GRAHAM, USA

Graham High SchoolGraham High School

H H elpingelpingO O ururS S tudentstudentsT T ooS S ucceed!ucceed!

July 10, 2008July 10, 2008

Graham High SchoolGraham High SchoolProfileProfile

• 750 Students750 Students• 55 Professional Staff Members55 Professional Staff Members• 8 Period Day8 Period Day• Rated as Academically Acceptable by Rated as Academically Acceptable by

the Texas Education Agencythe Texas Education Agency• Located in the heart of “lake Located in the heart of “lake

country” 90 miles Northwest of Ft. country” 90 miles Northwest of Ft. Worth and 60 miles South of Wichita Worth and 60 miles South of Wichita FallsFalls

G.H.S. G.H.S. DemographicsDemographics• EnrollmentEnrollment 754 754• Ethnicity (approximate)Ethnicity (approximate)

WhiteWhite 81.1% 81.1%

HispanicHispanic 16.9% 16.9%

African AmericanAfrican American 1.5% 1.5%

AsianAsian 0.04% 0.04%

Native AmericanNative American 0.04% 0.04%

Econ. Disadvantaged Econ. Disadvantaged 21.9% 21.9%

Special EducationSpecial Education 14.9% 14.9%

HOSTSHOSTS HHelping elping OOurur SStudentstudents TTo o

SSucceeducceed Began in 2002 – 2003 School YearBegan in 2002 – 2003 School Year 41”mentors” in the High School41”mentors” in the High School Mentors stay with their class for 4 Mentors stay with their class for 4

years.years. Four sessions per yearFour sessions per year

HOSTS HOSTS Program Program

PartnershipPartnershipGraham

Independent School District

Graham Industrial Association

HOSTSHOSTS

TCCE “Education Program of the Year, 2003”

TCCE “Best New Chamber Program in Texas, 2004”

Why HOSTS StartedWhy HOSTS Started

• Poorly-prepared Poorly-prepared workforceworkforce

• Students not ready for Students not ready for collegecollege

• Community not involved Community not involved in the schoolsin the schools

The PlanThe Plan

• Involve the community in the Involve the community in the schoolschool

• Increase the number of students Increase the number of students taking more challenging coursestaking more challenging courses

• Increase the percentage of:Increase the percentage of:Texas ScholarsTexas ScholarsDistinguished Achievement PlanDistinguished Achievement Plan

CurriculumCurriculum• Last 4 yearsLast 4 years

• Written by GHS staffWritten by GHS staff Self WorthSelf Worth Dealing with peer pressureDealing with peer pressure IntegrityIntegrity

• This Year – “Soft Skills”This Year – “Soft Skills”• Written by Business LeadersWritten by Business Leaders

Learning to LearnLearning to Learn CommunicationCommunication Resume BuildingResume Building Essential Skills for LifeEssential Skills for Life

FlexibilityFlexibility• Each mentor is free to deviate Each mentor is free to deviate

from the planned curriculum as from the planned curriculum as long as the topic is coveredlong as the topic is covered

• Curriculum will change year-to-Curriculum will change year-to-yearyear

• Feedback from the H.S. staff is Feedback from the H.S. staff is solicited and strongly consideredsolicited and strongly considered

Change in Change in Student’s GoalsStudent’s Goals

BEFORE BEFORE HOSTSHOSTS

NOWNOW

Minimum Minimum 75%75%

Minimum 13%Minimum 13%

Tex. Sch. 52%Tex. Sch. 52%

Tex. Sch. & DAP 25%Tex. Sch. & DAP 25% DAP 35%DAP 35%

Tangible Results Tangible Results of HOSTSof HOSTS

• Increased AP participationIncreased AP participation• Increased number of students in Increased number of students in

upper-level coursesupper-level courses• Increased awareness in Increased awareness in

community of students’ education community of students’ education issuesissues

• Program being considered for Program being considered for adoption at the national leveladoption at the national level

Advantages to Advantages to StudentsStudents

• Local employers hire Texas Local employers hire Texas Scholars over students in the Scholars over students in the minimum planminimum plan

• Local scholarships have Local scholarships have increased.increased.

• Students are better prepared for Students are better prepared for college courses.college courses.

Nuts and BoltsNuts and Bolts• Each Mentor receives a curriculum Each Mentor receives a curriculum

book.book.PowerPoint printout with notesPowerPoint printout with notes

• Each teacher receives a notebook.Each teacher receives a notebook.Printout of PowerPoint presentationPrintout of PowerPoint presentation

With notesWith notes

CD with PowerPoint PresentationCD with PowerPoint PresentationTake-away handouts for the studentsTake-away handouts for the students

Community Leaders in Community Leaders in the Classroomthe Classroom

How can your How can your HIGH SCHOOL do HIGH SCHOOL do

this?this?• Form a team.Form a team.

Chamber of CommerceChamber of CommerceEconomic Development agenciesEconomic Development agenciesSchool administrationSchool administrationLocal higher education resourcesLocal higher education resourcesNewspaper / radioNewspaper / radio

• Roll up your sleeves.Roll up your sleeves.Be prepared to ASK others to get involvedBe prepared to ASK others to get involved

QUESTIONS??QUESTIONS??