ObjectiveEveryday Leadership is a collaborative effort created to provide Treasure Valley low-income 5th and 6th grade youth with the skills and self-confidence they need to graduate from high school and attain post-high school educations.
Importance
Students who fail to graduate from high school or achieve post-high school training become a breeding ground for the social and economic issues in Treasure Valley communities
High school graduation rates are about 80%. Only 42% of Idaho’s workforce has obtained post-high school training .
Fifth and sixth grade students with low self-esteem and poor academics are nineteen times more likely to drop out.
Collaborators
- Title I Schools of Boise School District
- YMCA
- Big Brothers Big Sisters
- Parents
- Boise Sunrise and Metro Rotary Clubs
Activities
- Thirteen after-school sessions on leadership, teamwork, communication, cooperation, conflict resolution.
- Service projects.
- Leadership retreat.
Outcomes
2013/14 and 2014/15 (20 students attending Grace Jordan). Positive changes in participants’ behaviors.
2015/2016 (81students attending Grace Jordan, Jefferson and Garfield). School attendance increased for 60% of the students. Grades improved for 54%. Most of the youth adopted leadership skills.
2016/17 (76 students attending Grace Jordan, Jefferson and Garfield). Grades improved for 64% of the students. Students with GPAs < 2.5 dropped to zero. Participants involved in behavioral issues dropped from 20 to 13.
2017/18 (108 students attending Grace Jordan, Jefferson, Garfield, and Taft). 87% of the students improved or maintained their grades >3.5. The number of students with GPAs < 2.5 dropped to zero. Behavioral incidences declined by 65%.
2018/19 (142 students across 6 schools). 86% of the students improved or maintained their grades >3.5. Behavioral incidences declined by 82% at Garfield.
What We Are Hearing
“All those who joined Everyday Leadership have grown, and the benefit of this program cannot be overstated”. Joan Bigelow, Principal.
Through guest speakers, volunteerism, and classroom learning experiences, this program allows our students to not only be leaders at school but leaders in life as well”. Jason Hutchison, Principal.
Everyday Leadership is a vital part in empowering marginalized children”. Joshua D. Brandt, Case Manager.