From Street Smart to School Smart

This non-fiction story is about 17-year-old Jewels Odom and 13 other ex-teen prostitutes, drug dealers and gang bangers, a story that is now still being relived by thousands of girls throughout our inner cities and towns. There are an estimated 900,000 girls, ages from 10 and older, nationwide and 20 million worldwide who are involved in prostitution and sex trafficking, This story gives Jewels and her 13 "sisters" a pulpit to speak to other lost girls looking for an escape from what they call “streets of hell.” What separates Jewels from her “street sisters” is her ability to survive and succeed -- actually going to college to return as a teacher at “juvie.” This true story ends with a mixture of successes and failures, but as always, Jewels is the one who has the final say when she tries to connect with Maya Angelou, the famous poet, to be the graduation speaker.

It is with great pleasure that I write this testimonial for Dr. David Sortino’s excellent book. His excellent non-fiction story about 14 ex-teenage prostitutes, drug dealers, and gang bangers provides a poignant description of how he transformed the behaviors of at-risk teen girls while serving as their teacher and principal of a Northern California just community residential facility. What will be particularly appealing to a large number of the reading audience is the personal commentary by ex-teen prostitute, Jewels Odom. She offers an eyewitness account of her journey from her street smart to school smart experience with her so called 13 Clark Academy sisters. Moreover, this book addresses not only the journey of at-risk teen girls from juvenile hall to the Clark Academy; it also provides a voice for the 900,000 (USA) girls, ages ten and older, and 20 million worldwide who are forced into prostitution and sex trafficking. Further, this book also provides a timely and impactful account of the lives of these 14 girls, a significant account during the current Black Lives Matter movement. Finally, in my opinion, there have been many books written about at risk youth, but few have been able to truly capture the day-to-day trials and tribulations of at-risk teen girls who, regardless of all their personal challenges, pass the GED ( Graduate Education Development) test and are able to move on from a life on the streets to becoming productive citizens. This is their story.

David Sortino has over 40 years of experience as a teacher, administrator, educational consultant and neuroscientist with at-risk youth. In addition, he has a graduate degree from Harvard University, where he studied with his advisor, the late Dr. Lawrence Kohlberg. He is the father of two girls.