Ep 182 | Vaping: Giving students a second chance

SPEAKER_00 0:00

We focus on what they can do to build themselves up to make a different choice. We focus on the why they're better without it.

SPEAKER_01 0:16

Welcome to the Voices United in Education podcast. Each week we showcase the teachers, administrators, and community members who go the extra mile to contribute to the success of every child in Escambia County. You'll meet the real people behind the titles and learn about the amazing resources to support your child's success. From 2022 to 2024, 450 Escambia County Public School students were expelled for having vape pens on campus. My next guest is spearheading a program that would not only give those kids a second chance, but offer lasting course correction. She's the founder and executive director of Hope Above Fear, a nonprofit dedicated to help educate, destigmatize, and overcome addiction in youth. Today she's going to share how this program stands out from others and how this may be a good fit for your child. Results-focused, compassion-centered movement builder, Stephanie Shepard. Welcome back. Wouldn't that be fun? Like we even have theme music, like it's a talk show, and we just hit play and not awkward at all. I would love that. Just one day at networking events, we would be quite the duo, I'm sure. Yep. Well, back in 2024, you bravely shared your story here of how you founded Hope Above Fear after your son died of a fentanyl overdose. Episode 95, for anyone that wants to go listen to that, it's very good. How does this new program, which is not focused on fentanyl, support the mission of Hope Above Fear to bring awareness to fentanyl poisoning?

SPEAKER_00 2:03

So, since our last time that we were on the podcast, our organization has expanded significantly. So we offer four core programs focusing on education, prevention, leadership. And now this one is diversion. And so our focus has definitely shifted from solely fentanyl to awareness around all substance misuse.

SPEAKER_01 2:27

Yeah. And this is also about a partnership with the Scambia County Public Schools, which kind of makes it a unique handshake, right?

SPEAKER_00 2:41

Yes. So whenever this particular program, which is called Better Without It, and it actually was established in Brevard County with Brevard County Prevention Coalition created by the Central Florida CARES, we had the executive director of that coalition come and speak to a group of youth-serving organizations back in March. And at that event, Denny Wilson, our assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, was present and knew that the district was seeking some other alternative to expulsion. And so, really, the conversation just organically began and because they were seeking something that was more effective than what the district was currently doing. And so the partnership just naturally formed. And so the conversation began in March and you know, it led to one meeting after another, and all of the teams were 100% on board. And there wasn't really a lot of negotiation that was needed. It was, we need to do something different. This is something different. Let's give it a try.

SPEAKER_01 3:52

What kind of results is better without it having?

SPEAKER_00 3:56

So in Brevard County, the results that they're currently having is amazing. And so the program is district-wide there, and they have seen a significant reduction of drug-related expulsions and increased student connections with positive adults. And so as of right now, for us, the program launched on November 5th of 2025. We currently have three programs or three groups that have anywhere between three to four students. And we meet once a week for eight weeks. And it's been incredible. Really? Um yeah. Well, so our first group has three young boys between the grades of 10th and 11th grade. And at our orientation, so that's week one, parents and the student come. And so at least one parent or guardian has to come to the orientation. And during the orientation, they learn the why behind Hope Above Fear and then just the program expectations, like what they can expect after that week for the next seven weeks. And then in week two, we start off with an essential question, which is what is best for you? Which that sounds so, I mean, open-ended, I suppose, right? And so then we bring it down to three additional questions, which is why do teens vape? If you had to give advice to an elementary student on why not to vape, what would it be? And why is it important to take care of your mental health? And then from those questions, we discuss it as a group. They're provided a journal, which then they use, what we allow them to call it either a journal or a notebook, that then they use throughout the duration of the program. And then once they graduate, they can take it with them. And they do like a brief reflection, and then we watch a one-minute reel, which is actually on Better Without It Instagram page. And that one-minute reel addresses the exact questions that we had just focused on as a group, that they've just reflected on in writing. And then they are tasked as a group to create a video similar to that, answering those questions. However, it is, whatever their response is, whatever their answer is, and however creative they want to be. And it has just been really amazing watching how quickly these kids who don't know each other, the only thing that some of them might have in common is the fact, well, they got caught and have now entered into this program, but they are just really unite together on this one project that they're doing. And it's just been really beautiful to watch, actually. There's not been any redirection needed. They are excited about it. Excited might not be the right word, but there's not been any grunting or moaning, or are you kidding me? Or it's just been all right, cool, let's do this. And so they're provided with different materials and then they create this video. And so that's our week two.

SPEAKER_01 6:58

And then wait, wait, all of that is week one and two that you just described. Okay, I have questions. Because do you think people would be surprised to hear that this is not a scared straight type of curriculum? I mean, I would hope not. But I mean, when when people think of traditional, I don't know, disciplinary protocols, if you will, maybe that's just is that old school and this is new school? Because we know from data that the DARE program, for example, you know, that was supposed to be a substance diversion program. And it ended up making kids' use actually increased after that DARE program, sadly. I was in the DARE program and no one asked me how I felt about stuff. Right. Do you think that's part of what makes this different?

SPEAKER_00 7:48

Is it's more about connection instead of, you know, and so yeah. So it's definitely we don't use scare tactics. You know, it's those why questions. And we really focus on instead of what they've done wrong, we focus on their strengths, we focus on their goals, we focus on what they can do to build themselves up to make a different choice. We focus on the why they're better without it, the title of the program. And it all again, I've used that word organically, but it just all organically comes together with them.

SPEAKER_01 8:25

So, what are some of the things that they're saying when you ask them these questions?

SPEAKER_00 8:29

Well, so some of the responses have been everyone else is doing it, or some of the deeper responses are I was uncomfortable in that crowd. And that made me feel more confident, which then led to us really addressing healthier ways to feel more confident, right? And a lot of that it's I mean, their words have been peer pressure, and uh it's just a social norm amongst our high school students.

SPEAKER_01 9:02

What do they say uh in response to the advice question when they're asked, if what advice would you give to an elementary school student? What are they saying with that one?

SPEAKER_00 9:12

One of them, I see the very first one was don't do it. And then that led to a, well, how did that work for you? And so, you know, kind of diving deeper into it and encouraging them to not tell somebody not to do it, because obviously that doesn't always work, right? And so some of the deeper conversations have been, it's addictive. Those words have come out of their mouths, and that has been a kind of a common topic amongst my partner and I is hearing them identify that they feel that there is an addiction and that it's hard to stop once you start, that it's not good for your lungs, or that it's not good for your overall mental health. Kids are saying this. Yeah, yeah. All of that is their feedback and their yeah, their words.

SPEAKER_01 10:00

So, how do they overcome this addiction physically in this eight-week timeframe? Because the benefits are obviously they get to stay in school, right? Like they're coming and doing this what in the evening?

SPEAKER_00 10:14

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 10:14

But all the other things in their life are the same. It's the same peer group, it's the same culture, it's the same school. They don't like immediately have like executive function skills that they didn't have prior. So, how do they kick that addiction?

SPEAKER_00 10:30

So I will say that out of our groups, we have one student in each one that I would say has openly admitted that they've struggled for more than just getting caught this one time. Like that it has been an ongoing concern among the family, right? Whereas the rest of the group really, it either was their first time, like genuinely, they just happened to have gotten caught, or they were the one holding it amongst the crowd whenever somebody walked in. So it wasn't just them, but it was in their possession. Yeah, it just happened to be in their possession. Or maybe they had done it like once or twice, but you know, again, it wasn't something that was a regular thing. So a lot of these kids really genuinely, it was a new thing. It wasn't something that's a regular occasion. And I think what this program is designed for is to catch them at that first choice of going down that direction. For the ones that have openly admitted to feeling that addiction, feeling that craving, we talk with them more about what that looks like, how that feels. Focus on when you are feeling that, and these are the things that you could do instead, right? And so then they create that list of what positive things they can do, whether that is some of those lists or there's specific songs they came up with. One of them said, take a nap with their baby blanket, which was super precious, and then brought their baby blanket in the next class to show us. I mean, because that was their support blanket. And so they were really diving into just remembering what life was like before they started that path, right? And so that just taking a nap with their baby blanket. I mean, that was like so incredible. Or going on a walk, or playing. There was a specific video game that one of them said if they just focus on it, then it distracts them. And there was several different lists that they were able to come up with and then write out their action plan of when I'm feeling this way, this is what I'll do.

SPEAKER_01 12:36

And my God, I love that they are making their own action plan. That's so empowering. Yeah. So for students that aren't opting into this diversion program, because let's just like talk about the journey. So the kid gets caught at school and then they're given option A, option B, option A, you get kicked out of school, expelled. Option B is you do this eight-week diversion program, right? Right. So for the kids that do not choose the diversion program, what are they doing? Are they just at home?

SPEAKER_00 13:04

Okay, so well, let's just backtrack a little bit. So as of right now, our contract, we are only contracted with three schools. And so this diversion program is only at this time being offered to students at those three schools. And those three schools were selected based off of relationships that had already been built with either the administrator or faculty or the students themselves. Which schools? Iskambia, PHS, and Northview. There have been other students that have been expelled from other schools that were not contracted with them at this time. So the goal is well, let's just go ahead and say it. Once this program proves success, then it will be available to all middle and high school students starting in the fall, so the new school year. So at this time, students are, whenever they are not offered this or choose not to accept this option, then they are referred to one of the alternative schools. And so that might be usually Success Academy. There was a student I know that was referred to Pay Center for Girls. So that's another option, possibly achieved, but it's typically Success Academy. And again, like I said though, like out of our students, I want to say it's about 80% of them, really, it was a first-time experience or within the first five times of experimenting. And so with them being AB honorable, with them being involved in different programs within their school, I mean, like solid students that really were doing what everybody else was doing in the gym, or if they just were the one that had it in their possession. And so to expel them and send them down a completely different path rather than offering them an option to learn, to grow, to develop a different pattern, to like one of our boys really is focused on building his confidence. Like that's his thing, is wanting to feel confident in himself enough to say, no thanks. And every week he comes in and he talks about something that he did that week that he wasn't confident about, but did it anyways, like in a positive manner, right? And so that sometimes people are innately confident and other times they just have to pretend until they build up that skill. And he has a story to share every week of him really genuinely, he set this goal and he's working on it.

SPEAKER_01 15:32

Yeah, that's incredible. Very different than like a facts-based approach. Like we're gonna tell you all the facts of what this vape pen does. What's the school policy with vape pens? Because there's different kinds of vapes, right? There's like nicotine vapes, there's THC vapes. Is it automatic expulsion zero tolerance for each, or is it different depending on what's in it?

SPEAKER_00 15:55

It is different depending on what's in it. So if it's a nicotine vape and students receive a citation, I do believe that they have started up an online program for them to start in that's provide some education and just further knowledge as to what they're actually smoking in the nicotine vapes. For the THC vapes, however, they are given 10 days of suspension. And then during that suspension time, they have a hearing with where an alternative school placement is typically provided.

SPEAKER_01 16:27

Wow. So this is a really solid alternative, it sounds like. I think so. Where is this taking place?

SPEAKER_00 16:37

So we host this at the Hope Above Fear Hope House, which actually, interestingly enough, originally, whenever we were discussing this with the district, the plan was for the program to be hosted on campus after school. And then once we met with the principals, their request was for that to not happen, that they were open to the program, but they did not want it to be located on campus for several reasons, right? And so I said, that's fine. We will have a brick and mortar, we will have a place before the start of the school year. And so I think that was probably July. And then by August, we had a place.

unknown 17:18

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 17:19

And so it was just, it was a determination of this is happening. And the only way it can happen is for us to have our own site. Of course, if we didn't have a place, then we had brainstormed like maybe churches that we could have had the location at, but it just worked out perfectly. That's cool. Who's facilitating the groups? So it's myself and then my partner, Swanita McDonald, who is the director of MAT, a medicated assistant treatment at Lakeview. So she's a licensed clinical therapist.

SPEAKER_01 17:48

Wow. Okay, that's really amazing. And who can join the program? Because we've talked about the three schools, but is it at all open to maybe a parent is listening and they're like, oh, I can see it. My kids going down this path. And I really want this holistic type of approach to help them hear their own voice. Can they be a part of it?

SPEAKER_00 18:14

So that's one way that we are choosing to do it a little bit different than Preferred County, is that we are taking students that are not just being referred by the district. So, for example, in one of our groups, we do have an 11th grader who was previously expelled earlier this year from Tate High School. And her family participates with one of our dear friends and partners, Valerie's house. And so they referred her over to us. The program was not up and running yet, but we invited her to one of our choose your story events. And so she came and she had pizza with us, and we went to a ballet, and her and I just really we just bonded. And so once the program was running, her aunt called and said that she wanted to join. So she did. And so she chose to do virtual school and is doing, she's doing great. And so she comes once a week and participates with everybody else. And she knows that it's not going to allow her back on campus, but she wanted to do it. Yeah. So essentially, if a parent notices that their child started to vape, they've caught one, they've caught two, and they are wanting to get them some type of help into some type of program, right? Well, it's once a week. And again, our students really are expressing joy and seeking ways for them to grow themselves. And it is always better to be proactive. And so that is my number one suggestion. If a parent does start to just wonder, why not just go ahead and jump on something? Right. And it's just a group.

SPEAKER_01 19:52

Just look at it like it's just a well, that's what I was gonna say. The community that you're building with it. I mean, it makes me think of like how youth group was for me growing up, but like in a secular way, like that connection, the safeness that you feel when you know that your peers are going through the same thing and all of you are trying to make better choices. That's the kind of, you know, there's peer pressure. I feel like what you're creating is pure momentum. Oh, I love that. Where you're helping kids see the future and get there together instead of just surviving one stupid moment in between class where y'all are vaping in the bathroom. Like life is much bigger than between bells in the bathroom. Yeah, for goodness sakes. Is there anything that I didn't ask you that you want to highlight before we close out?

SPEAKER_00 20:39

I just want to mention you use the word safe. And we just had this experience last night where one of our students came in and he usually comes in and he's just got this light about him and his eyes. But he came in and he just looked down and it was different. And it was our fifth class, and so we just hadn't seen him like that before. Anywho, and he sat down and tears just started falling a little bit, but he was trying to hide it. Well, we had two guests come in from UWF who were helping them because this particular group is writing a song, and so they're doing the lyrics, they're putting the music to it, and they were coming to assist with the rhythm and the lyric writing. And he definitely was not okay. And so I invited him into another room to assist with something and paused and just asked him, like, hey, what's going on? And he just started sobbing. And he's like, I have no idea why I'm crying. I was totally fine. My mom and I got into an argument and I thought that everything was okay. And then I walked inside and it was like, you know, the tears just started flowing. That right there was this moment of I totally get that. Like I get that safe place. Like that's what Valerie's house was for me is I could be fine all week. And then I would walk through the door, and it was like I sobbed for an entire hour. And it was just so meaningful. And so I said to him, I said, It's okay to cry. It's a natural human reaction to emotions and it's our body's way of cleansing itself. And, you know, I asked him if he wanted a hug. And then he just, oh, he just held on and just cried for a minute until he was done. And then once he was done, we moved on and he learned some great things on the guitar and it was a wonderful session. But that safety, that word that you use, that is exactly what we are trying to create, not just with this program, but with everything that we do with Hope Above Fear, is to give these kids hope. And we're seeing great results. We're seeing a lot of students that are coming to different programs now, not just one thing, but wanting to just be a part of everything that we're doing as much as they can. But before we close, I do want to say that if a parent wants to explore our program, this one or anything else that our organization offers, they can contact us by phone at 850-516-8744, or send us a private message on Facebook or Instagram at Hopeabove Fear. They can also reach out on our website at www.hopeabovefear.org. Thank you so much for this and thank you for all of the work that you're doing. Thank you for having me here to share that. And I do want to say that I am genuinely grateful to the Scambia County Public School District for uniting with us on providing our students with better opportunities.

SPEAKER_01 23:35

Absolutely. Cheers to that. Thanks for listening. Be sure to subscribe and share. Voices United in Education is a production of the Scambia County Public Schools.