08-09 FWISD Annual Report - Fort Worth ISD

ANNUAL REPORT 08-09
40
G OAL THREE, OBJECTIVE ONE
A very
important
project
PROJECT PREVAIL ENCOURAGES
A COLLEGE-BOUND CULTURE
Project Prevail is a comprehensive initiative to increase
the number of students graduating from Fort Worth high
schools fully prepared for post-secondary education or
gainful employment.
Project Prevail acts as an umbrella, tying together
many diverse programs in the District that have one thing
in common: the goal of creating a college-bound culture
through rigor, relevance and relationships. Curriculum
Frameworks, Secondary Redesign and the Promethean
Project are a few of the high-profile initiatives and programs
under the umbrella. Project Prevail also recognizes that
teachers cannot do the job alone. The initiative invites and
supports community partnerships for mentoring students
and providing positive role models. Most partnerships
America's Promise Summit
More than 250 community stakeholders came together in
March 2009 and brainstormed a set of strategies for reducing
the District’s dropout rate. America’s Promise Summit — Fort
Worth was hosted by Superintendent Melody Johnson and
Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief. WFAA-TV anchor Gloria
Campos emceed the day-long event. It was part of the
America’s Promise Alliance, a national organization
founded by former Secretary of State Colin Powell to
bring awareness to the country’s
alarming drop-out rate and
mobilize communities to
take action.
are formed through Student Engagement and School
Completion and Parent and Public Engagement. In 2008-
2009, these partnerships supported students, teachers and
schools through numerous opportunities, including:
>> Adopt-A-School
>> America’s Promise Summit
>> GO Centers
>> Prevail to Graduation Walk
>> Family Math Nights
>> Distinguished
Employers of Fort
Worth ISD
Students
Project Prevail
recognizes that high
school graduation
for all of our students
is much more than a
worthy goal. An interrupted
education takes a costly toll on the
individual and the entire community.
Working together, we can prevail.
Policy-makers, business leaders, school officials, church
leaders and parents discussed strategies that focused on:
• Ensuring the collaboration of all community
stakeholders to make school more relevant and interesting
• Working together to support students and teachers
through programs and activities such as Adopt-A-School, job
shadowing and mentoring
• Using adult role models to advocate
and provide a sense of community
for all students and their families,
especially students at risk of
dropping out of school
by the
numbers
Citizens Oversight Committee
Once voters approved the $593.6 million bond
referendum in November 2007, a Citizens Oversight
Committee was formed. The group was part of
Fort Worth ISD’s promise to keep citizens informed
throughout all phases of project development and
to keep all work and records transparent.
Throughout 2008-2009, the committee met
quarterly with the Capital Improvement Program
(CIP) office and program manager to receive updates
and get questions answered on such topics as:
• Overall finance, schedule and budget status
• Environmental stewardship
• Historically Underutilized
Businesses
status
FORT WORTH INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Citizens Oversight
Committee
BUILDING
VISION
the
the number of businesses and
organizations serving as Adopt-A-
School partners in 124 schools
the number of GO Center
visits this year at high school
campuses across the District
Fort Worth ISD
ADOPT-A-SCHOOL The District’s Parent and Public
Engagement Department recruited 33 new partners
during 2008-2009.
GO CENTERS Fort Worth ISD’s partnership with
the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce to operate
GO Centers throughout the District continued
to be a great success. GO Centers are computerequipped
locations overseen by school staff
and volunteer mentors from higher education or
business. Students can visit GO Centers for computer
access to college, financial aid and career information.
quick fact: math &
science initiative
community partners
Dozens of community partners signed
up to support Fort Worth ISD Math & Science Initiative
activities.
These activities included:
>> Family Math Nights
>> Math and Science Fall Festival at the Will Rogers
Coliseum attended by more than 6,000 people
>> The curriculum-based Texas Christian University and
Chesapeake Energy Math & Science
Trail which hosted students from
40 elementary schools.
The District also encouraged
community partners to
address math and science
in their Adopt-A-School
plans.
ANNUAL REPORT 08-09
41
GOAL THREE, OBJECTIVE ONE