Leny Valerio-Buford Department: Senior Director Years with Upward Bound: 7 years I'm the mother of a volatile, funny, temperamental but wonderfully talented 16 year old.  At work, I'm the mother of 72 volatile, funny, temperamental but wonderfully talented teens, some of whom appear to be 16 going on 30 and others appear to be 16 going on to 12

Tell one funny event that happened in your life.

From the moment my daughter was born, I could count everyday as a laugh a minute.  When she hit her teen years, I discovered that the laugh's on me.

Why did you decide to join the program?

The chance to work in education without the confining structure of public secondary schools.

What do you like the most about the program?

The small classes, the freedom we have to design our own classes, the opportunities given to students in the program, and the fact that former students come back no longer just students but wonderful friends.

What do you think about the students in the program?

Great kids- assertive, smart, hopeful.   Generally, the kind of kids who will go for life.