
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, October 8, 1994                   TAG: 9410100032
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-10   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: DUBLIN                                LENGTH: Short

SPECIAL TRAINING PROVIDED FOR AT-RISK TEACHING

Pulaski County teachers and counselors working to educate students troubled by academic, social or emotional problems are getting training from a veteran author and trainer this week.

Ruth Herman Walls led the first part of her 10-hour workshop Friday and will complete the second part today at Pulaski County High School. This is the first training program she has conducted in Virginia.

The training is being sponsored by the Pulaski town Police Department's Juvenile Intervention Program. Some teachers will receive university credit for participating.

Wells heads an organization called Youth Change which offers intervention resources, lesson books and a newsletter to education professionals.

Brenda Conner, coordinator of the Police Department's intervention program, attended a workshop in Washington state last spring and arranged for Walls to bring the program here.

According to some educators, 44 percent of class time is spent on managing behavior instead of teaching. The workshop is aimed at helping teachers reclaim that lost time and seeing that troubled youngsters have fewer problems.

Workshop funding came through a grant to the Juvenile Intervention Program.

The program provides information and referral services, direct services and community projects for at-risk youth. For further information, call Conner at 980-1220.

by CNB