Project Graduation: Mentors Improve Performance, Graduation Rates

*Content provided by our sponsor, the Michigan Education Savings Plan.

By Sharlonda Buckman, CEO, Detroit Parent Network

We don't get to fail children! When caring adults are in their lives, children benefit. From conception, we determine the trajectory of a child's life.

The way we nurture, support, teach, praise, direct and re-direct our children makes the difference between those who develop self-efficacy and believe in themselves and believe they can make it versus those who do not.

That's why I'm so proud that Detroit Parent Network hosts 24 full-time caring adults, also known as AmeriCorps members, who are working in 6 Detroit high schools to increase high school graduation rates and college enrollment.

These mentors improve the academic performance and engagement of students who deserve a level playing field and an equal opportunity to maximize their potential. By creating regular opportunities to tutor, counsel and engage their parents around graduation requirements and college success, we are creating supportive and knowledgeable family and school environments.

This is Project Graduation; a program that serves students in 7th through 12th grade where we are increasing on-time high school graduation and successful transitioning of students into higher education.

Tiara Mills, AmeriCorps Project Graduation Coach at Southeastern High school reflects, saying:

In AmeriCorps, our sole purpose is to get the job done. The question is, how will we execute the notion? In heart, my service goal is to become a high school math or chemistry teacher. I've been able to endure the long haul of making a deposit in several young lives to help them become better. My task is to deliver, uplift, to create stability, and to promote growth. I succeed! This is my second year serving with AmeriCorps and I'm proud to be a Project Graduation Coach.

Did I mention that Project Graduation coaches are placed in high schools in Michigan's Education Achievement Authority (EAA) for the 5% lowest performing schools? You could argue that we are placing caring adults where kids need them the most. Project Graduation helps to instill college-going expectations in students by offering student advising, parent coaching, targeted workshops and trainings, and opportunities for campus tours and college experiences.

It's also a drop-out prevention program that provides one-on-one parent coaching to ensure students are on track to graduate from high school and attend college.

Detroit Parent Network is proud to support a college-going culture through Project Graduation, but more importantly, we are even more proud to be able to help more kids know that there are adults out there who care about their successes.

Find out more about Detroit Parent Network and join today! You can gain access to trainings, workshops, and parent support groups, among many other benefits. Find out more at http://www.detroitparentnetwork.org/ or on Facebook and Twitter (@DPNdetroit).