by Elizabeth Carman ’15
The Central family just got a bit bigger — and younger. Central is one of five Iowa colleges and universities to adopt a grade at Findley Elementary School in Des Moines, by invitation from I Have a Dream Foundation. Surrounded by a high-poverty area, the school faces significant challenges. To nurture confidence in students and provide opportunities for higher education, the U.S. Department of Education and I Have a Dream Foundation have implemented separate initiatives to create a culture of hope and success in the Findley community. With the Foundation’s latest project, Central will help support Findley third-graders, developing the Central culture of success at this elementary school.
This fall, Central adopted Findley Elementary third-graders as a part of the Foundation’s latest initiative — Dreamer Academy. Each grade now receives support from a local college or university. Along with the University of Iowa, Drake University and others, Central will help Findley students get excited about their futures through college visits, gear and special programs.
“We want them to have experiences with colleges so that it’s not something foreign to them — so that they understand the connection between what they are learning now and their goals for the future.” says Dreamer Academy program director Heather Isaacson. “We want the kids to grow up believing that this is who they are and a part of their future.”
Findley third graders recently spent a day at Central, learning from professors, participating in teamwork activities and theatre exercises — even planting a few tulip bulbs.
Findley Elementary has undergone a dramatic transformation in the past four years. In 2012, the school was invited to participate in Turnaround Arts, an initiative that uses art education to reach low-performing schools in impoverished communities. Findley was one of eight schools chosen nationally by the U.S. Department of Education and White House Domestic Policy Council. By integrating art and creativity into core subjects, this initiative led to significant academic improvements in schools like Findley. According to an evaluation by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, Findley students’ math and reading scores rose by 17 percent and three percent respectively between 2011 and 2014. One-hundred percent of Findley educators agreed that the Turnaround Arts initiative has led to increased ambition among students and faculty, as well as overall improvement in the school’s atmosphere.
In 2014, I Have a Dream Foundation took the school one step further. The organization selected Findley as a Dreamer Academy. Each student now has a college savings account to begin investing in higher education and dreams for the future. In a study conducted at the University of Kansas, a team of researchers found that students from low- and moderate-income families were five times more likely to graduate from college if they saved at least $500 for higher education.
Findley students can earn money for college savings by reaching milestones related to academic goals and parent involvement. Parent engagement is a key aspect of I Have a Dream Foundation’s mission. Through the Dreamer Academy program, Findley families can receive benefits such as free aid when completing their taxes. Less than five percent of adults in Findley’s census track have four-year college degrees, so the Foundation also funds college classes and GED programs.
“We want them to have experiences with colleges so that it’s not something foreign to them — so that they understand the connection between what they are learning now and their goals for the future. We want the kids to grow up believing that this is who they are and a part of their future.”
– Dreamer Academy program director Heather Isaacson
Isaacson and Findley Elementary program director Billy Kirby have their own connections with Central — 1997 and 2000 graduates, respectively, in sociology and theatre. Both graduates have enjoyed building a relationship between the Foundation and their alma-mater.
Findley third graders recently spent a day at Central, learning from professors, participating in teamwork activities and theatre exercises — even planting a few tulip bulbs.
“I don’t think in my many years since graduating from college I have ever been prouder to be a Central College graduate,” says Isaacson. “It was a really amazing experience for our students. It was top-notch, engaging and really stretched students’ minds and introduced them to a loving, welcoming collegiate atmosphere.”
“I’ve gotten to help students who have families a lot like mine have an opportunity to use education to change their worlds. Upward Bound at Central changed the trajectory of my life, and I’m so grateful to have the chance to bring these kids back to where my own life was changed.”
– Dreamer Academy program director Heather Isaacson
Central students are also getting involved in the partnership. Sophomore Kari Grindberg of Fort Dodge spent many hours at Findley for service learning this fall. And students in assistant professor of sociology Shawn Wick’s applied sociology course are collecting data and conducting interviews with Findley staff and parents. Their goal is to evaluate the program’s effectiveness and identify possible barriers to participation. Wick hopes their findings and recommendations can help I Have a Dream Foundation expand and improve the program — and that his students will develop their own social research skills.
Before studying sociology at Central, Isaacson visited campus with Upward Bound, a pre-college program for high school students who live in low-income households or will be first-generation college students. After attending Central and becoming an Upward Bound counselor, Isaacson enjoys helping students from similar backgrounds thrive at Central.
“I’ve gotten to help students who have families a lot like mine have an opportunity to use education to change their worlds,” says Isaacson. “Upward Bound at Central changed the trajectory of my life, and I’m so grateful to have the chance to bring these kids back to where my own life was changed.”
The third-graders will visit again in spring, when they will learn more about college and see their tulips in bloom. As the partnership continues, Isaacson is excited to see what the third-graders take away from their Central experience.
“I can’t wait to see how this grows from year to year as we continue this partnership,” says Isaacson. “I’m very grateful to the college and excited for the future.”
