There are lots of other questions and stories wrapped up in all of this but that's just a start! For those who have made it to the end -- plz enjoy my first "byline", a submission to the kids section of the Columbus Dispatch writing about my grandpa, and a live look at me at my desk rn.

So for the next year, i'm focused on these students and their stories, but also the story of the aspirational goal from 12 years ago: what does it take to get every student to graduation? Why does OR lag behind other state grad rates? How can -- and should -- schools prepare them for adulthood?

Fast forward to now - we've kept up with the students stories through stories on the radio, stories on opb.org, and 3 documentaries charting each year of high school so far. Check out Class of 2025: Junior Year for a quick catch up: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwa-...

I met the #ClassOf2025 as 6th graders, right before the pandemic led to school shutdowns across the state + country. The students were in 7th grade.
www.opb.org/article/2024...

What is #ClassOf2025, you ask? Its a wild project following the educational journeys of 27 students thru the OR public education system. OPB met the Class of 2025 as kindergarteners -- now they're seniors in high school.
www.opb.org/article/2024...