Success Coaches-September Newsletter

 

UWCF Funds Two Success Coaches in Turnaround Middle Schools

A rose by any other name does not always smell as sweet. Titles can help to clarify or confuse. The title “Early Warning Response Coordinator” created images of disaster relief. To correct the misconceptions, these Coordinators will now be referred to as “Success Coaches,” a title that better describes the counselors who offer struggling middle school students and their families personalized, holistic services.

Success Coaches review weekly reports generated by the district’s database to identify students who are struggling with their ABC’s – Attendance, Behavior or Course grades. Specific interventions for students and their families help to stabilize potential crises and get students back on track. Interventions include those provided by Polk County Public Schools as well as services provided by United Way partners, government and faith-based programs. Individual tutoring, mentoring, counseling, assistance with food, job training and housing are just some of the services considered.

UWCF funds the Success Coach Senior Coordinator, home-based at Kathleen Middle School and the new Success Coach at Dennison Middle School. Success Coaches at Shelley S. Boone Middle School, Lake Alfred Addair Middle and Westwood Middle are funded by the District. Success Coaches in all five turn-around middle schools pull together to expand what works and to coordinate services for students who may transfer during the school year.

United Way of Central Florida is working with Polk County Public Schools to provide Success Coaches in all 18 middle schools by 2020.
In the pilot year, 75 extremely off track Kathleen Middle School students and their families received services provided or facilitated by the first Success Coach. Attendance, behavior and/or course grades improved for 53 percent of these seriously at-risk students. The initial goal set by experts on the United Way’s Education Steering Team was 25 percent. 74 of the 75 students are still on track for graduation.
If you would like to sponsor a Success Coach or support the Success Coach Initiative, please contact Penny Borgia 863-648-1500 ext. 275 or penny.borgia@uwcf.org