Defabian is an 8 year-old elementary student in Leflore County, Mississippi. He loves sports—mostly football and baseball—and he is an active member of the Boy Scouts. Defabian started the school year making D’s and F’s and showed little interest in participating in the classroom, particularly during reading lessons. His teacher, Tonya Buford, noted his withdrawal and set up an intervention plan.
The Foundation is helping Ms. Buford and 400 teachers in Leflore County to increase their effectiveness in the classroom. Coaches help her use data and new techniques to improve the teaching and learning process. Intensive training along with better teacher-parent partnerships are increasing students’ academic performance. Ms. Buford explains, “Because I’m managing the grouping of students in their ability areas, I have been better able to meet their specific learning needs. As a result,” she continues, “my students are becoming more engaged, their grades are improving, and they are showing more interest in learning—not just because they feel it’s required, but because they are seeing that they can do well in school.”
Because of Ms. Buford’s commitment to academic success, students like Defabian are doing better in school and less likely to fall through the cracks and drop out. “Using the new teaching skills along with the help Defabian’s mother is giving,” shares Ms. Buford, “he is now making B’s and C’s. He is doing much better in reading, where he struggled the most at the beginning of the school year.”
The Foundation concentrates on ensuring schools provide high-quality education and graduate students who are well-prepared for careers in a competitive global economy. Through intensive coaching, teachers and administrators are becoming more effective educators. Regardless of whether it occurs in the classroom enhancing instruction skills or in the office increasing the rigor of the curriculum, our strategies are aimed at creating long-term positive academic growth for students today and tomorrow.