In his 31 years at IHS, Mr. Jim Scarpulla has held a variety of positions devoted to aiding students in achieving successful transitions from high school to post–high school education, adult living, and employment.
After Ms. Angela Affronti transferred to an administrative position at BOCES in January, Mr. Scarpulla replaced her as graduation coach for students whose last names begin with A through L. Joining Ms. Micheryl Blake, who has served students with last names beginning with M through Z, Mr. Scarpulla is now excited to support students who face challenges to graduating.
The primary role of the graduation coach is to identify and help students who have particular challenges to meeting the graduation requirements. Any student can also approach a graduation coach for help—in the hallways or in the office located in Student Services. “The graduation coach may have a quick answer to your questions,” Mr. Scarpulla said, “or they may say, ‘Why don’t you set up a meeting with your counselor and attend the meeting and try to work this out together.’”
“The graduation coaches certainly have a role in pushing the graduation rate up,” Mr. Scarpulla said. The graduation coaches facilitate with the administration, the counselors, families, and teachers to sustain students’ attendance rates, a critical component of helping students graduate. Raising the already outstanding graduation rate of 93 percent at IHS, he believes, will involve making sure students do not skip class or not go to school.
The tip he would give to students is to always go to class. “You can draw a dot-to-dot effect of students not going to class to students jeopardizing their graduation.”
Mr. Scarpulla also urges students not to shy away from asking for help, whether they do not like the class they are in or if there is something going on at home that is affecting school. “Ask for help soon. Don’t let it fester,” he said. “If there’s something going on that’s distracting you from school, make sure that somebody that has some authority knows—an associate principal, a graduation coach, or a student counselor.”