Using Student Data and Student/Staff Mentoring to Identify and Support At-Risk Students

Focused Area

Improving School Climate for Youth-At-Risk

Relevance to Focused Area

This proposal relates to the area of improving school climate for at-risk youth. Students who are identified as "at-risk" often need additional supports to achieve success in school. Once these students are identified through simple data analysis of past educational performance and teacher recommendations, school leaders can focus on better meeting the identified emotional, physical, and educational needs of those students. One such intervention is a mentoring program pairing all students in the building with a staff member who serves as an advocate for that students' needs. This creates a culture of caring and respect between teachers and students and provides supports for students to perform at higher rates of educational achievement.

Primary Strand

Academic Achievement & School Leadership

Relevance to Primary Strand

This proposal relates to the strand academic achievement and school leadership. The culture of an educational institution is very much affected by the leadership within that institution. The mentoring model described in this presentation not only involves teachers mentoring students in the building, but also involved administrators and other staff members as mentors to students. When leaders model what they expect through the building of positive relationships with students, they truly lead the way toward meaningful improvements and a positive change in the culture of the school. This change in culture has lead to an increase in students achievement in several subject areas over the course of the pilot mentoring program. Additionally, while a change in the school culture can lead to increased student achievement, previous achievement data can also help school leaders identify which students may need additional support and mentoring.

Brief Program Description

This presentation will describe the structure of a mentoring program piloted at one high school in Georgia and the effects of the mentoring program on student achievement and the school's graduation rate. Additionally, the presentation will explain how to easily use student data to determine additional educational needs and how to use input from teacher/mentors to support students emotional and physical needs.

Summary

A positive school climate is a cornerstone to improving student achievement and outcomes within today's schools. Part of the school climate involves the building of positive relationships between students and staff members. One way to achieve the building of these relationships is through a positive and consistent mentoring program, which provides each student with at least one advocate within the school setting. One such program piloted at a large high school in Georgia has helped to increase student achievement across many academic areas while also dramatically increasing the graduation rate at that school by almost ten percent in one year. The structure of this mentoring model along with the philosophy behind this model will be shared with participants. Participants will also hear testimonials from staff members at that school and students from that school on what the mentoring program has meant to them. The presenters will discuss how to train staff members on the building of relationships with students and how to place an emphasis on this throughout the building. Participants will learn how to build a culture of shared respect and cooperation between students and teachers. Additionally, participants will learn how to use basic student data regarding prior achievement and behavior to determine which students are most at-risk academically and behaviorally so staff members can place a greater focus on work with those students during mentoring sessions and beyond. Participants will walk away from this presentation with the tools needed to start a meaningful mentoring program at their own school or to improve current practices within their school buildings.

Evidence

Achievement data and graduation rate data from the school mentioned in this presentation demonstrate a positive impact on student achievement as a result of teacher/student and administrator/student mentoring. Additionally, research indicates that students who have emotional, physical, or educational needs (often identified as at-risk) can be assisted in school through the building of relationships with at least one adult within the school. Once these immediate needs are met, students are more receptive to information presented in the learning environment.

Format

Individual Presentation

Biographical Sketch

Jeannette Hallam, EdD is an Assistant Principal at the high school mentioned in this presentation and has worked in this role for the last four years. Previous to her role in administration, she taught special education for five years at the elementary, middle and high school levels. She also served as a special education in-school coordinator for four years before moving into her current role. She has worked in education for a total of 13 years. Her true passion is helping students achieve their potential and meet their goals both within school and beyond school.

Evan Horton, EdS. is the Director of Student Services for the school district mentioned within this presentation. Previous to his current role, he served for three years as the Principal of the high school mentioned in this presentation. He was instrumental in the creation of this mentoring program and the positive school culture which still exists after his departure. He has 18 years of experience in education, having taught elementary school for one year and high school for seven years. He has also served as a high school assistant principal for six years, with four of those years also serving as an athletic director.

Start Date

10-23-2016 10:00 AM

End Date

10-23-2016 11:00 AM

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Oct 23rd, 10:00 AM Oct 23rd, 11:00 AM

Using Student Data and Student/Staff Mentoring to Identify and Support At-Risk Students

This presentation will describe the structure of a mentoring program piloted at one high school in Georgia and the effects of the mentoring program on student achievement and the school's graduation rate. Additionally, the presentation will explain how to easily use student data to determine additional educational needs and how to use input from teacher/mentors to support students emotional and physical needs.