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Students who fail to graduate or achieve post-high school training are frequently unprepared for the workplace and are especially vulnerable to negative influences. They become a breeding ground for the social and economic issues being experienced in Treasure Valley of Idaho communities. This is a serious problem in our communities.
Low-income students are a large percentage of the youth who are not graduating. Currently 30 to 40% of students in the Boise School District are from low-income families. The goal of Everyday Leadership is to inspire fifth and sixth grade students from low-income families to graduate and pursue post high school educations.
As cooperators in Everyday Leadership, Rotarians from the Boise Metro and Sunrise Rotary Clubs work with teachers and counselors from the Boise School District in offering experiences that build students' self-confidence and provide them with training in life skills such as leadership behaviors, teamwork, effective communication, conflict resolution, and decision making. Classes are taught by public school teachers and YMCA instructors. Throughout the school year, Rotarians lead discussions where they show interest in what the students are learning and how they are applying their new skills. As incentives, Rotarians support recreational activities that are normally out of the reach of these students. Rotarians assist in community service projects that are completed by the students in neighborhoods near the schools.
The Rotary Clubs of Boise Metro and Boise Sunrise contribute funds to support participation by instructors from the YMCA and to provide stipends for teachers from the Boise School District. Rotarians monitor outcomes such as attendance and participation accelerated learning and extracurricular leadership activities.
This grant would implement Everyday Leadership at four low-income elementary schools, (Hillcrest, Garfield, Hawthorne, and Koelsch). Approximately 80 students will participate in the 2024-25 School Year.
Estimated project costs are $17,200. Twelve Rotarians will be involved.
Everyday Leadership has proven to be highly effective. In 2021, the program received the Leadership in Public Education Award from the Idaho Association of Public School Administrators
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