Joliet police officers mentor Singleton students

JOLIET – Joliet police detective David Jackson gave a group of boys at Singleton Elementary School in Joliet an unusual exercise: Draw a pig together.

As the students, who worked on the assignment at their tables, became loud and unruly, Jackson asked them what they noticed once they were finished.

He said he noticed there was more chaos in the room because there were no leaders chosen among the students to guide others through the assignment.

“When I didn’t identify who the leader was at the table or everyone had an idea who the leader was at the table then right away it was a lot more talking, a lot more disarray,” Jackson said.

Leadership is one of several positive qualities Jackson and other Joliet police officers are trying to instill in boys at Singleton as part of a new program called Increasing Male’s Positive Actions through Character Training, or IMPACT.

IMPACT began in January in response to a growing number of discipline referrals – for fights or disrespectful behavior – occurring at Singleton, said Saundra Russell-Smith, Singleton assistant principal.

She said the number of referrals could range from five to 15 to 20 in a day.

A written description of IMPACT provided by Russell-Smith stated boys in grades second through fifth grade – who were invited to participate in the program – is the demographic that has the highest number of referrals and suspensions.

Instead of suspending students or sending them home, school officials tried to find other methods of helping students with behavioral issues.

“We recognized these students needed help in how to make better choices,” Russell-Smith said.

IMPACT also "speaks to the tenets in Senate Bill 100," the description stated. The bill, also known as Public Act 99-456 and signed into law in August, reforms school disciplinary policies to limit expulsions and suspensions. District 86 officials discussed its potential effects at a March 2 meeting.

The program is the only one at Singleton that assists 5 to 7 percent of students with specific behavioral challenges who do not respond to the CHAMPS program or qualify for special education.

CHAMPS, or Conversation Help Activity Movement Participation Success, is used at Joliet District 86 schools to reduce student behavior incidents.

In IMPACT, Joliet police officers meet with a group of Singleton students twice a month to mentor them in leadership, making good choices, responsibility and character.

Russell-Smith said she plans to expand the program so students can go on field trips so they can get used to visiting places in Joliet they’ve never been before, or places outside the city.

The description of IMPACT also states there are plans to expand the program to include weekly meetings and have girls participate as well. Russell-Smith said there are also plans to purchase shirts and ties for students participating in IMPACT so they can visualize themselves as leaders.

“[IMPACT] is to get them to understand they do have other choices,” Russell-Smith said.