Inspiring Action
Thomas Dickson, Director of Teacher Recruitment at OneGoal, attended a storytelling workshop last year and has been using stories to inspire teachers to join the cause.
Today, I said goodbye to one of my former students, Cameron, who is leaving to study abroad over the summer in Rome. This former student was sitting in my class only 5 years ago with a 2.5 GPA, a low ACT score, and unsure of his future. Today, he stands in front of me a proud scholar at the University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign with a 3.57 GPA. He dreamed of studying abroad and now his opportunity is here. After hard work keeping his GPA up, completing multiple applications, and raising almost $5,000 on his own, he had achieved his dream. This is just a small example of the ambition and tenacity that my former students have and the work they are willing to put in to be the first one in their family to graduate college. Those students know exactly what is at stake and what it will mean for their future to hold a Bachelor’s degree. Nationally, only 8% of ninth graders in low-income communities are expected to graduate from college by the age of 25. In contrast, 82% of ninth graders students in the top-income quartiles are expected to graduate from college. How can we work together to change this statistic? OneGoal, a teacher-led college persistence organization, is changing the 8% statistic by working with highly effective teachers across the city to lead a class that targets underperforming students for three years – junior year, senior year, and then through freshman year in college. Our teachers are turning that 8% into 85% of kids that have graduated or are on track to graduate college. What’s makes the difference? The adult – without a doubt. We empower excellent teachers with our 3 year curriculum that helps students increase their GPAs and ACT scores, helps kids build leadership skills, and builds a support system that will last them all the way through college. The difference is Jen Koszyk at Prosser Career Academy who has increased her students ACT scores by 3 points this year. The difference is Andrew Johnson at Chicago Academy who has 20 of his 23 students ready to re-enroll for sophomore year in college. The difference is Erika Sanders at Wells Community Academy who is a OneGoal teacher because she believes every student in Chicago deserves the opportunity to go to college. The difference is the teacher. At OneGoal, we’re working towards a day where every kid in this city, state, even in this nation has the opportunity to go to and graduate from college. Can you imagine that being a reality? Join our movement and apply to be a OneGoal Program Director at your school. I guarantee you there’s a Cameron depending on you. Be that difference.
