A BluePrint for Success: Case Studies of Successful - Educational ...

A Blueprint for Success
Finally, a decrease is possible in the number of companies willing and able to commit to offering
internships to EIF high school students. This would pose a significant challenge as EIF aims to equip
students for careers after college graduation. The Mayor’s Intern Fellows program provides EIF students
with paid, summer internships at Dallas area companies. EIF students are eligible to apply during
the spring semester of their 10th and 11th grade years.
What We Do Best
Tiffany Gurley-Alloway, Vice President of Evaluation and Accountability, offered many insights into
the Education is Freedom program and its leadership. She indicated that EIF is best at “getting students
to college, and working with parents/guardians as partners along the way.” This is possible because
EIF has strong leadership in its CEO, with experience working as a change agent. The leadership
helps to streamline processes to maximize efficiency and effectiveness while being fiscally responsible.
She offered that EIF fosters a college going culture on the campuses it serves. Further, EIF
meets “the affective needs of students, which enables them to dream of attending college, and realize
their dream.” By educating parents and guardians, EIF empowers them to proactively partner with
their students toward college success. She noted that EIF educates parents “on today’s college planning
processes, so they are better equipped to proactively support their students’ success and goals, as
a guiding partner, whether they have earned a college degree or not.”
Dr. Gurley-Alloway attributed EIF’s success to being “committed to our mission, and to innovative
approaches to fulfilling our mission.” She added that EIF has a dedicated team that is “committed to
meeting the students’ needs and doing whatever we can to prepare them to enter and succeed in college.”
Additionally, the symbiotic relationship with Dallas ISD has enabled EIF to effectively support
students and make a difference in their lives. EIF intentionally supports the counselors and administrators’
work on each campus, which has helped EIF develop a reputation as collaborators. This
has resulted in an increasing number of Dallas ISD principals selecting EIF as their preferred provider
among college access partners.
Dr. Gurley-Alloway noted that EIF “stresses the importance of data to support our mission” and
that this also played a huge role in the overall success of the program. She noted:
We emphasize metrics, and our desired outcomes set the stage for everything, from data
collection, analysis, and database systems to program design, work processes, staffing, and
organizational structure. We have constant internal benchmarking to assess the effectiveness
of our program for EIF students, in addition to our external program evaluation. The
EIF Program is designed based on proven practices. Our Team participates in ongoing
professional development, and shares proven practices as part of staff development.
Educational Policy Institute 70 www.educationalpolicy.org