Peer-to-peer support is helping young people find healthy alternatives to suspension

A year ago, Daezon Rodriques, 16 was a student at Bear River High School and made a choice that could have led to suspension.

He was referred to RAYS, Restorative Accountable Youth Solutions, a  youth-led alternative to suspension program, and since then, has turned his life around. Now, a Junior at Silver Springs High School, he is a student team member of the program, helping others get back on track.

“This experience helps people. I was there once. As you grow up you learn things,” said Rodriques who now enjoys the discipline of Mixed Martial Arts and wants to join the military after high school.

On Thursday, Rodriques was among 70 students from Nevada County schools who came together on the Camp Del Oro campus on Lake Vera Road in Nevada City for a full day of training that will help them support their peers and find positive alternatives to suspension. 

The team members huddled in small groups in the multipurpose room, learning how to “hold circles” for other students and create restorative plans as an alternative to punitive discipline.

“I’m pretty good with talking to people, especially deep talks. I’ve always been taught to love and put positivity out. I definitely think, just being real, being honest and listening to what others have to say, it helps,” said Rodriques, one of seven students who have gone through the program and is now a team member helping others.

The program is having a positive impact on student lives at Lyman Gilmore Middle School, Bear River High School, Nevada Union High School and Silver Springs High School.

While it’s not a miracle cure and reoffense happens, the program provides hope.

“It’s a pretty amazing program. We’re starting our fourth school year and have supported 150 students that would have been suspended,” said Marlene Mahurin, Program Coordinator of Intervention Services at Nevada County Superintendent of Schools. By avoiding suspension, students increase their likelihood of graduating.

How it works

Students are referred to the intervention program and they volunteer to participate.

 “In order to choose it they have to take accountability for what they did. They have to own it,” said Mahurin.

Team members are also volunteers and do not get credit for their time. Regardless, the enthusiasm to join is growing. Mahurin is pleasantly surprised at how popular it is among students who want to help their peers be successful.

“We had no idea how impactful it would be for student team members. It really impacts the school community as a whole in a really positive way. Lots of students have natural empathy, that’s why they are drawn to it,” said Mahurin.

As part of the confidential intake process, five student team members explain what to expect. An adult helps to supervise the “circles” but the students run the show. Team members ask a series of questions in a structured conversation to help create a restorative plan. They are not counselors and do not give advice. Instead team members gain trust by practicing listening skills like making eye contact, asking questions and being supportive.

“It’s all about connection and building relationships,” said Mahurin.

“The questions we ask, helps them think about what they’ve done,” said Kai Krueger, 14, a freshman at Nevada Union High School.

“Our program has grown so much. This is an awesome way to give people support instead of punitive discipline. It’s a good opportunity for people to learn from their mistakes in a healthy way. It really is changing people’s lives,” said Gabby Gerster, 17, a senior at Bear River High School.

Gerster has been in the program since the beginning. She says being involved with the program builds confidence and she and other team members give presentations to hundreds of freshmen and sophomores each year.

A 30-day RAYS plan includes the student coming back and sitting in a circle for another student going through the program, so they can see they are not alone and have the experience of supporting a peer. It’s a restorative practice for everyone involved.

“The idea is that they are not alone and they can give back to the school community,” said Mahurin.

Students give back to their campus by completing a community engagement project. Students build flower beds, paint murals, host jewelry making classes, participate in culinary programs and more.

Students receive social support, too, such as sessions with a RAYS counselor, peer tutor or substance use education and intervention. They also help repair any harm caused by their choice. By confronting the uncomfortable feeling of hearing from someone who was negatively impacted by their actions, they help to repair relationships and start the healing process.

“They are usually surprised to learn how impacted the person was. They get to hear that,” said Mahurin.

“Instead of breaking a relationship with a teacher, they rebuild it,” said Conner Murray, a freshman at NUHS. He has been a team member in the RAYS program with his friend Kai Krueger for three years, since the time he was a student at Lyman Gilmore.

How it started and how it’s going

Mahurin came up with the idea that first got off the ground in 2021 with a pilot program at Silver Springs High School. She and Steve Hansen created every component of the program that has the potential to serve as a model for other schools throughout the state. Hansen is the Restorative Practices Coordinator for Nevada Joint Union High School District.

Initial funding for RAYS came from a 3-year $1 million Prop. 64 Grant. The Adult Use of Marijuana Act was a 2016 voter initiative to legalize cannabis in California and a percentage of tax revenue is set aside for youth struggling with marijuana use.

Upwards of 85 percent of the students in the RAYs program are there for substance abuse. High school data shows 30 percent of the student body has used marijuana in the last 30 days. At some schools, that percentage is higher than 50 percent. Some students, without other coping tools, can’t get through the school day without it, says Mahurin.

“Those students are usually quite dependent on it. It’s definitely a big part of the school community,” said Mahurin.

Ditching class and chronic absenteeism is another common reason for suspension.

Recently, Nevada Union High School was awarded a competitive $1.5 million grant, as one of only eight high schools in California through the Children’s Partnership Peer-to-Peer program. Organizers are seeking funding for other school sites as popularity and success grows.

“One of the things we’ve all learned from going through it is that none of us are our bad choices. It’s not who we are. Usually students are making these choices because there are hard things they are dealing with. We want all the students to know we are rooting for them and we’re here for them,” Mahurin.

For more information, visit: https://nevco.org/rays/