Eastside Academy – Making a Difference in Young People’s Lives

Greg Stone, Executive Director of Bellevue’s Eastside Academy, gave a powerful look into the challenges that come with preparing at-risk high school students spiritually, academically, emotionally, socially, and physically to complete requirements for a high school diploma and transition successfully to the workplace or college. This Christian alternative high school is housed at the First Presbyterian Church in Bellevue.

The Academy has a teaching staff of two teachers, a principal, and over thirty volunteers from the community as it “eagerly anticipates the start of its third school year this week.” Stone said they’ll have an enrollment of 25 students, with a wait list of over 20 young people.

Prior to joining Eastside Academy, Greg held senior leadership positions at a variety of high-tech companies, including being CEO of a publicly traded technology company. Prior to Greg’s involvement in the business world, he served as the Director of Missions at First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue Washington and as the Urban Missions Program Manager at University Presbyterian Church in Seattle, WA. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.

“We deal directly with youngsters facing significant challenges in their lives. Your club gave $15,000 for software, which allowed us to purchase an online curriculum to plug holes in the academy’s classroom offerings. We are grateful for your support.”

Greg explained that Eastside is an “Alternative-Alternative High school. Every year, 200 kids drop out of Bellevue schools. We do get some of the toughest cases. These folks have noisy and strenuous personalities. They are products of multiple institutions, passed off to multiple schools. They’ve all but given up on themselves. The Eastside Academy is their smallest thread of hope.”

The Academy focus is on small classes – an average of 12 students per class. The low teacher-student ratio allows for more personalized instruction. Those struggling with addiction are placed in 12-step course, or sent to drug rehab. “These kids are loved and cared for and we won’t give up on them. It’s not very easy to love these kids … but we work very hard to gain their respect,” said Stone.

President Brian Evison (R) thanks Greg Stone for his presentation.

Students get to know their counselors – and vice versa. Most students come from single parent families. Their parents are burned out … Eastside gives them support. The school even helps parents when kids are called into court. “We are willing to enter into our students pain. This is their last chance to get a high school diploma and last chance to make something of their lives.”

Greg played a video, narrated by Eric Slocum of KOMO-TV, which featured the faces and voices of several students who explained how the Eastside Academy had meant breakthrough for them. The school’s motto is ”Giving hope, Building futures.”

Students pay tuition to enroll, but it covers only 20% of the cost. The remaining 80% comes from foundations, individuals, and Rotary. As the new classes begin, there is always a need for volunteers mentoring the students. “We’ve come a long way since we opened our doors two years ago,” Greg concluded.

In answer to questions, Greg said they’ve graduated about half of their student body (12) the last two years. He praised his faculty for having a “special kind of heart for these kids.”

For his presentation, Greg was awarded a certificate showing the BBRC making a book available to a needy child at the Kindering Center, part of Rotary’s support of  the Literacy project. Thanks to Jeanne Thorsen for her introduction.