THURSDAY MARCH 24, 2022 Come to Our House Register Now: trentu.ca/openhouse FRI,APRIL 1 PETERBOROUGH SAT, APRIL 9 DURHAM GTA CRIME TRAFFIC WEATHER Like any parent of a Grade 12 student in their last semester of high school, Mediza Francis thinks a lot about her daughter's post-secondary plans. When she learned that the Durham District School Board (DDSB) has introduced a graduation coach for Black students, she jumped at the chance for someone to help her teen navigate. In a matter of months, Tenneia Francis went from being uncertain about university as a pathway to applying -- and being ac- DURHAM HAS ITS FIRST GRADUATION COACH FOR BLACK STUDENTS See 'THE', page 7 JILLIAN FOLLERT jfoller t@durhamregion.com Margaret Lazarus Superintendent of Education, Alicia Russell Ajax vice principle, Pine Ridge Secondary School student Tenneia Francis and Trecia Browne, graduation coach. The Durham District School Board has introduced a new graduation coach for Black students. DDSB data shows Black students have lower four-year high school graduation rates compared with students of other races. Susie Kockerscheidt/Metroland