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The goal of Everyday Leadership is to inspire low-income fifth and sixth grade students to graduate and pursue post high school educations. Students who fail to graduate or achieve post-high school training are frequently unprepared for the workplace and are especially vulnerable to negative influences. They become a breeding ground for the social and economic issues being experienced in Treasure Valley of Idaho communities. This is a serious problem our communities.
As cooperators in Everyday Leadership, Rotarians from the Boise Metro and Sunrise Rotary Clubs work with instructors from the Treasure Valley YMCA and teachers and counselors from the Boise School District in offering experiences that build students' self-confidence and provide them with practical training in life skills such as leadership behavior, teamwork, effective communication, conflict resolution, and decision making. Classes are taught by public school teachers and YMCA instructors. Throughout the school year, Rotarians lead discussions where they encourage the youth by showing interest in what they are learning and how they are applying their new skills. As incentives, Rotarians support recreational activities that are normally out of the reach of these students. Rotarians assist in community service projects that are completed by the students in neighborhoods near the schools.
The Rotary Clubs of Boise Metro and Boise Sunrise provide funding to contribute funds to support participation by instructors from the YMCA and to provide stipends for teachers from the Boise School District. Rotarians monitor outcomes such as changes in grades, disciplinary incidences and participation accelerated learning and extracurricular leadership activities.
This grant would implement Everyday Leadership at four low-income elementary schools, (Hillcrest, Garfield, Hawthorne, and Morley Nelson). Approximately 80 students will participate in the 2023-24 School Year.
Estimated project costs are $15,200. Fourteen Rotarians will be involved.
Everyday Leadership has proven to be highly effective. In 2021, the program received the Leadership in Public Education Award from the Idaho Association of Public School Administrators.
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