PACS Senior Utilized Academic Center, Graduated Early

PULASKI – Pulaski High School Senior Mariah Lacour has shown that perseverance pays off.

After she fell behind in classwork and received failing grades during her junior year at school due to increased anxiety, the Pulaski Academy & Central School District approved her transfer to the Academic Center.

Upon arrival at the center, she buckled down, refocused in the independent-learning environment, completed an internship in a Universal Pre-Kindergarten class at Lura M. Sharp Elementary School and managed to get ahead in credits.

She began her senior year needing 4.5 credits to graduate.

“I didn’t want to sit around and wait for college,” she said.

Academic Center Teacher Ashley Hurd said she is proud of Lacour for working through struggles to make great strides in her education.

Lacour finished her credits last month and began her post-secondary education at Jefferson Community College in Watertown, where she now studies early childhood education.

The Academic Center opened in February 2008 for students who have fallen behind in classwork and would benefit from small group instruction.

Pulaski High School Principal Michael Bateson supervises the staff, which consists of Hurd, who is an English teacher, and two teaching assistants.

All classes, except for English, are completed online.

The center currently hosts 23 students from the following school districts: Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Central, Pulaski Academy & Central, Mexico Central and Sandy Creek Central.

While the majority of students are juniors or seniors, the center is also open to freshmen and sophomores for half-day or full-day slots.

Students are still required to take their NYS Regents diplomas.

Once students are caught up with coursework, they may choose to return to their home school.

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