Assets in Schools

Asset Story Archive
04/03 How Do Youth Benefit From Being Involved in an
Asset-Building Organization?

03/03 Expect Success Project Improving Climate of Denver Middle School

02/03 Tough Issues for Parents and Teens

01/03 Find Ways to Teach Tolerance

12/02 Easing the Transition from Youth to Adulthood

11/02 Asset # 37, Personal Power

10/02 Asset #36, Peaceful Conflict Resolution

09/02 Asset #24, Bonding to School

08/02 Asset #7, Community Values Youth

07/02 Asset #38, Self-esteem

06/02 Asset #40, Positive View of Personal Future

05/02 Asset #32, Planning and Decision Making

04/02 Asset #29, Honesty

03/02 Asset #31, Restraint

EXPECT SUCCESS PROJECT IMPROVING CLIMATE OF DENVER MIDDLE SCHOOL

In the past, I used to make fun of people who were different from me. But now I take no part in making fun of them because I know and understand that they are people who have feelings…I also try to stop other people from teasing the people who are different.
- Kepner Middle School Student

Kepner Middle School is one of the Denver Public Schools taking part in the Expect Success Project with Assets for Colorado Youth to integrate "developmental assets" as a strategy for improving parent engagement in schools. Research continues to show that parent engagement is a major predictor of student achievement. The schools are working to strengthen the home-school connection by focusing on common goals that promote success for all students.

Developmental assets, identified by Search Institute, are the building blocks of healthy youth development that allow young people to thrive - such as parent support, achievement motivation and a caring school climate.
Said DPS Superintendent Jerry Wartgow, "Parent support of the student's education is a critical component to student achievement. Parent engagement in schools leads to higher grades and test scores, better school attendance and improved student attitudes and behaviors. The Expect Success Project uses the assets to define the roles that both parents and teachers have in supporting the young person."

As a first step in Kepner's Expect Success efforts, Principal Deborah Lanman recruited drama teacher Jenny Goldberg to teach an elective leadership course for each middle school grade that incorporated the developmental assets, called the Assets in Action class. The class has proved transformative for the students, and teachers have seen evidence of positive changes in the students' behavior and attitude toward school. Ms. Goldberg presents the developmental assets to her classes in a way that allows students to implement assets in their own lives. Each class designs a school-wide project, including creating a manual on the assets for families. Said Ms. Goldberg, "Infusing the assets into Kepner is about trying to create a positive environment that allows all of us to be our best-not create more for us to do. It's a way of life."

Following staff training on the assets, Kepner teachers and staff formed an Asset Team to create a vision for improving school climate and parent engagement. This multi-disciplinary team coordinates parent engagement efforts and school-wide asset-related activities through the school year. Like the other schools participating in the project, Kepner focused first on school climate. One teacher said, " I think we need to work first to make things within our school more positive. The relationship of teachers needs to be first before parent engagement."

In fact, a project evaluation, conducted by the University of Denver College of Education, found that 70% of project staff time and project resources were dedicated to school climate issues in the first year of this pilot project. The assets framework not only proved to be an effective tool for connecting parents to schools, but also for connecting school staff to an effort to improve school climate. Kepner teachers chose to create a "Gossip Free" staff lounge, and a bulletin board on which staff could compliment and thank one another. The principal began incorporating team-building activities into staff meetings and involving staff and students in school-wide conversations about the assets framework via the school's public address system.
At Kepner, the combination of a supportive principal, an Asset Team that is taking on a leadership role, student support through the Assets in Action classes and parent-friendly office staff all contribute to a sense of energy and commitment to creating an asset-rich school. Says one Kepner teacher, "This work reminds me of why I wanted to be a teacher in the first place."

If you'd like more information about how assets are being applied in Kepner Middle School please contact Stephanie Hoy at 303/832-1587 or via email at stephanie@assetsforcoyouth.org.

To learn more about the developmental assets and what you can do to help young people succeed, contact ACY.

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