MUSCATINE, Iowa — When 14-year-old Cassie Fritz learned she was going to have a baby, she began concentrating on becoming a good role model for her future child.

Her first step toward that goal was ensuring her graduation from Muscatine High School.

Fritz, like many other MHS students, found the school has  programming in place to help   students overcome obstacles to staying in school and getting their diploma.  

“After I found out I was pregnant, I wanted to finish school as fast as I could,” said Fritz, whose daughter, Taylor, is now   years old. “My teachers told me what classes I needed and said I could finish.”

Fritz took courses at the MHS Accelerated Learning Center’s NovaNet lab to earn some of the 22 credits required for graduation. The NovaNet lab provides computerized classes  students can complete at their own pace to catch up or gain extra credits.

That lab and two other NovaNet labs at West and Central Middle School, were established in 1999 with a $416,621 grant from Carver Charitable Trust.

Ongoing staffing, maintainence and energy costs associated with labs total about $150,000 a year and are budgeted through the District’s general fund and at-risk program monies.

Mary Wildermuth, director of special projects for the District, said approximately 200 students recovered academic credits or come back to school this year with the help of the Accelerated Learning Center.

“The teachers at MHS welcomed our daughter with open arms,” said Cassie’s father, Charles Fritz.

 Charles said the MHS staff made it possible for her to accept her parents’ support while retaining her independence as a mother by providing a day-care site at the school.

“That way, my parents could live their own lives, and I could live mine,” said Cassie, who is now 17.  

Cassie’s teachers helped her apply for college scholarships as she neared graduation in the spring of 2005. Since then, she’s completed her administrative and office support certification at Muscatine Community College.

“Cassie graduated from high school a year early and was done with her first college courses when her classmates were still finishing high school,” said Cassie’s older sister, Shana Delgado.

Cassie Fritz said she is completing two more classes at MCC that will complete the requirements she needs to become a medical transcriptionist.

An inspiration

Anna Cantu, 16, said someone like Fritz inspires her as she completes high school at MHS and cares for her 3-month-old daughter, Alexa Cantu.

 Cantu, a junior, is on time with her credits, and she is using the NovaNet lab this summer to get ahead of schedule.

She said one of her teachers, Chris Clark, an English-as-a-second-language teacher who retired this year, has offered to help her apply for scholarships as she finishes high school.

“I get good grades,” said Cantu. “And Mrs. Clark told me how I could get a good job if I go to college. I want to go to the University of Iowa and become a pediatric nurse.”

Cantu is also receiving encouragement from her family.

Her husband, Donald Cantu, graduated from MHS in 2003 and attended MCC.

“He wants me to finish. too,” said Cantu, who is scheduled to graduate next spring.

Now, Cantu said it’s her turn to be an inspiration to others.

Especially her two older sisters and three younger siblings.

“My two older sisters dropped out of high school when they got pregnant. I want to show them they can still do something with their lives,” said Cantu. “I want to show my mom, Gloria Urbina, I can do this.”

Zech Perales, 17, said his teachers and MHS assistant principal Tom Chiles were patient with him as he struggled through high school over the past three years.

“I was messing up, making bad decisions and missing classes,” said Perales. “But they put up with me for the past couple years. They wanted to help me out.”

Perales said being suspended from school about six weeks ago caused him to take a hard look at his behavior and his future.

“I was acting silly and ended up in the office practically every day,” he said. “Then I was suspended and had to start going to night school at the Accelerated Learning Center at night. I couldn’t come back on campus during the day for the rest of this year.”

Students give credit

Perales, Fritz and Cantu all credited the Accelerated Learning Center instruction staff, coordinator Angela Cerny and teachers, Renee Hyink and Ann Hermann, with providing daily encouragement.

“I decided I wanted to finish school and go to college,” said Perales. “I want to become a chef.”

Perales looks forward to graduating on time with his class  next year. He’s making up the six credits he missed over the past three years using the NovaNet summer program. He can also finish credits using NovaNet  during the regular school year.

Perales said his mom, Patti Perales, is happy to see his turn around. “She’s proud of me,” said Perales. “She’s surprised I was thinking about the future.”

Contact Cynthia Beaudette at

563-263-2331, ext. 323, or cynthia.beaudette@muscatinejournal.com