to get her through school. No matter what, Worthey will continue to credit the Enterprise Center for getting her back on track.
"If I didn't go to Enterprise," Worthey said, "I think I would have dropped out or something."
The Enterprise Center is looking forward to a more permanent home in the future. Kindler says Albemarle schools has planned to replace the trailers, but the current budget issues has prevented that from happening. However, the program is looking forward to having a more versatile space in years to come.
