Graduation Coach

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Graduation Coach

• Who? What? Why?

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Graduation Coach

• Joel Svoboda Ms.Ed,SAP
• Received bachelors degree from University of
  Tennessee _at_ Chattanooga in Philosophy and
  Religious Studies
• Received masters degree from Southern Adventist
  University in Collegedale, TN in Outdoor Teacher
  Education
• 10 years experience in the mental health and
  substance abuse counseling field
• Granted Substance Abuse Professional status in
  state of Georgia 2001
• 15 years experience working with at-risk youth
  in adventure-based, experiential, faith-based and
  academic environments
• Certified Challenge Course facilitator

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High School Graduation Coach Mission
To assist schools and communities throughout
Georgia in implementing a locally-defined,
comprehensive stay-in-school program which
results in a substantial increase in the number
of students who continue their education at least
through high school graduation and prepare for
post secondary schools where they are able to
take their place in the work force and in their
communities as contributing citizens.
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Expectations of a High School Graduation Coach

• Successfully analyze data to
• o Identify at-risk students (focus on grades
  8-12)
• o Quantify the number of at-risk students by
  category
• o Identify trends, patterns and groupings
• o Identify opportunities to provide individual
  and group services
• o Develop Peach State Pathways for at-risk
  students
• o Recommend programs to the principal and
  Graduation Team
• Form a team of advocates within the school that
  is focused on improving the graduation rate
  (Graduation Team)
• ? Form a working relationship with the principal
  and service providers

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Graduation Team

• Graduation Team Members
• Minimum recommended team 5
• Graduation Coach ()
• School Administrator ()
• Counselor assigned to the student ()
• Advisor () (if TAA exists in school)
• Teacher of Special Programs serving the Student
  ()
• (SWD, ELL, SST Coordinator, etc.)
• Other professional staff who teach/have taught
  the student
• School Social Worker
• Probation officer
• Parent/Student (optional)

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The Many Faces of A Student At Risk

• Disengaged/Bored The Silent Epidemic, Core
  Findings
• 47 of dropouts said classes were not interesting
• 88 had passing grades
• 69 were not motivated to work hard
• 81 called for more real-world learning
  opportunities

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The Many Faces of A Student At Risk

• Academically Unprepared The Challenge?
• Student who does not experience rigor in the
  classroom.
• Students who do not have the proper course
  exposure
• Students who are behind in reading

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The Many Faces of A Student At Risk

• High Transient Population The Challenge?
• Number of Georgia students in Foster care
• Number of Georgia students who are homeless

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The Many Faces Of A Student At Risk

• Students With Disabilities The Challenge?
• Access to general education curriculum
• Lower expectations
• Inaccurate or no career pathway
• Disengaged
• Feeling of isolation/relationships

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The Many Faces Of An At Risk Student

• English Language Learners The Challenge?
• 1. Life experiences
• 2. Family matters
• 3. Behavioral adjustment
• 4. Academic performance
• 5. Second language acquisition
• 6. Cultural adaptation

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The Many Faces Of A Student At Risk

• Economically Disadvantaged The Challenge?
• Less access to highly qualified teachers
• Hard to staff schools
• Single parent mother/grandmother households
• Generational poverty
• Very little male presence
• Lack of resources

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The Number One Motivator For Students At Risk?

• Relationships!

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Strategies for Building Relationships

• 7 Keys to Better Listening
• Listening is not a passive activity
• Listen for unspoken fears, concerns, moods, and
  aspirations
• Good Listening requires great wisdom
• Listen to others with respect and validation
• Listen without thinking of how you are going to
  respond
• Listen for tell tale signs of impending trouble
• Listen with optimism and positive human regard

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4-Step Process For Developing And Implementing A
High School Graduation Program
Step 1. Getting Smart

• Understand School Population and Currently
  Available Resources

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Step 3. Where To Focus - Year 4 Example
Grade 12
Years in High School 4

• Determining where to focus
• Analyze individual data for patterns and trends
• Identify common needs across groups of students
• Present findings to Principal and Graduation Team
  to establish priorities for August-October and
  the rest of the year
• Time/urgency (proximity to graduation)
• Level of Need (magnitude of the problem)
• Availability of Resources (cost)

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4-Step Process For Developing And Implementing A
High School Graduation Program
Step 2. Whos At Risk
Step 1. Getting Smart

• Identify Potential At-Risk Students By Name

• Understand School Population And Currently
  Available Resources

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4-Step Process For Developing And Implementing A
High School Graduation Program
Step 3. Where To Focus

• Analyze Data
• Look for Common Areas of Need
• Establish Priorities With Principal and
  Graduation Team

Step. 2 Whos At Risk
Step 1. Getting Smart

• Identify Potential At-Risk Students By Name

• Understand School Population And Currently
  Available Resources

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4-Step Process For Developing And Implementing A
High School Graduation Program
Step 4. Making a Difference
Step 3. Where To Focus

• Develop a Graduation Work Plan Against the
  Established Priorities

• Analyze Data
• Look for Common Areas of Need
• Establish Priorities With Principal and
  Graduation Team

Step 2. Whos At Risk
Step 1. Getting Smart

• Identify Potential At-risk Students by Name

• Understand School Population and Currently
  Available Resources

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Step 4. Making a Difference
Whole School Interventions designed for the
entire school population to address major issues
with the potential to become epidemic Examples S
peakers Assembly programs
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Examples of Academic Interventions

• Peer tutoring
• Cross-age tutoring
• Mentoring
• Peer Mediation
• Caring Adults in the Building
• Greater frequency of assessments
• School-based tutoring programs
• Credit recovery
• Etc.

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Current Interventions

• Ringgold High
• Case Mgt. (11) with Target Population
• Community Networking (CIS, PLC, business partners
  etc.)
• GHSGT Prep and Remediation
• Peer Mediation
• Peer Mentoring
• Credit Recovery

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Current Interventions

• Ringgold High
• Instructional Extension
• Freshmen Academy
• Sophomore Academy
• Career Academy
• Whole School Interventions related to Peer
  Pressure, Safe Schools, and Healthy Decisions
• Teen Pregnancy support groups
• Anger Mgmnt. groups