By Nick Diamantides, Staff Writer
A new school opened in Long Beach last month, and one of its primary goals is to help teenage girls become architects, engineers, electricians, carpenters or plumbers. Named Rosie the Riveter Charter High School, it’s located in a 4,500-square-foot building on the campus of the AES Alamitos electrical generating plant on Studebaker Road. Although boys make up about half the student body, the school will make special efforts to help girls overcome obstacles that might discourage them from pursuing career paths traditionally taken by men.
“There is a lack of support for girls that want to be in non-traditional careers in the regular schools,” said Alexandria Torres Galancid, executive director of Women in Non-Traditional Employment Roles (WINTER), the non-profit organization that operates the school. “Because we are a small school, we can look at the specific needs of the boys and girls and get them the tutors and other help they might need to do well.”
The Long Beach Unified School District authorized the opening of the school, but required WINTER to make it a co-educational campus. Currently 10 boys and 10 girls attend classes there, but the student body is expected to grow to about 100 after renovations to the building are completed. Kids graduating from Rosie the Riveter will receive a high school diploma enabling them to go on to a two- or four-year college.
“The main difference between this school and most traditional high schools is that the students here will also be well-prepared to take apprenticeship exams for the various trades,” Galancid noted. She explained that it is not uncommon for teenagers to change their minds about their career paths after graduating from high school. “A student might decide he or she wants to be a carpenter and prepare to take the exam to enter the carpenter apprenticeship program,” she said. “Later, that same student might decide to go to college instead; Rosie the Riveter School will prepare the students for both of those options.”
In addition to the required high school classes, Rosie the Riveter will offer elective courses that prepare students for various apprenticeship exams. In addition, students will also be able to attend classes that introduce them to the architectural, engineering, nursing and other programs offered at community colleges in the area. “They can also enter into paid and non-paid AES internships,” Galancid said. She noted that the school is currently recruiting for students–especially girls. There is room for more pupils now even though building renovations are not complete. Young people that might not be ready to attend Rosie the Riveter now should plan on enrolling for the next semester–which begins in February–before the end of December.
WINTER was founded in Long Beach about 12 years ago. It offers vocational training, education and mentoring programs to women, conducts special conferences and works with local agencies to provide information sessions and workshops on a variety of issues faced by women. The organization has helped thousands of women who had been living below the poverty level to enter into careers with higher-than-average incomes.
Rosie the Riveter Charter High School–named after the nickname for the women who worked in the nation’s industrial plants during World War II–is WINTER’s most recent endeavor. Its five instructors will teach classes with no more than 20 students.
Lourdes Espejel, 15 years old, began attending classes at the school last month. “I know this school will open doors for me,” she said.
So’o Tautolo, 17 years old, agreed. “We love this school because it’s giving us the opportunity to have whatever career we choose,” she said.
Galancid noted that while all career paths are open to girls and boys, there is still a subtle pressure and discrimination that discourages girls from seeking non-traditional employment. “This is a fabulous program,” she said. “It will empower girls to become whatever they want to become.”
For more information on Rosie the Riveter School or WINTER, phone (562) 431-0302, extension 108.
