The Mary Hines Johnson School for Girls is the brainchild of Founding Director Marshalette Wise. It would serve socioeconomically disadvantaged, at-risk girls in grades 9-12 in Alabama.

 

We will use trauma-informed practices to empower girls toward self-determination in their lives, self-preservation in their choices, and self-actualization in their purpose.

 

We understand that if at-risk girls do not receive the continuous support and whole-child resources they need to thrive, they will likely transition into womanhood with many of the same challenges. 

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Our team will take the students most “at-risk” of dropping out or not on track for high school graduation and transform them into students graduating college and career-ready.

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The Mary Hines Johnson School specifically addresses the urgent need for specialized education and comprehensive support services for at-risk girls in Alabama who are socioeconomically disadvantaged and have experienced multiple adversities such as family instability, trauma, substance use, and interaction with the juvenile justice system.

 

Traditional schools often lack the specialized resources, dedicated time, or trained staff needed to address the student's unique circumstances nor support their social development effectively, often resorting to punitive or exclusionary forms of discipline as a response. This approach treats the symptoms of the issue without addressing the root causes via a trauma-informed approach.

 

Our proposed model not only aims to provide a traditional high school education but also integrates critical support systems directly into the educational framework to ensure each student can thrive despite the complexities of their backgrounds. 

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