YDI-Elev8 New Mexico eBlast January 2017
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West Mesa Launches 'Exciting' EWI Project
Coordinator Delma Madrigal (left) and EWI Coordinator Krista Gordon
An Early Warning Indicators (EWI) project has been implemented at Albuquerque's West Mesa High School, a YDI-Elev8 community school, to help students succeed academically. The project builds on YDI-Elev8's initial EWI effort launched at Grant Middle School in 2015, and is re-designed to meet West Mesa's unique needs as a high school.

"It's exciting," said Krista Gordon, West Mesa's EWI coordinator.  She joins Elev8's community engagement coordinator, Delma Madrigal, and the school's EWI team in charting the project's success.  "We flipped the ABCs for EWIs--attendance, behavior and courses," Gordon said.  The focus is on courses, attendance and behavior, plus another "B"--barriers, which integrates the strategies of a community school initiative to create a stronger EWI project.

Key insights from the project thus far include that long-term math substitute teachers in middle school may have contributed to foundational challenges for learning math in 9th grade and that students who miss weekly check-ins with Gordon face non-academic barriers like access to food or clothing; however, those who make meetings have those needed resources.   "We have to look within the existing systems" for clues to what is holding students back, Madrigal said.

Gordon and Madrigal are highly qualified for this work:  Gordon is certified to teach science and math, has always worked in the classroom and is West Mesa's tutoring coordinator.  Madrigal is in her third year at West Mesa and leads the school's community school strategy.

Madrigal  said, "There are several schools in the district doing EWI projects.  Ours meets the needs at West Mesa.  Through the Albuquerque Public Schools professional learning community on EWI projects, we're sharing once a month and discussing how the district can support us."

Thirty-eight students are being served through the project.  Students, who are identified based on their 8th grade math scores, volunteer for the project.   Math is the focus because students who fail core courses like Algebra I in their first year of high school are significantly less likely to graduate on time.

Gordon provides mentoring, tutoring and meets with students in groups of 10 at least weekly on academics.  Students assess their progress each week. Interventions include ST Math, a blended learning math solution, and a growth mindset model that gauges how students perceive their abilities.  Monthly progress reports are sent to parents that include any failing grades.  Madrigal meets resource needs through West Mesa's Family Resource Center.

"The students know that someone on campus cares.  We're creating another safe place and have opened the door for them," Gordon said.  
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Remembering Tori
Our deepest condolences to Dr. Vickie Bannerman, principal at Albuquerque's Wilson Middle School, who lost her daughter in December.  A Go Fund Me page has been established to help the family with travel and funeral expenses.  For more information, click here .

Grant's Community School Coordinator Loves Job!
Grant Coordinator Melissa McDonald, center, with
VISTAs Claire Wollerman and Josh Cervantes
"I love it," said Melissa McDonald, community engagement coordinator at YDI-Elev8's Grant Middle School, a full-service community school in Albuquerque, of her job.  "The community, teachers, staff--I like this type of work."

McDonald's love of Grant and dedication to Elev8's initiative show.  During this year's fall semester, her first, she's attracted new partners and supporters.

Before the school's doors opened in August, McDonald had nailed a $2,000 donation of furniture, including sofas and tables, from Ashley Furniture HomeStore for Elev8's Family Resource Center at Grant, which is Elev8's hub for parents and students providing access to resources and supports.

For Thanksgiving baskets for families, she was determined to include inviting pies.  Once again, her enthusiasm won the day, convincing Village Inn to donate 60 pies from 10 different  restaurants.  A manager even delivered all 60 to the school.  "The families loved the pies," she said.
Grant's clothing bank offers new items from Target 

She convinced Target to come on board, too, providing new clothing donations for Grant's  clothing bank.   Eventually, she wants to have enough clothing on hand to better outfit students' siblings.   

Target's dona tions started in September and have continued every three weeks.  The new clothing fills up the truck bed and extra seating when McDonald's YDI AmeriCorps VISTA, Josh Cervantes, loads the donations in his truck.   She shares donations of diapers, baby clothes and shoes with YDI's Head Start program.

Clothing matters to student success.  McDonald said that one student who had good grades was unable to participate in P.E. because he lacked athletic shoes.  The $15 to $35 for the shoes was too much for the family's budget.  "The student was thrilled to get the shoes and his grades improved in P.E.," she said.

McDonald has also embraced Elev8's Early Warning Indicators (EWI) project, which was piloted at Grant last fall.  She handles a caseload of 21 Tier II EWI students who need case management.  "All the students see me once a week.  Some I focus on attendance, some on attendance and grades," she said.  "I start with no more zeros and move from there."   One student was missing school due to frequent headaches.  "I resolved this by being a caring adult and providing options and support," she said.   McDonald's now ready for her new YDI AmeriCorps VISTA, Claire Wollerman, to begin working with students on the Tier II waiting list.

YDI-Elev8 Program Manager Arnold Ontiveros said, "Grant is at a place that's at its best.  We've made so much progress here.  Melissa and the VISTAs have been a blessing."   McDonald has gained important insights.  "I'm just appreciative of what I have and who I have," she said.

Her new mission is to attract mentors to Grant.  Principal Paul Roney is targeting students whose math proficiency has lagged, and McDonald is hoping companies like Target will help.  True to form, she's already contacted Target, with others on her list soon to see her.

Interested in supporting McDonald's effort at Grant?  Call (505) 299-2113, ext. 30558.  She's excited to hear from you!

Volunteerism is 'Third Career' for Wilson VISTA
YDI-Elev8's Wilson staff are VISTAs Elena Fletcher, left, and Natasha Robson, right.  In the center is Coordinator Katie Hellebust
The last straw was a broken zipper on her coat, sending Elena Fletcher on a journey back home to San Antonio, Texas, from New York City, and, ultimately, to Albuquerque's Wilson Middle School to work with YDI-Elev8's community school initiative.
 
"I wanted to get more involved in the nonprofit world and get more experienced in what nonprofits offer," she said.  After researching Youth Development, Inc., Fletcher was excited by the range of services it offers and applied to be an AmeriCorps VISTA.
 
Now in her "third career," as she calls it, Fletcher, with YDI-Elev8 since August, is standing on familiar ground, literally.  When she first moved to Albuquerque, she lived in the International District, which is home to Wilson.  But it's her commitment to children that resonates in her work as a VISTA.   Ultimately, she said, "I want (children) to wake up in an environment with a positive feeling."
 
At Wilson, Fletcher has worked to develop community partnerships and relations.  One effort brought Highland High School's AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) students to Wilson for tutoring during a recent Homework Diner.  Another effort has provided mentorship by the University of New Mexico's Emerging Lobo Leaders, letting Wilson's students explore college life with university students.   She also arranged for the Central New Mexico Community College Trio Achievement  coach to speak to parents and students about the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate.
 
Through her interest in music, Fletcher brought Zavier Thompson, a former Wilson student, to the school for an all-school assembly.  Zavier, who raps about kids' peer pressures and real-life issues, "talked about education comes first."   "We have a great group of kids but they need direction," she said.
 
And Fletcher is developing student ambassadors by focusing Wilson's SHAC (School Health Advisory Council) on student empowerment.  "Right now, we're trying to do a lot of presentations (that) students (will) share."   The information will be filtered by SHAC students back to the student body during announcements and daily advisory classes.
 
Of YDI-Elev8's community engagement coordinator, Katie Hellebust, and new VISTA at Wilson, Natasha Robson, Fletcher said, "I think we work really well together. Our community is strong.  We're all really passionate about what we do here."   But Elev8's funding from The Atlantic Philanthropies will end in June 2017.   "I just wish the dollars for the (Elev8) initiative could last longer; I don't think a community school is something that volunteers alone can do," she said, adding, "I hope when I leave that the relationships continue."
 
Interested in supporting Fletcher's effort at Wilson?  Call (505) 368-3961, ext. 27145.  She's excited to hear from you!
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