On-Campus Intervention (OCI), located in C-210, is not only the space where Berkeley High School students receive disciplinary actions — it is also a place to get support. Many students perceive OCI as a place one wants to avoid, but in reality it’s often a spot for students to tell their side of the story to an adult that wants to help.
There’s a wide variety of responses OCI may have depending on the circumstances. Sometimes, parents or guardians are called. Other times, there’s a restorative justice process. OCI decides on the best response to a situation, whether it involves greater student support, taking punitive measures, or both.
Tanzia Mucker, often known as Ms. Shorty among students, works as co-director of the BHS Million Dollar Dance Team and as a School Welfare and Attendance (SWA) specialist in the OCI office. Her role in OCI involves attendance, where she makes sure students are regularly attending class and works with students who are regularly missing class to find a solution.
“If there’s a behavioral issue, 10 times out of 10, there’s an attendance issue. Then we start to break down one thing after the next, this is not just about ‘oh, I’m in trouble’, right?’” Mucker said, “This is how can we help you out of the trouble you’re in.”
Rashad Andrews, often affectionately known as Coach Rashad, also works in the OCI office as an SWA specialist. Andrews’s job in OCI more so involves handling physical altercations at BHS, so his role more often involves disciplinary action. However, for many of the physical conflicts that fall to Andrews, oftentimes the students involved also have overlapping attendance issues — this means Mucker also helps.
Sharmila Shaik, now a junior at BHS, was intimidated by OCI until she actually went one day to visit Mucker, who she worked with on the Million Dollar Dance Team. However, Shaik quickly realized there was nothing to fear. She has been able to grow her relationship with Mucker and Andrews. “Genuinely, I’m so happy I met them (Mucker and Andrews),” Shaik said, “I go there every day.”
In OCI, Andrews and Mucker try to understand how every student has their own situation that teachers, peers, and friends may not even know about. Andrews describes that oftentimes, when students have behavioral issues, they find out the student has issues going on at home — such as not having enough to eat, or parents going through a divorce. In these situations Mucker and Andrews let students and families know they have support.
“What’s going on outside that may impact or may have caused that issue or the decision made, which is probably one of my strongest assets because why did (the student) throw that desk around the room? Like, what’s really going on?” Andrews said.
OCI is an important BHS resource. The office manages school discipline, checks in with students about their attendance, and holistically supports students’ lives.
“Most importantly, understand that we’re here for you and not against you,” Mucker said.