Jo Ann Caines, Principal of La Cumbre Junior High School presented to the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara North for our annual visit.  

 

Jo Ann has been a teacher for 30 years.  She started at Adams School and then moved to La Cumbre Junior High School. 

 

Most of the children at La Cumbre are low income students.  They do not have many mentors in their life, so Jo Ann and her staff do the best they can to train these students to be all they can, and to be successful in school and life.  The testing backs this claim with high ranking students, much higher than surrounding schools.  

 

12 years ago La Cumbre was a failing school.  Today it is a 'Succeeding' School.  All staff take part in educating the kids.  The staff instills good habits, independent learning, strict dress code...but they have fun too!  Work hard, Play hard.  

 

The school provides structure for these kids, structure they often do not have at home.  

 

The school is open 7am until 7pm and is a resource for the whole community.  They offer the day care, after school care, adult learning, free breakfast, lunch and dinner to those in need.  They will be offering health services for this community too.