Jessica Hendon is a participant in our Healthy Starts Team and the BAMIT (Business, Arts, Modern Languages, IT) Academy Support Team Chair at Jefferson High School. She also volunteers her time with the Academy Expo every year. We sat down with Jessica to get the inside scoop on volunteering and the importance of giving back.
Why did you want to be a part of these teams/projects?
JH: A co-worker could not continue to participate as an AST at Jefferson and asked me to fill her spot remembering that I had graduated from there (a long time ago). I really liked the team and as more volunteer opportunities opened up, I filled those as well. I continue to volunteer because I want to be a part of the progress I see, bettering the schools of RPS for all children, including my own.
Do you think it's important for community members to volunteer for these initiatives? Why?
JH: Absolutely! Our children are the future and we should invest in them. Time is the most valuable thing we have to offer.
What change do you hope to see in RPS because of these initiatives?
JH: I hope to see a continuation and acceleration of student successes, like increased graduation rates and college/career placement. I look forward to seeing our entire community benefit from this.
What do you hope to see from Alignment Rockford in the future?
JH: More projects that bring all the great resources in our area together so we can capitalize on them.
