Like many students in the past two decades, Crystal Hilstein was the first in her family to go to college. An accomplishment extremely important to her, Crystal’s continued education wasn’t going to happen unless she made it happen. That goal drove her to an intense passion for education—something that clearly started long before she became 2015 Saugus High School Teacher of the Year.
Introduced to the AVID program through her colleague Michelle, Crystal’s interest was immediately sparked. She began sitting in on classes to immerse herself in all that encompassed the program.
The AVID program provided a class for students to work out anything they are struggling with in their prep classes. It also provides the students with the much needed information, dates, and overall direction for college preparation. They also have SAT prep, college application essay practice and they learn to lean on each other for support. Reach Coordinator and English Department Chair, Crystal Hilstein always has an open door policy for students. They can always go to “Hilstein” for the real deal and the right direction.
For years she worked night and day to create “the binder” of content that would guide a new teacher into the program and give them all the necessary materials to lead a successful class. The first year Crystal ran the program two students went to university. Saugus’s college acceptance was at 27 percent and Crystal wanted more. That very next year, Saugus High reached 33 percent! The success extends beyond with two back-to-back years of 100 percent college acceptance in her course.
“The first year with AVID I had seven prep classes. It was an extremely busy time and as the year went on I also started to develop the program and break up the levels,” said Crystal.
Over the next few years the AVID program went through many changes, in curriculum, in leadership and eventually… in name. “After the AVID program was cut by the district I was given the opportunity to re-write the curriculum in hopes they would change their mind. That was when Reaching Excellence At College Heights (REACH) was born.” said Crystal.
Sadly in the end, the district didn’t keep it and currently Saugus High School is the only one in the district continuing the REACH program with no financial support from the district.
“I get 140 students a year. And sometimes they come into my class and say Hilstein is so hard. She doesn’t care that I have football practice. And they are right, I am hard… but it is for a reason. You came into my class and you asked me to help you reach your goal, and I care too much. That goal becomes part of the expectation. I expect you to have your binders ready at any moment for grading and I expect you to know the submission date for college applications,” said Crystal. “I expect them to be accountable, which is something that they will need to succeed in college and beyond.”
This class doesn’t just get students to college it prepares them for success at the college level. They will learn the skills to succeed and by the last day of school they will have the confidence, knowledge and understanding they need to be productive academic students.
So what’s next for the REACH program now? Fundraising! Plain and simple — We need to raise the much-needed funds to keep this successful program in place. The REACH program is essential to guide and support our teenagers into adulthood and provide them with the much-needed support they may be missing in other aspects of their lives.
To host a fundraiser, donate materials or funds, please contact Crystal Hilstein, Saugus High School special programs (REACH) coordinator at 661-297-3900 or email: chilstein@hartdistrict.org.