Member News
Two EIA members Named Finalists for the Yoshiyama Young Entrepreneur Award
Lacy and Elana w/ Staff & Students
Most people start a business to make a living. For Elana Metz and Lacy Asbill, the goal of their venture was much bigger. Inspired by a calling to give something back to the youth in their community, the two founded Girls & Boys Moving Forward: a gender-specific mentoring program run by young people, for young people, in Oakland, CA. The program aims to foster students’ academic and emotional success by providing tutoring in the context of an authentic and meaningful relationship with a caring mentor.
Five years later, the company has served more than three thousand students--mostly low-income students receiving services free of cost to their families--and has trained over five hundred diverse young adults to serve as passionate and dedicated mentors. The successes of the program have not gone unnoticed--Asbill and Metz are currently finalists for a prestigious national social entrepreneurship award.
The Hitachi Foundation has long believed that business has an essential role to play in addressing the complex challenges facing our society. For this reason, Hitachi Foundation's Yoshiyama Young Entrepreneur Award recognizes the innovative work of five young people--all of whom have built sustainable businesses that make a positive difference for low-wealth individuals in their community. Metz and Asbill’s program represents one of eight social ventures currently in consideration for the prize. The founders make their final presentation to the selection committee this fall, in Washington DC.
The founders will share their program’s strong academic gains for its enrollees, including their continuation through high school, and their impressive 70% pass rate on the high school exit exam. More importantly, itheir students show improved feelings of self-confidence and self-belief. A student at Melrose Leadership Academy shares: “At Girls Moving Forward I learned how to be independent and have confidence in myself. My favorite thing about the program is that I get to be myself."
For More Information, Contact:
Lacy Asbill and Elana Metz, Co-Founders
Moving Forward Education
Info@movingforwardedu.com
510.387.8101
Five years later, the company has served more than three thousand students--mostly low-income students receiving services free of cost to their families--and has trained over five hundred diverse young adults to serve as passionate and dedicated mentors. The successes of the program have not gone unnoticed--Asbill and Metz are currently finalists for a prestigious national social entrepreneurship award.
The Hitachi Foundation has long believed that business has an essential role to play in addressing the complex challenges facing our society. For this reason, Hitachi Foundation's Yoshiyama Young Entrepreneur Award recognizes the innovative work of five young people--all of whom have built sustainable businesses that make a positive difference for low-wealth individuals in their community. Metz and Asbill’s program represents one of eight social ventures currently in consideration for the prize. The founders make their final presentation to the selection committee this fall, in Washington DC.
The founders will share their program’s strong academic gains for its enrollees, including their continuation through high school, and their impressive 70% pass rate on the high school exit exam. More importantly, itheir students show improved feelings of self-confidence and self-belief. A student at Melrose Leadership Academy shares: “At Girls Moving Forward I learned how to be independent and have confidence in myself. My favorite thing about the program is that I get to be myself."
For More Information, Contact:
Lacy Asbill and Elana Metz, Co-Founders
Moving Forward Education
Info@movingforwardedu.com
510.387.8101
Academic Educational Resources'
ACT Flashcard Box Now Available
Click to Purhcase
Industry leading test-prep publisher Barron’s has released a new ACT Flashcard series written by EIA President Jim Giovannini and his partner Patsy Prince, co-owners of Academic Educational Resources and Academic Tutoring Centers (Chicago, Illinois). This all-new set of test-preparation flash cards is designed to give prospective ACT test-takers the help they're looking for. The cards cover all five sections of the ACT and include test-taking tips and strategies, important facts, and practice problems that mirror questions on the ACT. All cards have corner punch holes that accommodate an enclosed metal key-ring-style card holder. Students can use the ring to arrange flash cards in sequences that best fit their study needs. The flashcards are now available in bookstores and online.
Barrons also contracted with Giovanni and Prince to write a new ACT Practice book which will be available in the Spring of 2012. The book will contain…
Barrons also contracted with Giovanni and Prince to write a new ACT Practice book which will be available in the Spring of 2012. The book will contain…
Multi-Year Partnership with Pearson Aims to Transform Teaching and Learning, Prepare Every Child for Success in Technology-Driven Global Economy
Acting on its commitment to ensure that the district’s 714 K-12 students graduate prepared for the challenges of a global economy, Mendon, Illionois’ Community Unit School District No. 4 (CUSD #4) Superintendent Diane Robertson recently announced a three-year partnership with the education and technology company Pearson that will put laptops in the hands of its students, providing online learning, progress monitoring, and assessment that will personalize instruction for each child.
The initiative will begin this coming school year as high school freshmen and sophomores trade in their English and Math textbooks for their very own Apple MacBook laptops purchased by the district. Students will then easily access Pearson’s online comprehensive mathematics and literature programs — engineered for one-to-one classroom environments — that will guide each student on a personalized learning path with engaging and robust research-based content aligned to the new Common Core State Standards.
“Bringing student assessment, performance visibility, and course management together into a common platform is the foundation of our vision to connect and empower K-12 educators,” said Pearson’s Senior Vice President Scott Drossos, a member of the EIA Board of Directors He added, “Our educational platforms for students are designed for mobile devices like the MacBook, and we are ready today to roll out our Math and Literature programs for CUSD #4 students. So whether these students are at school, at play, at home or elsewhere, they will have access to anytime, anywhere learning. This immediate access is what they are used to in their daily lives with their iPhones and other mobile devices; we need to meet them in their digital world.”
Drossos said that Pearson will be on-the-ground in the district throughout the project and will provide professional development for teachers and administrators on implementing the curriculum programs and new technology components.
“This cutting-edge project will truly transform the way our teachers teach and the way our students learn,” said Superintendent Robertson. “One of the most promising aspects of this initiative is that it levels the playing field for students who do not have access to technology at home.”
Robertson added, ““We see this partnership with Pearson as an investment in the community’s most precious resource – our children and our children’s future.”
The initiative will begin this coming school year as high school freshmen and sophomores trade in their English and Math textbooks for their very own Apple MacBook laptops purchased by the district. Students will then easily access Pearson’s online comprehensive mathematics and literature programs — engineered for one-to-one classroom environments — that will guide each student on a personalized learning path with engaging and robust research-based content aligned to the new Common Core State Standards.
“Bringing student assessment, performance visibility, and course management together into a common platform is the foundation of our vision to connect and empower K-12 educators,” said Pearson’s Senior Vice President Scott Drossos, a member of the EIA Board of Directors He added, “Our educational platforms for students are designed for mobile devices like the MacBook, and we are ready today to roll out our Math and Literature programs for CUSD #4 students. So whether these students are at school, at play, at home or elsewhere, they will have access to anytime, anywhere learning. This immediate access is what they are used to in their daily lives with their iPhones and other mobile devices; we need to meet them in their digital world.”
Drossos said that Pearson will be on-the-ground in the district throughout the project and will provide professional development for teachers and administrators on implementing the curriculum programs and new technology components.
“This cutting-edge project will truly transform the way our teachers teach and the way our students learn,” said Superintendent Robertson. “One of the most promising aspects of this initiative is that it levels the playing field for students who do not have access to technology at home.”
Robertson added, ““We see this partnership with Pearson as an investment in the community’s most precious resource – our children and our children’s future.”
Professional Tutors Helps Families of the Fallen
Professional Tutors of America has continued to grow its special program of providing individualized tutoring services at no cost to the children and the surviving spouses of soldiers who have lost their lives serving our country. According to long-time EIA member, Bob Harraka of Professional Tutors of America, his tutors have been very effective in mentoring these children and keeping them focused on their education and future. Complimentary services are offered to families residing in California and Connecticut. For more information, contact Professional Tutors of America at (800) 832-2487 and ask for Anthony Pavia or Jonas Maceda, or by email to Anthony@professionaltutors.com.
Computer Camp Concept Upgraded
Josh Chernikoff & Student
Learning camps received an upgrade this summer when Flex Academies created an "app" camp that taught children how to design their own mini-programs for smartphones and tablet computers such as the iPad.
The "camp-within-a-camp" concept is easily migrated to after-school activities, said CEO Joshua Chernikoff. "We designed AppCamp's curriculum to enhance school offerings, not replace them. Our public-private partnerships often allow a school or day camp to share in a new revenue stream while replacing activities that may have been lost during the budget process."
AppCamp is designed for students as young as mid-elementary school through high school. Flex Academies instructors adapt the course materials based on age group and demographics. Participants took home more than a traditional arts and crafts project. "All 20 of our campers left the five-day app camp having made their own apps to show their families. We saw mobile apps designed by the kids from drag racing to dragons!"
AppCamp also impressed Julie Smith, a parent whose son attended the pilot program. "I am amazed at what my son learned in just a week. I asked him about how he created his app and his ease in talking about the development process and understanding about RSS feeds and importing data was really impressive.”
For more information, contact Joshua Chernikoff at Flex Academies by calling (202) 487-7511
The "camp-within-a-camp" concept is easily migrated to after-school activities, said CEO Joshua Chernikoff. "We designed AppCamp's curriculum to enhance school offerings, not replace them. Our public-private partnerships often allow a school or day camp to share in a new revenue stream while replacing activities that may have been lost during the budget process."
AppCamp is designed for students as young as mid-elementary school through high school. Flex Academies instructors adapt the course materials based on age group and demographics. Participants took home more than a traditional arts and crafts project. "All 20 of our campers left the five-day app camp having made their own apps to show their families. We saw mobile apps designed by the kids from drag racing to dragons!"
AppCamp also impressed Julie Smith, a parent whose son attended the pilot program. "I am amazed at what my son learned in just a week. I asked him about how he created his app and his ease in talking about the development process and understanding about RSS feeds and importing data was really impressive.”
For more information, contact Joshua Chernikoff at Flex Academies by calling (202) 487-7511