Surrogate parents help put kids on path to graduation

SPECIAL TO VIEWLaurie Richardson, coordinator of the Educational Surrogate Parent Program, stands with Kyle Sarsorito after his June 2009 graduation from Valley High School. Sarsorito was assigned an advocate through the program who helped him finish high school. Advertisement

Imagine you're a foster child with special needs enrolled in the Clark County School District. You need help securing an individualized education plan and an adult to sign off on an exam that will help determine the course of your education. There is no such person in your life, though, just you.

What do you do?

Through the Educational Surrogate Parent Program, students who find themselves in this predicament can receive help from adults who volunteer to be advocates for these children.

"It only takes about 10 to 12 hours per year, and it can make a significant difference in a foster child's life," Laurie Richardson, coordinator of the program, said. "You are helping a child get on the right track."

The Educational Surrogate Parent Program is sponsored by the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, 800 S. Eighth St., and is seeking adult volunteers to help children with school issues. Many children who receive help from the volunteers live in group homes or in other situations where there is no adult to help them.

For instance, Kyle Sarsorito, 19, had no adult to help him with his education. At 10 years old, Sarsorito's parents took him out of the formal education system. Sarsorito wasn't sure why, but said he kept reading books and studying subjects at home in his spare time. He also watched educational programs on television.

At 13 years old, Sarsorito's mother died from sclerosis of the liver. Then, when Sarsorito was 15 years old, his father died from complications related to type II diabetes.

"It was terrible," Sarsorito said.

Sarsorito went to live with his two older brothers, who also lived in Las Vegas, but weren't yet of legal age to act as guardians for him.

Shortly thereafter, Sarsorito was introduced to Richardson for help getting reintroduced to the public school system.

"For me, I thought it was a little too late," Sarsorito said.

Sarsorito, who was enrolled in the independent living program through the foster care system because he was in his late teens, was nervous to re-enter the academic world.

"My first thought was, 'I don't want any of this. I just want to be left alone,' " Sarsorito said.

After an evaluation, it was discovered that Sarsorito actually was up to grade level with his academics.

"Where he was suffering was emotionally," Richardson said.

Sarsorito entered classes at Valley High School, 2839 Burnham Ave., but suffered from anxiety problems as a result of not having attended school in such a long time.

"That was the most frightening experience I ever had," Sarsorito said.

Through the help of his educational surrogate, Sarsorito was placed in a special program at Valley that catered to kids like him. He passed in the halls at different times than the general population and ate lunch at times where the crowds were much smaller.

Through the help of the Educational Surrogate Parent Program, Sarsorito graduated from Valley in spring 2009.

"I felt like I accomplished something I never thought I could," Sarsorito said. "I was the only one who graduated from high school from my family."

Adults who volunteer with the program attend school meetings and visit campuses for education issues for which the children need help.

Interested adults can attend one of two orientation meetings, which will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday and from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Monday at the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada's annex, 610 S. Ninth St. Personal mentoring will be provided to surrogates when a student is assigned. Experience is not required, however, an understanding of children with special needs is preferred. Under federal law, employees of the school district are prohibited from volunteering as surrogate parents.

To attend or for more information, e-mail surrogate@lacsn.org or call 386-1070, Ext. 140.

Richardson will teach attendees about advocacy skills, school district procedures and its individualized education program, laws governing special education and use of the laws to support students. Additionally, she will cover how to support foster children with behavioral issues and special education needs, such as learning and physical disabilities. Two surrogate parents -- one with a full-time job and one a stay-at-home mom -- and a former student who benefited from the program also will share their experiences.

The majority of the surrogate parent's time is spent getting his or her student evaluated for special education services by writing letters, making phone calls and attending meetings with school personnel. Other responsibilities may include assistance related to academic progress, social issues, truancy problems, vocational training and graduation issues.

Richardson estimates a volunteer's time commitment will be 10 to 12 hours per school year.

Contact View education reporter Laura Emerson at lemerson@viewnews.com or 380-4588.