A concerted effort between the high schools within the Manteca Unified School District and the Manteca Police Department is aiming at educating students on gang problems through an outreach program.

Manteca Police gang officer Jason Hensley was working with Manteca High’s new Vice Principal Troy Fast in addressing the needs of the Yosemite Avenue school’s student body.

Hensley said that Fast is doing an excellent job and added that he relates well with the kids. Fast primarily serves as an advisor to the gang prevention outreach into the school district that includes five different campuses including Sierra, Manteca, East Union, Lathrop and Weston Ranch.

“Troy has brought some strong insight that we are going to be implementing this year into our gang assemblies,” Hensley said.

The new MHS vice principal has a broad background in education having taught math and science and having also been as resource behavior specialist in the Bay Area.  His wife Rochelle teaches English and psychology at Lathrop High School.

“Both of them – Troy and Rochelle – are pretty much out-of-the-box thinkers doing some different things on their campuses,” Hensley said.  “Troy, as far as Manteca High is concerned, has really brought a difference to that campus as far as the outreach to its students.”

“Our administrative team, with our new Principal Frank Gonzales and Vice Principal Raul Mora,  is an awesome team,” Fast said. “We work together in helping kids improve themselves both academically and in making good choices for their future.”

He added that officer Hensley has been a “solid component” this year in spending time at the school and working with students with the gang prevention outreach and with supplying the school with additional resources with the campus chaplains who are on board this year.  Fast added that school resource Officer April Smith definitely contributes to the well being of the students in a positive way as well.