School improvement, education reform, and student achievement -- all big issues we hear about locally and nationally.
Now, in schools throughout the region, asset building is not just a "feel good" idea- it's a key piece of the school improvement puzzle. Through the GivEm 40 Schools Initiative, school communities (teachers, staff, students, parents and administrators) are working to make their schools "asset-rich" places to learn and grow.
The initiative, a partnership between the GivEm 40 Coalition and the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District (TBAISD), began when local superintendents saw the results of the Asset Survey and were spurred to action.
"Superintendents and their staff saw an opportunity to help the 75 percent of kids who felt like they weren't part of a caring school environment," said Mike McIntyre, superintendent of TBAISD. "This became an opportunity for educators to work shoulder to shoulder with community members and parents. This is not another isolated school event, but a region-wide, sustained movement around a common vision for building healthy, successful kids."
GivEm 40 Schools focus on four aspects of school life.
Staff Empowerment "If you breathe, you're on the team." School staff members (including teachers, aides, librarians, school nurses, coaches, etc) are increasingly aware of the simple ways they can do a little more to build positive relationships with kids: • "Invisible mentoring" is an informal way that staff members help to build closer personal ties with kids who don't already have a strong relationship with at least one adult in their school.
• Simple hallway-friendly acts like adults saying "hello" to students and teachers greeting students at the classroom door with a smile are intentional norms that are improving overall school climate.
• Staff and administration are involving students in important decisions such as new building design and discipline policies. YouthFriends More than 200 adults in our region are helping schools expand the web of caring relationships around more kids. This school-based mentoring program called YouthFriends connects screened, trained community volunteers with children K-12 for one hour each week. Here's a few of the simple and rewarding ways YouthFriends volunteers are connecting with kids in schools: • Sharing lunch together
• Being a reading buddy
• Helping an older student with career guidance
• Just hanging out and being a friend
For more information on how to become a YouthFriend, visit the YouthFriends website.
Youth Engagement Youth are powerful asset-building partners! That's why so many GivEm 40 Schools have formed youth asset teams that are: Generating awareness (through newsletters, posters, etc.) about simple ways kids and adults can be better asset builders in school • Voicing ideas about programs and activities for kids
• Discussing assets with adults at inservices and staff meetings
• Organizing service projects for students in the community
• Painting murals and displaying student art to create a greater sense of beauty and belonging
Evaluation Michigan State University's Outreach Partnerships program is providing schools with tools and training to help schools define success in asset-building efforts, and measure positive shifts and changes.
For more information about asset building in the schools, contact the TBAISD's Asset Development Coordinator, Mimi Petritz Appel. You may also visit the TBAISD web.