School teacher Lisa Tyler, center, grades papers while students David Heidrick, left, 18, and Dallas Scales, 19, do schoolwork at an alternative school in Spencer. Staff photo by Jeremy Hogan

SPENCER — There's a two-room school in Owen County where a young schoolmarm teaches 75 students in grades seven through 12.

But it's not your grandpa's schoolhouse. Instead of a wood stove, students hover around computers. Rows of wooden desks are gone, replaced by upholstered furniture. Buzzers signaling the start of class never buzz. This school runs on flextime, with contemporary music in the background.

Flextime is crucial at the 3-year-old Spencer-Owen alternative school, because all high-school-age students are required to have jobs and fit class time around their work schedules.

To accommodate them, the school stays open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.

At 25, school director Lisa Tyler looks younger than some of her pupils.

The Crawfordsville native graduated from Indiana University in 1998 and was hired by Spencer-Owen schools that very fall to start a new alternative school. Even though she'd never been a full-time teacher, she didn't lack experience.

During two summers as an education major at IU, she worked for the Department of Education teaching children of migrant workers.

"I was a traveling school teacher," she said. "I traveled around the state to work with toddlers, elementary kids and high school students, and it was a lot of fun."

Spencer-Owen superintendent Terry McDaniel said Tyler's work with migrant students helped qualify her to develop the alternative program. He regards her youthfulness and lack of classroom experience as assets.

Alternative school student Dallas Scales, 19, talks with social worker Deanna Cummins about a class assignment Thursday. Staff photo by Jeremy Hogan

"Since she's closer to the age of her students, they relate a lot more quickly to her," he said, "and we felt it was best to have someone in that program who didn't have preconceived notions about teaching."

Social worker Deanna Cummins agrees.

For the past three semesters, Cummins has helped Tyler keep the expanding school on task.

A "Jane-of-all-trades" in the classroom, Cummins teaches life skills while helping new students find necessary employment.

"It's good that Lisa was never a regular teacher," Cummins said, "because this is not a regular classroom. The traditional classroom doesn't work for these kids. That's why they're here."

According to Tyler, the school is more than a last resort for students at risk. It's also a first choice for some teens.

Tyler recalled how the alternative school helped one girl to finish sooner than expected.

"She came to us last November needing only four credits to graduate," Tyler said. "At high school they have seat-time requirements and she'd have to attend every day until the end of the year. By coming here, she was able to finish those credits quickly and now she has a diploma-required job at Boston Scientific and she likes it."

Tyler admits not every alternative student is that motivated, but all enjoy one-on-one mentoring in a low-pressure environment. It's a formula that seems to work.

"The alternative school program has gone crazy with success," McDaniel said.

Reporter David Horn can be reached at 331-4307 or by e-mail at dhorn@heraldt.com.