Dwight Laidig Wins 2008 Iowa Association of Alternative Education Newcomer of the Year Award

"If it wasn't for Dwight, I wouldn't have graduated at all," says Dennis Griggs, the senior at Grinnell High School who nominated teacher Dwight Laidig to be honored for his work in alternative education. The Iowa Association of Alternative Education presented Laidig the "Newcomer of the Year Award" at the 2008 IAAE conference earlier this spring. After serving as the school-to-work coordinator for the past nine years, Laidig has taught for GHS' new School-Within-a-School program since its launch two years ago.

When Griggs, who has worked with Laidig since he was a junior, learned that Laidig won the award, he was "excited and glad that [Laidig] was recognized for the stuff he does." After all, Laidig functions as more than a teacher; he's a friend, mentor, and even a parent. After Grigg's mother died six months ago, he explains that Laidig assumed a parental role in his life. "Dwight's my dad," he says.

This "second dad," who holds a degree in behavioral disorders, works mostly with juniors and seniors to help ensure that they graduate. Laidig laments that sometimes "parents may not be actively involved in their kids' lives." He has even gone to parent-teacher conferences in the place of parents. Upon student request, he shows up on Saturdays and Sundays even during blizzards. Larry Kenealy, dean of students at the high school who works attendance and discipline issues at the school, says, "Dwight works very hard with students who may be in danger of dropping out."

GHS graduation rates are down since 2001, when a high of 95.06 percent of the original freshmen class received their diplomas. From 2002 to 2005, the graduation rate went from 90 to 93.7 but, in 2006, plummeted below the statewide average of 90. 78 to 86.8. Since then, the district has been on the federal "No Child Left Behind" watchlist for its graduation rate.