The Redhound Way: Collaboration in Action
- Corbin Independent Schools
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 8 hours ago
How One Team Helped Adriana Find Her Place in Choir
Raiza Rivera shares the story of her daughter, Adriana, and the Corbin staff who wouldn't give up on her in choir: a real-life picture of what Collaboration looks like at Corbin High School.
Adriana loves to sing. Last year, in Corbin High School's choir class, she loved it so much that she sang over everyone else in the room.
Assistant Principal Candy Jones was doing a walkthrough one day when she heard something different coming from the choir room. She stopped, went in, and watched for a minute. Adriana was singing like she owned the stage.
Adriana is 20 years old and has autism. Ten years ago, she moved to Corbin from Puerto Rico with her mom, Raiza Rivera, and her brother, Jared. As Rivera told the story at District Day: "Autism can bring many different challenges: communication, social skills, and sensory needs."
After that walkthrough, Ms. Jones went to the choir teacher, Nick Hibbard, and asked how she could help. Hibbard told her Adriana had energy and love for the music to spare, but trouble blending with the rest of the choir. Jones knew who to call: Dawn Allen, a Corbin staff member who has since retired. Jones described her simply as "a genius." Allen met with Jones and Hibbard, and together they built a plan.
It didn't work right away. Not long after, Rivera got a phone call: Adriana was singing over everyone, not following directions, and interrupting class. Rivera did what many parents would do. She sat Adriana down at home and laid out the stakes. She repeated it every day.
A few days later, Allen called again. This time, the news was different: Adriana was doing excellently.
From there, Allen became a regular presence in the choir. Hibbard made sure Adriana had tracks to practice with at home. Both of them told her, every day, what she was getting right. Rivera says that's what stuck: "Every day she wanted to hear those words."
This is what Collaboration looks like at Corbin High School: adults who noticed what one child needed, said so to each other honestly, and leveraged what each of them knew to get her there.
Adriana didn't just settle into choir. She thrived. She performed in the choir concert. She sang at her class baccalaureate. She's sung the national anthem several times since. She went on a choir trip to Disney and was part of the show.
At District Day, Rivera closed her story with a message for the room: "Let's work together. Let's believe in our kids. Let's see their strength. Let's give them opportunities.
And most importantly, let's give them chances to shine. Because when we do, magic happens.
