The PANDO room is a safe place, like it is for Shakyla Jordan and her twin sister Shakya Jordan.
The twins enjoy going to Pando Sponsor Gary Meitlers room, but it’s not just the snacks and the free time that they enjoy about the PANDO room.
“I’ll go in there in a really upset mood and he will sit and listen, make sure I feel better, give me a snack before he sends me back to class,” sophomore Shakyla Jordan said.
During one of the visits, Shakyla had mentioned a need for a car, and Mr.Meitler helped her look for a car that she and her twin sister could buy together.
“She comes in here regularly, I have had her coming in here since she was a freshman,” Meitler said.
Meitler had the opportunity to get to know Shakyla better and watch her mature over time.
“She’s made huge improvements in her behaviors or academics and her attitude,” Meitler said.
Meitler and Janet Sprecker, a board member of the Derby Education Foundation, helped Shakyla work to earn some money for the car.
“I am a member of the Pando Initiative board of directors, so I contacted Gary Meitler, the Pando SSA at DHS, and told him about the car. He then arranged the meeting where we transferred the car to Shakayla’s family,” Sprecker said.
When Shakyla took out her money to pay, Janet shook her head and revealed that it was a gift.
“I was very grateful that someone would be nice enough to help me get a car,” Shakya Jordan said.