The ACE Movement: Chicago
In 2013, The ACE Project was established after local residents and school employees joined together with our co-founders, Leah Friedman and Susan Klumpner, to bring the joy of tennis to youth living in Riverdale/Dolton. Here is what Dornetta Walker, Principal at Washington Elementary School (our first school partner!), had to say about the ACE Movement:
How do schools help move Riverdale/Dolton forward?
Schools in District 148 have a very clear mission and goal for our students and the community that we serve. School District 148 is committed to developing the whole child as it relates to not only their academic growth and success but also addressing their social emotional needs. Most of our resources allocated throughout the district is aligned to the strategic plan of building relationships with our students and closing the gap between the school and the community. We understand as a district that in order to close the academic achievement gap, we must first get to know our students beyond the surface.
With the implementation of restorative justice strategies throughout the district, we are beginning to build a strong foundation of relationships with our students and families that we serve. Our students come to school knowing that we care and that they have a voice. Under this umbrella of restorative justice positive engagements become the cultural shifts happening in all the schools. All staff are trained on how to build positive relationships with all stakeholders and the strategies needed to transform a culture of positive learning experiences. Students and parents engage in a meaningful process of how to deal with conflict. It is these strategies that we encourage our students to utilize in their everyday lives.
With a focus on building a positive culture within the schools and teaching our students and parents how to utilize these strategies, it results in a positive impact within the Riverdale/Dolton communities.
What are your focus areas, and how do you see the broader community joining together behind Washington in the upcoming year?
Washington School has a focus on building and sustaining strong relationships with our community. This school year we would like to connect with more community partners to work together to meet the needs of our students. Washington School has a solid parent mentor program sponsored and implemented by our ACE Project partner. This parent mentor group has established itself as an integral part of our instruction program. You can find our parent mentors embedded in the learning process in all of our primary classrooms. They are committed to not only helping our students academically but also growing as a professional asset to our school. Our parent mentors receive rigorous professional development every Friday with the focus on learning different things to increase their impact as a mentor in the school. The parent mentor group and the work that is being done through The ACE Project is directly aligned to Washington’s focus on increasing parental involvement this school year.
How does The ACE Project move you toward achieving your goals at the school?
Aside from the increase in parental involvement, Washington School is implementing small group differentiated instruction in every classroom this year. Our students are experiencing data driven instruction in a smaller setting with the teacher to address their academic needs. Our parent mentors also work with our students during this time. Many of the parent mentors are facilitating the learning with reviewing skills in reading and math. Watching the parent mentors work with the students is powerful as I visit classrooms. Students are building caring, trusting relationships with our parent mentors that contributes to our positive school culture.
The after school tennis program is a highlight of how The ACE Project is providing opportunities for students to excel beyond the classroom. Limited access if any was afforded to our students in the area of learning and exploring the game of tennis. The ACE Project uses the game of tennis to provide opportunities for our students to explore and have access to this arena on a national stage. This exposure provides students with many opportunities to diverse cultural experiences.