Cartersville Middle School Cartersville Middle School

Graduation Coach/SpecialistAlfreda Sullivan

Graduation Coach/SpecialistAlfreda Sullivan

Graduation Coach Priorities

Graduation Coach Priorities

8th Grade CRCT scores: Review 7th grade scores for remediation needs. This is a “gateway” exam to high school!

Attendance: Students missing over 15 days in the previous year or under 80% currently.

Retained Students: Look for repeaters and/or a history of retention. The Dropout risk multiplies with each grade retained.

Failed Core Courses/Poor CRCT scores: Low Math and Reading scores must be remedied EARLY.

Poor behavior: History of poor behavior marks and suspensions increase the dropout risk.

Transitions: These are the fragile years! Focus must be on transition programs into and out of middle school.

8th Grade CRCT scores: Review 7th grade scores for remediation needs. This is a “gateway” exam to high school!

Attendance: Students missing over 15 days in the previous year or under 80% currently.

Retained Students: Look for repeaters and/or a history of retention. The Dropout risk multiplies with each grade retained.

Failed Core Courses/Poor CRCT scores: Low Math and Reading scores must be remedied EARLY.

Poor behavior: History of poor behavior marks and suspensions increase the dropout risk.

Transitions: These are the fragile years! Focus must be on transition programs into and out of middle school.

Communities In SchoolsCommunities In Schools

Communities in Schools is an organization in Georgia that has taken on a commitment to work with the Georgia Department of Education to provide support to ensure the success of every graduation coach and to help decrease and possibly end the graduation dropout rate and increase the graduation rate.

At the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year, there were 29 operational Performance Learning Centers (PLC’s) in Georgia. A Performance Learning Center is a unique non-traditional learning environment for high school students who are not succeeding in traditional schools.

Communities in Schools website address is www.cisga.org

Communities in Schools is an organization in Georgia that has taken on a commitment to work with the Georgia Department of Education to provide support to ensure the success of every graduation coach and to help decrease and possibly end the graduation dropout rate and increase the graduation rate.

At the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year, there were 29 operational Performance Learning Centers (PLC’s) in Georgia. A Performance Learning Center is a unique non-traditional learning environment for high school students who are not succeeding in traditional schools.

Communities in Schools website address is www.cisga.org

Graduation TeamGraduation Team

A graduation team may consist of administrators, teachers, advisors, counselors, school social workers, etc. The graduation team may consist of the leadership or RTI team. The purpose for the graduation team is:

A. To help identify at-risk students. B. Access school and student needs. C. Develop and coordinate appropriate interventions.

A graduation team may consist of administrators, teachers, advisors, counselors, school social workers, etc. The graduation team may consist of the leadership or RTI team. The purpose for the graduation team is:

A. To help identify at-risk students. B. Access school and student needs. C. Develop and coordinate appropriate interventions.

State CMS CRCT Results (2007-2008 School Year)State CMS CRCT Results (2007-2008 School Year)

Total Number of Ethnicity Failures (Males & Females) & Total Number of Testers in each Ethnicity Group (See next slide for breakdown of numbers).

Total Number of Ethnicity Failures (Males & Females) & Total Number of Testers in each Ethnicity Group (See next slide for breakdown of numbers).

0

50

100

150

200

250

Males Females Total #Testers

3-D Column 1CaucasianAfrican AmericanHispanic Multi-RacialAsian/Pacific American Indian

CRCT Test Takers - (2007-2008 School Year)Total Number of Ethnicity Failures (Males & Females)

& Total Number of Testers in each Ethnicity Group

CRCT Test Takers - (2007-2008 School Year)Total Number of Ethnicity Failures (Males & Females)

& Total Number of Testers in each Ethnicity Group

Males Females Total # in Group

of Testers

Caucasian 12 14 179African American 16 10 75Hispanics 5 7 47Multi-Racial 1 4 17Asian/Pacific/Island 0 0 0American Indian 0 0 10 0 0

Males Females Total # in Group

of Testers

Caucasian 12 14 179African American 16 10 75Hispanics 5 7 47Multi-Racial 1 4 17Asian/Pacific/Island 0 0 0American Indian 0 0 10 0 0

Percentage of CMS CRCT Failures in each Ethnicity Group (2007-2008 School Year)

(See next slide for breakdown of numbers).

Percentage of CMS CRCT Failures in each Ethnicity Group (2007-2008 School Year)

(See next slide for breakdown of numbers).

Cauca.A. Amer.HispanicMulti-Race

Asian/P.Amer. Ind.

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%

Percentage of CRCT Failures in each Ethnicity Group (2007-2008 School Year)

Percentage of CRCT Failures in each Ethnicity Group (2007-2008 School Year)

Caucasians 15% African Americans 35% Hispanics 26% Multi-Racial 29% Asian Pacific 0% American Indians 0%

Caucasians 15% African Americans 35% Hispanics 26% Multi-Racial 29% Asian Pacific 0% American Indians 0%

Graduation Coach Incentive ProgramGraduation Coach Incentive Program

Grad Coach Star Students of The Month(2007-2008 School Year)

September 07- Brandon ColeOctober 07- Christian Brock

November 07- Yanelly Martinez December 07- Darian Lyons January 08 - Damian Diaz February 08 – David NollMarch 08 – LaTerry Hardy April 08 – Destinee FarmerMay 08 - Veronica Sanchez

This program was created to reward students who excel academically. They are rewarded with a certificate, T-Shirt with school logo, other small items, and his or her photo displayed in The Graduation Coach Star Student of the Month showcase. Each month, the star student’s name and the congratulatory message is read with the morning announcements school-wide.

Grad Coach Star Students of The Month(2007-2008 School Year)

September 07- Brandon ColeOctober 07- Christian Brock

November 07- Yanelly Martinez December 07- Darian Lyons January 08 - Damian Diaz February 08 – David NollMarch 08 – LaTerry Hardy April 08 – Destinee FarmerMay 08 - Veronica Sanchez

This program was created to reward students who excel academically. They are rewarded with a certificate, T-Shirt with school logo, other small items, and his or her photo displayed in The Graduation Coach Star Student of the Month showcase. Each month, the star student’s name and the congratulatory message is read with the morning announcements school-wide.

Graduation Coach Incentive ProgramGraduation Coach Incentive Program

Grad Coach Star Students of The Month

(2008-2009 School Year)September 08 - Alex BargerOctober 08 - Morgan Woods

November 08- Rigoberto Reyes December 08 - Whitney Edmondson

January 09 - Ezekiel Beasley February 09 – Marissa Trevino

March 09 - Dylan Culver April 09 - Adrienne JacksonMay 09 - (To Be Announced)

This program was created to reward students who excel academically. They are rewarded with a certificate, T-Shirt with school logo, other small items, and his or her photo displayed in The Graduation Coach Star Student of the Month showcase. Each month, the star student’s name and the congratulatory message is read with the morning announcements school-wide.

Grad Coach Star Students of The Month

(2008-2009 School Year)September 08 - Alex BargerOctober 08 - Morgan Woods

November 08- Rigoberto Reyes December 08 - Whitney Edmondson

January 09 - Ezekiel Beasley February 09 – Marissa Trevino

March 09 - Dylan Culver April 09 - Adrienne JacksonMay 09 - (To Be Announced)

This program was created to reward students who excel academically. They are rewarded with a certificate, T-Shirt with school logo, other small items, and his or her photo displayed in The Graduation Coach Star Student of the Month showcase. Each month, the star student’s name and the congratulatory message is read with the morning announcements school-wide.

Educational/Career Field Trips For CMS StudentsEducational/Career Field Trips For CMS Students

On January 24, 2008, Mrs. Sullivan, Cartersville Middle School Graduation Coach took 25 middle school students on an educational/career field trip to North Metro Technical College. The purpose of the field trip was for motivational and educational purposes.

On March 20, 2009, Mrs. Sullivan took 26 middle school students on an educational/career field trip, and it was a success just like last year. The purpose of these field trips is to motivate our students and to begin their career-building skills. All 26 students were great and behaved professionally per our expectations and as representatives from Cartersville Middle School. We toured Cartersville High School Career Center, Georgia Highlands College, and North Metro Technical College. Our tour guides were excellent and went above and beyond to make our visits worthwhile. The teachers who assisted me were Mrs. Haley Davis and Mr. Blake Dudley.

The middle school students are chosen to visualize how pertinent education is and what it takes to reach a particular milestone in one's life. Some students have expressed a desire in attending one of the aforementioned institutions. Hopefully, visiting the college campuses had a very positive impact on most of their lives and definitely embarked the beginning stages of their career-building paths.

On January 24, 2008, Mrs. Sullivan, Cartersville Middle School Graduation Coach took 25 middle school students on an educational/career field trip to North Metro Technical College. The purpose of the field trip was for motivational and educational purposes.

On March 20, 2009, Mrs. Sullivan took 26 middle school students on an educational/career field trip, and it was a success just like last year. The purpose of these field trips is to motivate our students and to begin their career-building skills. All 26 students were great and behaved professionally per our expectations and as representatives from Cartersville Middle School. We toured Cartersville High School Career Center, Georgia Highlands College, and North Metro Technical College. Our tour guides were excellent and went above and beyond to make our visits worthwhile. The teachers who assisted me were Mrs. Haley Davis and Mr. Blake Dudley.

The middle school students are chosen to visualize how pertinent education is and what it takes to reach a particular milestone in one's life. Some students have expressed a desire in attending one of the aforementioned institutions. Hopefully, visiting the college campuses had a very positive impact on most of their lives and definitely embarked the beginning stages of their career-building paths.

Graduation Coach WebsiteGraduation Coach Website

I created a website for parents, teachers, students, etc., to view. I update my website periodically, so viewers are aware of my connectivity with CMS middle school students. There is also a page with various links including educational and academic links for students and parents to explore.

Check it out and be sure to register by including a contact email address. My website is www.schoolrack.com/asullivan

I created a website for parents, teachers, students, etc., to view. I update my website periodically, so viewers are aware of my connectivity with CMS middle school students. There is also a page with various links including educational and academic links for students and parents to explore.

Check it out and be sure to register by including a contact email address. My website is www.schoolrack.com/asullivan

Tool Kit for Hispanic FamiliesTool Kit for Hispanic Families

I have a tool kit specifically for Hispanic families. (Please see me for further information).

This tool kit is designed to benefit those who are economically, socially, or educationally disadvantaged.

I have a tool kit specifically for Hispanic families. (Please see me for further information).

This tool kit is designed to benefit those who are economically, socially, or educationally disadvantaged.

Graduation Coach Tactics for Decreasing The Dropout Rate

Graduation Coach Tactics for Decreasing The Dropout Rate

Besides the Star Student of the Month Incentive Program, other tactics or services have been successful. They include:

My interaction with students one on one or as a small group.

Educational/Career Field Trips

CMS after school tutorial program, Boy’s & Girl’s Club tutorial program, Hand’s of Christ tutorial program, etc.

Mentoring - currently, we have mentors for our middle school students and this program has been successful, thus far. Our mentors are referred by the local Chamber of Commerce. The mentors must complete a training program through the Chamber before pairing with a CMS student.

My thoughts are to work with the PTC and get parents more involved in mentoring as well.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor, you may contact me at (770) 382-3666 or contact the local Chamber of Commerce.

Besides the Star Student of the Month Incentive Program, other tactics or services have been successful. They include:

My interaction with students one on one or as a small group.

Educational/Career Field Trips

CMS after school tutorial program, Boy’s & Girl’s Club tutorial program, Hand’s of Christ tutorial program, etc.

Mentoring - currently, we have mentors for our middle school students and this program has been successful, thus far. Our mentors are referred by the local Chamber of Commerce. The mentors must complete a training program through the Chamber before pairing with a CMS student.

My thoughts are to work with the PTC and get parents more involved in mentoring as well.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor, you may contact me at (770) 382-3666 or contact the local Chamber of Commerce.