Good News from Generation Schools Network!

Good News!

SEL Expansion Grant Kicks Off in 14 Districts

Thanks to the Wend Foundation and the Einhorn Family Charitable Trust, nearly 10,000 students and their teachers are receiving support to integrate Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in their schools. Schools receive support with planning and implementation coaching, professional development, curriculum and surveys to intentionally help students build skills such as communication, leadership, grit, perseverance, and teamwork.

The SEL surveys provide teachers and administrators with student data to better understand which skills students have mastered and which skills they are struggling with. The culmination of this two-year grant will be a research study on the impact of direct SEL instruction on students in collaboration with Colorado State University.

GSN's Ashleigh Machen and Brittney Ames kickoff the Advocacy program at Peyton School District.

Map gives a visual representation to the 14 new districts in which we are implementing SEL.

Are your students pressured to leave school for the workforce?

Often, children from low-income families help supplement their family's income or take care of their own needs while trying to move toward independence. Data demonstrates that when a student works more than 20 hours per week, it negatively impacts his/her academic performance. Research ers also report that as hours of work increase, adolescents are more likely to drink and smoke, and engage in a wide range of problem behaviors, m aking it more difficult for students to focus on preparing for and taking steps toward a future that allows them to get post-secondary education and training to help prevent lifelong poverty.

With a national guidance counselor ratio of 450:1, schools must adjust structures, roles, and responsibilities to ensure that all students have a personalized academic and career plan and are taking steps toward future success. For a better understanding of how to help students balance the need to work with getting an education, please visit : Student Success Journe y.

Many thanks to retiring GSN Board Member, Fred Spar!

GSN would like to thank board member, Fred Spar, for his many years of service on the Board of Directors. Fred recently retired after a long and successful career in crisis communications for Kekst (kekst.com) in New York City. Fred was instrumental in messaging GSN's efforts to help schools rethink the use of time, talent and resources to achieve better educational outcomes for students and teachers. He was also a generous champion for leveling the playing field for all students. His generosity made it possible for students from lower socio-economic status to be afforded the same college/career preparation opportunities that are routine for students from middle and upper class families by virtue of their demographics. Thank you Fred! We wish you well in your retirement endeavors.

GSN Welcomes New Board Member and AmeriCorps Vista!

Nahum Kisner, New Member of GSN Board of Directors

GSN welcomes Nahum Kisner to its Board of Directors. Nahum has served in numerous critical and influential roles in regard to youth advocacy, including as Director of College Opportunity and Student Outreach at the Community College of Denver, as the Program Director for Upward Bound! At Metropolitan State University and in his current position as EdConnect Program Manager at Denver Public Schools. Nahum holds a master's degree in counseling. His LinkedIn Profile can be found here. Welcome Nahum!

Ryan Mills, Communications AmeriCorps VISTA

In his second AmeriCorps VISTA service term, Ryan has enjoyed working with nonprofits around Denver and utilizing his tech and media skills to help further their messages and reach. Ryan graduated from Metro State University with a BA in English-writing and a minor in Digital Media-Content Design. Ryan will be helping with GSN's re-branding as well as updating and managing website content among other duties.