Family Star Store
Students scoring over 90% on significant assigments received a family star redeemable in basic family needs -- food, toiletries, cleaning agents.
About You
About You
First Name
Diana
Last Name
Nelson
Twitter URL
Facebook URL
About Your Organization
Organization Name
Sparks Middle School
Organization Website
Organization Country
United States, NV, Washoe County
Country where this project is creating social impact
United States, NV, Sparks, Washoe County
Is your organization a
Non‐profit / NGO / Citizen sector organization
Your role in Education
Teacher.
The type of school(s) your solution is affiliated with
Public (tuition-free)
How long has your organization been operating?
1‐5 years
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Innovation
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Start-Up (a pilot that has just begun operating)
How long has your solution been in operation?
Operating for 1‐5 years
The Need: What problem are you trying to solve?
Our school has an approximate 80% racially diverse and 74% free and reduced lunch/Title 1 population. I wanted to emphasize my students’ academic growth through student support for their families. All Title 1 schools in the country could effectively utilize this program.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
Students who earn 90% or above on significant assignments are given a Family Star. Once a month or so, I open the Family Star Store, where families can redeem their Family Stars for basic household necessities – food, toiletries, and cleaning agents.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities
Every two weeks, students in my remedial reading class are given an Aimesweb probe to determine their growth in that interval. Students in that class actively work to raise their scores in order to earn a Family Star. This class is especially impressive, as they are reading three or more years below grade level but are focused and determined to compete successfully and earn a Family Star. Because of their poor reading abilities, most academic rewards have been unavailable to them before the Family Star program. However, their confidence is soaring with every award they earn.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others also working to address the needs you are and what differentiates you from them. What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
I have no peers in this program; the Family Star program started with my idea and determination to make education a priority with my students and their families. As far as I know, this program is unique; I have heard of nothing similar. My competitors are all the helping agencies also vying for food for lower socio-economic families.
Now that you have thought out your entry, help us pitch it.
Define your company, program, service, or product in 1-2 short sentences [136 characters]
Family Stars, given for 90% or above on significant assignments, can be redeemed for food, toiletries, and household supplies.
Identify what is innovative about your solution in 1-2 short sentences [136 characters]
Family Stars reward lower income students for academic excellence helping them provide food and supplies for their families.
Social Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
The focus of the Family Star program is two-fold and circular: Students help their families obtain basic household supplies - food, cleaning agents, and toiletries - by excelling in significant academic assignments. Because the requirements are stringent for earning a Family Star, 90% or above, a student must figure out what is important, what he is required to do in order to excel, and then follow through. The student's successful efforts are hightly visible, motivating, and satisfying.
What is your projected impact over the next 1-3 years?
I expect to see improvement in the grades and skills of every individual student, greater and more consistent parental involvement, and an awakened interest and appreciaton of schooling opportuniites. These data will be found in the students' grades, test results, behavior reports, and attendance reports. Parental involvement will be measured by an increase in positive school contacts.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
With enough funding: a rise in student/parent engagement, student/class/school GPA, and standardized test scores
Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your six-month milestone
Task 1
funding -direct/indirect donations
Task 2
publicity
Task 3
parent/student teacher involvement.
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
To expand the program beyond the confines of my classroom into the school.
Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your 12-month milestone
Task 1
funding -direct/indirect donations
Task 2
publicity
Task 3
parent/student teacher involvement.
Founding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world [125 words]
The Family Star was created when I realized that my students were very close to their families, willing to work for them even when they were reluctant to work for themselves. Many had come from distant lands; their lives in America, which still involved significant struggles, were so much better than their previous lives in their native countries. In order to motivate my students academically, I rewarded those students who excelled on important assignments with a Family Star, which could be redeemed in basic household necessities – food, cleaning agents, toiletries.
Sustainability
Tell us about your partnerships
Our school did have a recent partnership, a local casino, Rail City in Sparks. However, with the extended economic downturn, deep and widespread in our state, that casino currently faces financial restructuring. At this time, our school, Sparks Middle School, has no partnerships at all.
What type of team (staff, volunteers, etc.) will ensure that you achieve the growth milestones identified in the Social Impact section? [75 words]
With adequate funding, the educational staff at Sparks Middle School will promote and support the program academically through communication with parents, students and the community.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
As a start-up program, assistance of any kind would be beneficial to support the program. While we have had some local coverage about our program, assistance with Marketing/Media would be most helpful to help us obtain sponsors and expand the program to benefit more students at the school.
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 | 57 weeks ago Jessi Wolz said: Hi Russell, Just wanted to write and say I applaud the incentives for academic achievement you're putting in place. It sounds like a ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 59 weeks ago Russell Hunter updated this Competition Entry. |
| 59 weeks ago Russell Hunter updated this Competition Entry. |
| 59 weeks ago Russell Hunter updated this Competition Entry. |
| 59 weeks ago Russell Hunter updated this Competition Entry. |
| 62 weeks ago Russell Hunter updated this Competition Entry. |
| 64 weeks ago Russell Hunter updated this Competition Entry. |
| 64 weeks ago Russell Hunter submitted this idea. |
