Durham Public Schools (DPS) is taking steps to support its Latine students through a group called LEAL, which aims to provide emotional, social, and academic assistance to these students. The founder of LEAL, Melissa Perez, is an English learners engagement specialist for DPS and comes from a Mexican-American background, giving her a unique perspective on the challenges faced by Latine students.
Perez is dedicated to helping these students succeed and is providing resources to assist them in the college process. She emphasizes the importance of letting students know that their status does not define their future and that there are scholarships available to help them achieve their academic goals.
One student who has benefited from LEAL is Keiri Rivas, a tenth grader at Northern High School. Rivas, who will be the first in her family to graduate high school, acknowledges the pressure that comes with being a first-generation student and the challenges of navigating the college process without much support.
Perez hopes to expand the LEAL program to reach more DPS schools as the Hispanic and Latine population in the district continues to grow. She believes in planting seeds of encouragement and empowerment in students to help them realize their potential and pursue higher education.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the number of Hispanic people enrolled in college has been on the rise, with 2.4 million Hispanic individuals aged 18 to 24 enrolled in college in 2021, up from 1.2 million in 2005. This trend highlights the importance of providing support and resources to Latine students as they strive for academic success.