By Logan Andrew, Editor-In-Chief | FreeWire — Your News, Your Voice
The baseball field is ready. The graduation chairs are perfectly spaced. A handful of students—once written off as unlikely to graduate—are now leading the charge. Not just to earn a diploma, but to build a future filled with purpose, dignity, and pride.
This is Bucyrus High School’s Pathways Program. Launched in 2024, it may be one of the most transformative educational efforts in Ohio today—quietly redefining how we think about success.
A Program Built on Purpose
"They are our kids—it’s our job to meet their needs," said Dr. Jaivir Singh, principal of Bucyrus High School. For Singh, the creation of Pathways wasn’t just about graduation rates. It was about justice.
Too many students were being pushed to alternative programs like High Road or placed in classrooms that didn’t work for them. Behavioral issues, learning gaps, and disengagement often led to expulsion or being farmed out to other institutions.
"I don’t want to hear excuses like ‘it’s a family problem,’" Singh said. "If the kid knew what to do, if the family knew what to do, they wouldn’t be sending them to us. We are the professionals. They are with us six and a half hours a day. That means it’s on us."
Instead of sending students away, Singh and his staff built a solution in-house. A program rooted in flexibility, support, and the radical belief that every child is worth the effort.
Meeting Students Where They Are
Using a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), the staff meets biweekly to review the status of students who are failing or at risk of failing. They evaluate academic progress, behavioral issues, emotional wellness, and even home life—and then adjust support accordingly.
Research backs up this approach. According to a study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, early childhood intervention programs like England’s Sure Start children’s centres generated £2.05 in benefits for every £1 spent, demonstrating the long-term value of targeted early support. Programs that intervene before students fall too far behind are not just beneficial—they’re essential.
"Earlier interventions are always better," Singh said. "Once a kid has lost belief in themselves, it's ten times harder. Our goal is to catch them before that happens."
And they are.
Hands-On Learning That Looks Like Life
Coach Shane Kokensparger—known to students as Coach K—runs the Pathways Program alongside educational aide and cheerleading coach Kim Boyd, affectionately known as "Mama Boyd."
They’ve built a different kind of classroom—one where cleaning wrestling mats, lining a baseball field, or setting up graduation chairs becomes part of the curriculum.
"It’s a year-long job interview," Coach K said. "They’re not just learning. They’re working. They’re becoming employable."
Students learn how to mix cleaning solutions safely, measure distances to set up athletic events, use power tools, and follow step-by-step job plans. When they set up the high school graduation this year, they used rulers and geometry to space every chair and barrier with precision.
Dom, once labeled a behavioral problem and placed outside the school, now maintains a 3.3 GPA and has been accepted into Pioneer’s Automotive Tech program. He also managed hygiene for the wrestling team and helped prevent any skin infections during the season.
Lacey, another student in the program, said it plainly:
"In the main building, everything just sucked. Now, I look forward to coming to school. I feel appreciated."
Individualized Support That Works
Schedules in the Pathways Program are customized to meet each student's needs. Some students attend full-day classes, while others may only manage four-hour days. Certain students work best when focused on one subject at a time, and others benefit from regular breaks—like five minutes every fifteen. This flexible structure is part of what makes the program so effective.
More Than a Diploma
Pathways started in 2024 with just six students. By spring of 2025, it had grown to ten. One student graduated early. Two others are on track to graduate ahead of schedule.
Coach K says the difference is not just in what they teach, but how they teach it. "We tried giving them seven classes at once, like the main building does. It didn’t work. Now we do one subject at a time. It’s less overwhelming, and they actually retain the material."
The school also connects students to job training. Every student is required to complete two job applications per month. This year, job sites included Sherwin-Williams, Gianino’s Pizza, Dollar General, and Mohican Sports Medicine. More are expected next year.
Coach K is working on getting his bus license so he can drive students to worksites twice a week.
Certifications and Real Credentials
Dr. Singh has also partnered with the Success Center to offer students access to credentialing programs. Students receive certifications in areas like drone operation, 5G technology, and turbo systems.
"Too often kids think McDonald’s and Wendy’s are their only job options," Singh said. "We’re opening up their world."
Both Dom and Lacey said visiting a horse farm was their highlight of the year. During the trip, they learned how to ride, brush, feed, and care for horses. They also cited painting the tennis shed or prepping the baseball field as favorite memories.
Coach K's highlight? Seeing students who once doubted themselves take pride in what they accomplish.
Built on Relationships
The magic of Pathways isn’t just in its structure—it’s in the relationships. Students trust Coach K and Miss Boyd. They rely on their patience, their honesty, and their belief.
"We used to butt heads," Dom said. "Now we joke around. I never thought I’d get to that point."
"They come to us raw," Singh said. "But if you take the time to understand where a student is coming from—and you build the right relationship—they’ll do the work. They’ll do more than the work. They’ll thrive."
Looking Ahead
Pathways isn’t for every student. But for the right ones, it’s often the first time they’ve felt seen, respected, and capable.
Next year will bring more partnerships, more certifications, more off-site learning, and even more individualized instruction. But the mission will stay the same: give every student the tools, the support, and the opportunity to succeed—on their own terms.
Incoming student Cam Rodgers is one those students who hasn't had success with conventional classes. On his outlook for next year, Rodgers said, “I’m happy to join the program.”
Singh’s vision is clear: "We’re not just handing out diplomas. We’re building futures."
Photos of Pathway Students doing various activities as part of the program from Coach K.
Want to see it for yourself? FreeWire plans to visit the Pathways Program in session next fall. Stay tuned for more student stories, photos, and video coverage.
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