District, partners invited to the White House to help launch the My Brother's Keeper School Success Mentorship Initiative and Learning Network.
Austin ISD has been invited to help launch the My Brother's Keeper School Success Mentors Initiative in an effort to provide additional support for high-needs students to enable them to succeed academically and graduate from high school prepared for college, career and life.
"I'm honored and excited that we were one of only 12 school districts selected from throughout the nation to share how we support and prepare our students and communities for success," AISD Superintendent Paul Cruz said.
Cruz, along with Travis Early College High School Principal Ty Davidson, Lanier High School Principal Ryan Hopkins, Gus Garcia Young Men's Leadership Academy Principal Sterlin McGruder, Project Lead Sonia Dominguez, District Coordinator of Cultural Proficiency and Inclusiveness Angela Ward and E3 Alliance President and Executive Director Susan Dawson will work with peer districts, and the U.S. Secretary of Education John King and his staff to share knowledge and best practices to launch and sustain a multi-sector, multi-tiered community-wide program to support students and communities.
The Initiative's aim is for schools to create a positive, welcoming environment where all students know they are wanted in class and are missed when they aren't there.
Though the program is specifically designed to increase attendance and course performance, and to promote positive behavior, it goes further to gain a deeper understanding of what drives chronic absences, poor behavior and low performance.
"While the end result is increased performance and success for students, we want to understand the root causes so we can better create the program or support to address each need," Cruz said.