Associate Superintendent of Student Services, Student Wellness and Success

Our mission at the Warren City School District is to create pathways of success for all learners. With 18 years of professional experience at the high school level, I’ve recognized that success upon graduation truly does favor those who prepare for it. As the Associate Superintendent of Student Services, Student Wellness & Success I work to identify and address areas of the schooling experience that would enable our students to realize their highest level of academic success.

This starts upon enrollment as the Department of Student Services identifies any language, housing, health, and educational needs of our families upon enrollment. As students move through Warren City Schools we strive to keep a finger on the pulse of the climate in our buildings through survey results, and by regular review of behavior and attendance data. School counselors are responsive to these needs in their school-wide social-emotional learning (SEL) programming. Our school-family liaisons also meet identified needs through building-wide and individualized support services. Additionally, students have access to more targeted behavior interventions and mental health supports to help cultivate behaviors that will lead to their classroom success.

The Warren City Schools is proud of our partnership with Akron Children’s Hospital which makes school-based health clinics available to students in each of our buildings. This partnership has already been proven to address barriers related to managing chronic illness such as diabetes and asthma and reduce time missed from school for routine medical checkups. This service not only keeps our students healthy but saves both parents and students valuable time.

Recognizing that we as a staff, must be at our collective best to meet the dynamic needs of our students, a growing focus has been placed on staff wellness. Bi-weekly newsletters, collaboration, and trauma-informed workshops have been initiated to bring increased awareness and build capacity on recognizing our strengths and needs and identifying how we can best support each other and ourselves.

We are excited that these resources, which fall under the umbrella of Student Wellness & Success will be enhanced with the fall 2024 opening of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center on the campus of Warren G. Harding High School. As a graduate of this district and resident of Warren, I am proud of the support that is available to our students and families. Supports that will prepare our students to follow and find success on whichever pathway they choose upon graduation.

Mr. Dante Capers