The Educational Service District 113 Student Support Services Team (ESD 113) facilitates the growth and development of school- and community-based academic, health, extracurricular, and social supports for K-12 students in southwest Washington.

Challenge

A national movement towards rallying similar organizations supporting similar young people in schools and during out-of-school time led ESD 113 to convene a similar coalition. Without a concise action plan or engaging facilitator, the ESD was concerned their coalition may not succeed. Searching for a premier leader with similar experience, the ESD called on SoundOut to inform and guide this effort.

Solutions

Starting in spring 2012, SoundOut staff provided leadership to the Pacific Mountain Regional Youth Alliance through a contract with Educational Service District 113 in Tumwater, Washington. We consulted a planning team including representatives from five organizations focused on developing a collective impact strategy to affect change in southwest Washington. We also facilitated Alliance gatherings for up to 125 participants, as well as planning team meetings.

The Alliance, including Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Thurston, and the northern part of Pacific Counties, is planning, convening, and supporting youth agencies, individuals, and other partnering organizations as they engage, collaborate and activate the advancement of culturally relevant family and community roles for student success from early childhood through college. Focused on establishing a collective impact model, the Alliance convenes meetings, shares resources, and holds other events on the regional and county levels.

Outcomes

SoundOut helped the Alliance develop short- and long-term strategic plans, provided event facilitation for up to 125 people as well as small leadership team meetings with several organizational representatives, and consulted the ESD on future activities.

Results included a sustainable long-term action plan for the Alliance; new countywide coalitions affecting up to 250,000 youth throughout the region; and increased determination and motivation among participants into the future.

Resources

• Article from the ESD 113 newsletter about the Alliance

For the 2011-12 school year, Educational Service District 123 in Pasco, Washington contracted with SoundOut to provide a year-long series of trainings focused on integrating Meaningful Student Involvement into 21st Century Community Learning Centers programs.

More than 40 participants attended almost 24 hours of professional development throughout the year. Topics covered included student-adult partnerships, the Cycle of Engagement, SoundOut’s Frameworks for Meaningful Student Involvement, and more.

SoundOut staff also introduced a new component to each of the training events focused on personal engagement in schools, and how each individual participants’ perception of schools affects how they interact with learners. Each participant made plans for action, and were provided technical assistance by myself throughout the year.

In the 2012-13 school year, SoundOut trainers provided 20+ hours of professional development for 20 sites from this program to facilitate the SoundOut Student Voice Curriculum. Participants learned to facilitate learning and projects focused on Meaningful Student Involvement for participants, and used the curriculum at their discretion.

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS

• Educational Opportunity Center, Clarkston, Washington
• New Horizons Alternative High School, Pasco, Washington
• Prosser Falls Alternative High School, Prosser, Washington
• River’s Edge Alternative High School, Richland Washington
• John Sager Middle School & Meadowbrook Intermediate School, College Place, Washington
• Dayton Elementary School & Dayton Middle School, Dayton, Washington
• Finley Middle School, Finley, Washington
• Kiona-Benton Middle School, Benton City, Washington
• Robert L. Olds Junior High School, Connell, Washington
• Paterson School, Paterson, Washington
• Columbia Middle School, Burbank, Washington
• Highlands Middle School, Kennewick, Washington
• Park Middle School, Kennewick, Washington
• McFarland Middle School, Othello, Washington
• Housel Middle School, Prosser, Washington

The GEAR UP program fosters college awareness and readiness for low-income middle and high school students by providing a variety of programs targeted to educators. The University of Washington state GEAR UP program serves 5,700 students in 36 schools and 29 school districts throughout Washington state. From 2005 to 2007, the GEAR UP Program partnered with SoundOut to help improve their outcomes.

Challenge

The state’s major GEAR UP program was faced with normalized student disengagement among their target participants, including low-income, students of color, and migrant/bilingual students. They needed to increase facilitator effectiveness, and decided that modeling and intensive professional development were the best avenues for action.

Solutions

The University of Washington State GEAR UP program contracted with SoundOut from 2005 to 2007 to facilitate several training activities for almost 300 middle and high school students. In 2007, SoundOut staff facilitated a week-long professional development retreat for local coordinators focused on Meaningful Student Involvement.

Outcomes

SoundOut Founding Director Adam Fletcher and trainer Scott LeDuc facilitated a 36-hour intensive program designed to increase program efficacy and outcomes. Participants reported their work would be transformed, their approaches would refocus on student engagement, and that they had the resources they needed to take strategic steps.

Recommendation

“Adam works tirelessly to create environments and cultures where youth develop and wield the knowledge and power to positively impact not only their lives but also society. He is one of the most knowledgeable, innovative, and effective facilitators, writers, educators, and thinkers in the field. Adam brings theory and reality together in praxis that reveals how utopic visions can become a reality.” – Christin Chopra, former Manager, University of Washington GEAR UP

Resources

• UW GEAR UP website