Penikese Island School

CONTACT:

Box 161
Woods Hole, MA 02543
(508) 548-7276 x 203
www.penikese.org

Toby T. Lineaweaver, MA, LMHC, Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

Penikese Island School (Cat.'99) is the sole inhabitant of a small island 12 miles southwest of Woods Hole, near Cuttyhunk. It has only nine students at a time; they are very troubled "last chance" teenage boys, referred by the criminal justice system, the Department of Social Services, or schools. They live with the dedicated school staff as a family and they do chores to help run the place. This is the first stable, warm, supportive environment these boys have ever known, and though they stay there for only 6-10 months, it makes a deep impression — 70% are not re-arrested, and 80% are not re-incarcerated. The school's success rate is double that of jail and boot camps. MCAS test scores also support the good work the school is doing; students average 92% in math, 77% in English.

How does it succeed? Site and staff are crucial, and they say the students are "usually smart, energetic, and of deep character. What they lack is proper motivation, self-esteem, and direction..." This analysis informs everything Penikese does. Their Aftercare Program follows-through with help during the dangerous re-entry into the real world. It offers stable, supportive relationships between staff and students to ease the transition from the Island back to their environments, and gives graduates a place to return for strength and renewal.

(2001: CULTURE: Education: Formal: Schools)