Dr. CJ Huff, former superintendent of Joplin Schools, had a problem in spring of 2010. He was tasked with getting the graduation rate up. Like so many communities across the nation, many Joplin students struggle with poverty and often a lack of parental involvement. Teachers spent much of their time, and often their own money, meeting student’s basic needs. No longer just a school issue, low graduation rates were identified as a community concern. This session will discuss how the school and community came together to ensure success for their student population.