Hands-on education ‘CSI’ one model used by alternative school

• By SONYA KIMBRELL
• Ascension staff writer
• Published: May 8, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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DARROW — Student Kira Ruffin sits in front of a computer scrolling through facial features while classmates Darius Ross and Shay Blanchard sift through typewritten reports.

“I’ve created my own ‘CSI’ team,” said Renee Feliu, English teacher at Ascension Alternative School.

Feliu has a background in federal investigations and has been teaching English and reading for about three years.

She drew on her background in criminal investigation to write a grant to fund this three-year project that teaches a variety of lessons.

“You have to be able to read well, write reports; and it requires critical thinking,” Feliu said.

This project, like several others at the Alternative School, was funded by a $1,000 grant from the Ascension Fund, a private education foundation.

The Alternative School received seven Ascension Fund grants for the 2007-2008 school year. This is more than any other school in Ascension Parish.

Grants for the 2008-2009 school year will be announced this week.

Winding up the first year of the project, the students have created a criminal scenario.

“Next year, we will stage the crime, and the whole school will be involved in solving the crime. And the third year, we’ll try the case,” she said.

The money bought computer imaging software that draws composite photos as well as other forensic tools, such as fingerprinting, to analyze evidence. “It helps teach all these skills plus it introduces criminology,” Feliu said.

The Ascension Parish Alternative School has two programs for students who haven’t been successful in traditional school settings.

“Our students learn differently,” Principal Jerry Elie said. “Most are at risk of dropping out of school. We’re trying to show them there is a way out.”