For these grads, Mahoning County High made all the difference
YOUNGSTOWN
School wasn’t easy for Jerrell Shorter.
“I didn’t get an IEP [Individual Education Program] until the 10th grade,” the new graduate said during the commencement ceremony Friday at Mahoning County High School.
The MCHS Class of 2016 numbers 31.
“I’m happy,” Shorter said. It’s been a long road.”
He spent much of his school time before coming to MCHS being the class clown and didn’t have much interest in class work.
That changed when he enrolled at MCHS.
“I took a look at education in a different way,” Shorter said. “There are great teachers here, and they helped me.”
He also credits Jennifer Merritt, MCHS superintendent.
“She never took her foot off of my neck,” Shorter joked. “I appreciate it a lot.”
Mahoning County High School is a dropout recovery community school sponsored by Mahoning County Educational Service Center and the Martin P. Joyce Juvenile Justice Center.
It serves at-risk students who have struggled in a traditional school setting, been expelled, dropped out of high school or have had juvenile court involvement.
Read more about the school and this year's grads in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.