U.S. Department of Education Recognizes Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri’s Celebrated ABCToday! Program

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri (BBBSEMO) hosted senior representatives from the U.S. Department of Education on Thursday, Sept. 20, to discuss the agency’s ABCToday!SM early warning and recognition system. The special visit was part of the Department’s Education Drives America bus tour.

ABCToday!SM previously gained the interest and support of key leaders including U.S Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who recognized it for its innovative partnership model with Big Brothers Big Sisters and school districts; Civic Enterprises which named ABCToday!SM a best practice national model and featured it as a centerpiece of a recent report; and lead education researcher at John Hopkins University, Dr. Robert Balfanz, who called ABCToday!SM a national, one-of-a-kind model.

While at BBBSEMO, Brenda Girton-Mitchell, the director of the Department’s Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, facilitated a “Together for Tomorrow” roundtable on the value of community partnerships in helping to propel school improvement. The discussion focused on Big Brothers Big Sisters’ ABCToday!SM early warning and recognition system, an example of a partnership model that has advanced school success.

Girton-Mitchell opened the discussion saying that when the Department see something good going on they make every effort to celebrate it. She engaged representatives from BBBSEMO, educators, parents, elected officials and leaders in business and industry in the discussion. Some of the guests invited to the special gathering included Bill DeWitt III, President of the St. Louis Cardinals and Chairman of the BBBSEMO Board of Directors; Chief of Police Dan Isom, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department; Dr. Kelvin Adams, Superintendent St. Louis Public Schools; Dr. Stanton Lawrence, Superintendent Normandy School District; Dr. James Welker, Superintendent Cape Girardeau School District; Lewis Reed, President of St. Louis Board of Aldermen; Tom Irwin, Executive Director of Civic Progress; and Jama Dodson, Executive Director of the St. Louis Mental Health Board.

Other participants who were asked to speak about their experience with ABCToday!SM were Alrenequa Tomlin, a parent of five children, three of which are matched with Big Sisters; Bob Swagman, a Big Brother to Little Brother Lavonce; Carla Cunigan, principal at Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary School; and Becky James-Hatter, President/CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri.

ABCToday!SM is a partnership model driven by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri to ensure that students Attend school, Behave while there and have Classroom success in reading and math. Big Brothers Big Sisters’ partner school districts include St. Louis Public School District and Normandy School District in the greater St. Louis area as well as the Cape Girardeau Public School District.

Applauding ABCToday!SM, Tomlin said she has definitely noticed a difference in her children’s academic success since being teamed with Big Sisters. One daughter in particular has made significant strides in reading thanks to the collaborative effort of parent, child, teacher and the Big Sister. “It’s helped their self-esteem,” Tomlin said, adding, “They are more excited to go to school.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters’ ABCToday!SM is widely supported by parents, businesses and community organizations. More than two years ago, city of St. Louis residents voted to back a measure that would fund crime prevention and youth at risk programs. ABCToday!SM was earmarked for a portion of those funds in 2012.

Speaking on behalf of the Big Brothers Big Sisters board of directors, DeWitt asserted, “We believe that our unique formula for success – trusting and enduring relationships plus kids who attend school, behave while there and experience classroom success is the recipe for real and lasting change in St. Louis.”

Thanking the community for the widespread support, DeWitt concluded, “All of you have supported, in some way, our ability to be there for these kids and families and bring us closer to achieving our formula.”

  About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri was founded in 1914 as one of the “charter” agencies of the Big Brothers Big Sisters national movement. Through our 4:1+1SM model, young people are surrounded by caring and supportive adults to inspire them and show them anything is possible. The organization currently provides services to children and families in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, Cape Girardeau County and Scott County. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri is a proud member of the United Way. For more information, please contact Mary Jane Daum at 314-615-1094, or visit www.bbbsemo.org.