Are you a DU student interested in education?
Do you want to build meaningful relationships with students in Denver Public Schools?
Do you want to learn more about the public school system and work with other DU students
who care about youth and education? Then Public Achievement might be right for you!
Public Achievement:
Public Achievement (PA) is an international, innovative approach to improving academic
achievement and creating positive school culture. The University of Denver's PA program
partners with several Denver Public Schools.
In PA, DU students serve as coaches to a group of middle or high school students who want to work for change in their school and community. As a PA Coach or Team Lead, DU students act as facilitators to teams of K-12 students. Together the teams follow a community organizing process that includes building relationships among the entire team, identifying issues students' care about and conducting community-based research. The culminating product is a public work (service-learning) project to address the issue they identified.
Coaches will see students become empowered and more connected to their schools through Public Achievement. You will also learn about what it takes to navigate the public school system and work with students, teachers and administrators. CCESL provides training for coaches throughout the year. This position requires students to be at their partner school at least once a week and work with a team of DU student coaches and team leads to plan each Public Achievement session.
Interested in Joining the Movement?
We are hiring Coaches and Team Leads for the 2012-2013 academic year! Students may
use their Federal Work Award or volunteer. To learn more about the positions, see
the full job descriptions and the application below.
PA Coach & Coach Mentor Job Description
PA Program Assistant – Team Lead Job Description
An intensive training for the Public Achievement program occurs in the fall, before we start in our schools. Coaches and Team Leads should plan to attend the following:
- Public Achievement Orientation – Thursday, September 27th, 6-8pm
- University of Denver's Diversity & Unity Retreat - September 28 & 29, 2012
- CCESL's Community Organizing Training – October 5th
- Public Achievement Retreat – October 6-7, 2012
Additional trainings will occur throughout the year.
Current Public Achievement Partners:
Manual High School: At Manual, PA is part of the Activity Block and attracting students who are interested in taking a leadership role in their school. PA teams have already taken on the issues of dress code, school lunch options, and the formation of a student lounge and are excited to expand this year. During the 2011-2012 school year, 3 coaches are guiding 12 students.
South High School: South, a long-time partner, has PA in two AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) classes. After working to improve the college readiness structures at South, PA is now working with sophomores and juniors to address issues they see as at their school with fresh eyes. There are 48 South students involved in PA during the 2011-2012 academic year.
KIPP Denver Collegiate High School: KIPP is a new partner with Public Achievement this year! Fifteen coaches are partnered with four sophomore and junior classes, combined more than 80 students. PA teams are addressing issues of school pride, teen pregnancy, and immigration.
Want to Learn More?
Contact Cara DiEnno (cara.dienno@du.edu; 303-871-2158) to learn more! You can also check out the links below for more information about the Public Achievement Program at DU and nationally.
