Meet Our Student: Aaron

At the beginning of each session, Aaron needs a little guidance to get focused. Once that energy is harnessed, Aaron is a constantly-improving reader.

Recently, tutors have been focusing on providing direct feedback to students. Additionally, program instructors have worked to provide appropriate comprehension tools to our tutors. This way, tutors can more explicitly focus on comprehension strategies rather than simply improving student fluency.

Seeing a book report in front of him, Aaron began immediately trying to answer the questions - he missed an important step: actually reading the story! Aaron showed his book report to his tutor. The tutor's response: "I don't think you tried very hard." Aaron came running to me asking what grade I would give it. Seeing me write a big C- on his paper, Aaron looked shocked.

Walking back to the tutor, I offered a suggestion. Have Aaron read you the story out loud. That way, you can make sure he doesn't skip anything. Once he does that, you can help him work on his book report. "I have to do it again?" Aaron asked. I laughed. "Buddy, you never did it the first time."

A few minutes later, I visited Aaron and his tutor once again. He had now determined the story's setting, and he had identified the conflict - "both kids wanted to have their birthday party on the same day!" Unfortunately, our session was coming to an end. Aaron, disappointed, wanted to finish the task. When told he could finish it next time, his answer was quite insightful. "I could have finished it this time if I did it right the first time." It was, perhaps, the most important lesson of the day.

Thanks, as always, for reading.

Mark

Board Planning

This weekend, Reach's Board of Directors will meet to discuss the organization's plan for future growth. While not a formal strategic planning session, this will be the board's first opportunity to develop a shared vision for the future.

First, the board will receive an update based on the following outline:

Fundraising Report (Fiscal Year To Date, as of January 27, 2011):

Individual Donors: $63,899.98

Foundations: $40,000.00

Corporations: $21,456.00

Special Events: $ 4,952.85

Total Collected: $130,308.83

Foundation Pledges: $ 5,000.00

Individual Pledges: $16,000.00

Total Pledges: $ 21,000.00

Total Raised: $151,308.83

Fundraising Update:

• Additional $32,500 challenge grant from the Snave Foundation – expected December 2011.
• Continued conversation with ARPC re: dinner to build corporate donor base.
• 3 funding opportunities pending:
• Crowell & Moring Foundation: $10,000 – Decision Expected in April
• George Preston Marshall Foundation: $5,000 - $10,000 – Due in March
• Echoing Green: $60,000 over two years – Finalist Decision in March

Program Update:

• Currently serving 42 students at Hyde Leadership.
• Learning from a number of challenges:
• Teacher Turnover
• Collection of Personal Information
• Student Attrition
• Scheduling Conflicts
• Early conversations with Eastern Senior High and Cesar Chavez re: possible expansion opportunities.
• Very popular and successful Books for Break campaign.
• Pending application for FairChance DC.
• Speaking engagement at NYU School of Social Work – February 26^th.

After going through a program update, we'll look at the growth strategies of four highly-successful nonprofit organizations: Life Pieces to Masterpieces, Urban Alliance, Higher Achievement Program, and Breakthrough Collaborative. By looking at the choices made by these more established organizations, we can explore the strengths and weaknesses of each organization's growth strategy before determining our best way forward.

It's because of the wonderful support from so many of you that we can have a discussion about the best strategy for growth - a discussion that is not driven entirely by financial considerations.

Thanks, as always, for reading.

Mark

Today's Plan

A lack of routine begets a lack of consistency. After having such a wonderful tutoring day on Thursday, Monday's training session was entirely disappointing. For the first time, I dismissed my tutors early - letting them know that I thought everyone's time was being wasted. Today, they'll hear from me - something like this:

Yesterday was disappointing. Not because you spoke when I was speaking. Not because you were making negative comments to others. Not because you all ran late. Not even because I - your teacher and your boss - was called petty. My feelings about myself and this program extend beyond a single day. No one day will change what I feel about each of you and about the power that this model holds. Yesterday was disappointing because you made clear the low expectations you hold for yourselves - or, at least did yesterday. I hope that's not an indication of how you generally feel about yourselves.

The day I accept, without comment, you showing up late - I've indicated my belief that you can't be a good employee. The day I accept, without comment, you talking over your boss - I've indicated my belief that you can't show respect to others. The day I accept, without comment, your negative comments to each other - I indicate my belief that you can't be nice. The day I accept, without comment, any didn't or won't - I indicate my belief that you can't. And it's not true - I believe in can.

Every time a teacher gives you an A for a mediocre effort, they insult you. Every time an elder looks the other way when you're actin' a fool, they make a statement that you can't be a better version of yourself. If you think redirection or advice from adults is offensive, imagine what it means when it stops. It means they've given up - that they expect nothing else from you.

For that reason, I promise you this. What happened yesterday will continue to be unacceptable. I will be on your ass even harder than I was previously. The day that I expect behavior like you demonstrated yesterday is the day that I owe it to you to quit, to walk away. But, I can promise you three things. 1) I will maintain high standards. 2) I will let you know when you meet or exceed those standards. And 3) You will have earned it.

Yesterday was disappointing. Luckily, you get another opportunity tomorrow. See you at 4.

Thanks, as always, for reading.

Mark

When It Works.

Since returning from Winter Break, it's been somewhat challenging to settle back into Reach's routine. Since returning from break, weather has caused Reach to be canceled twice, and we missed an additional day due to Dr. King's day. Kids thrive on routine, so January has been tough. But today, some great things started happening.

Jaylin (right), not always the easiest student, had his best day of the year. He worked well with his tutor and continually sought additional challenges. First, by writing a comprehensive answer to the day's journaling prompt, then by starting work on a book report about the story he finished reading. I was so impressed with Jaylin today, and his tutor, Romello, deserves a lot of the credit.

Eddie, whose energy was highlighted in a previous blog entry, worked with a new tutor today. Cawahn's student was absent, and Eddie's tutor was absent, so they worked together. It couldn't have gone better. After reading for a little while, Eddie's teacher suggested that he might need some assistance with the week's spelling words. Cawahn created a game that harnessed Eddie's energy - they played a game of catch, but each time Eddie wanted the ball back, he had to spell another word. Everyone was smiling, and our supervising teachers were appropriately impressed.

It was Willie (right), however, that made my day. Willie's been having trouble getting started recently. Did he want to journal? No. Did he want to read? No. Was he willing to do anything we asked of him? No. As we were beginning to grow frustrated with Willie, he spoke softly, "I want to read my book."

"Your book?" I asked. "You have your own book with you?"

With that, he reached into his backpack and pulled out a compilation of eight Curious George stories - a book that Willie had received through Reach's Books For Break program. He had been carrying this book (a big hardback book, being carried around by a tiny kid) since he got back to school. He wanted to read it with his tutor, DaJohn. Willie simply said, "I've only read the first one. I got seven more."

Today was awesome.

Thanks, as always, for reading.

Mark

If Reach fails...?

The Echoing Green Semi-Finalist application is no small exercise. Among the challenging questions asked, one was particularly challenging: "What might you wind up doing if this organization doesn’t work out as planned?"

Part of me wanted to respond by simply saying, "We won't fail." Or, even better, "Reach will survive and thrive." I truly believe that social entrepreneurship requires a start-up leader to be slightly cocky and entirely crazy. I rarely consider failure; it seems counterproductive.

I ended up answering the question like this:

Reach’s early success in programming and fundraising make it unlikely that the organization will meet an early demise. We are extremely proud of the level of organizational stability that has been achieved so early. I do, however, recognize the challenges inherent in nonprofit management. If Reach were to go out of business, I would remain actively involved in providing better opportunities for adolescents in the District of Columbia in a position of school leadership or nonprofit management.

Writing the answer became a reflective process. Social enterprises develop in stages. While the names and models vary, the themes are similar. First, there's a start-up phase - idea, initial funding, planning, piloting, and establishing a reputation. Soon after, these new enterprises enter the growth phase. We have now entered this second stage - our immediate future is no longer in question. I'm so proud to be able to say that. While we know we will face challenges, we stand firmly on a strong foundation.

Thanks, as always, for reading.

Mark

PS - On this day of remembrance, I chose not to write about Dr. King's legacy. It is my hope that his beliefs - especially those of non violence, equal rights, and economic justice - stay with us 365 days a year. While we pause to think of him today, it's my hope that we will all wake tomorrow with a continued commitment to the ideals he voiced.

The Last 24

Occasionally, people ask what my days are like - it's not always easy to know what goes into launching a start-up. So, as I've done in the past, I want to share a bit about the last 24 hours.

January 12th:

12pm: Assembled storage cabinet for use as classroom library at Hyde Leadership.

1pm: Scanned tax documents to make electronic copies available to potential funding partners.

2pm: Secured pickup truck to transport storage cabinet to Hyde Leadership.

3:30pm: With tutors, set up classroom library at Hyde Leadership. Labeled, leveled, and shelved books. Prepared individual folders for elementary school students.

5:30pm: Prepared final draft of partnership application for Fair Chance DC.

6:30pm: Confirmed speaking engagement at NYU Silver School of Social Work - discussed potential lecture topics.

January 13th:

8am: Met with Rachel Skerritt, new principal of Eastern Senior High School, about potential expansion to Eastern in the fall of 2011.

10am: Submitted final proposal to Fair Chance DC.

11am: Secured invitation to apply for funding from the George Preston Marshall Foundation.

11:30am: Began work on semi-final application for the Echoing Green Fellowship.

12pm: Wrote blog.

Thanks, as always, for reading.

Mark

The Surprising Science of Motivation

Learning is an iterative process. Reach's youth allows a high degree of malleability - when we recognize something needs to be changed, we change it. As organizations get larger and organizational norms become established, this becomes more challenging. For this reason, I feel a significant amount of pressure to get things right. While I know we will never stop learning, I want to use this first year to solidify our model as we move toward expansion.

When looking at the components of our program model, there is no aspect that gives me greater pause than the use of financial incentives. To be clear, I believe that our financial incentives have played a great role in recruiting tutors that will benefit from program participation; however, I question whether the bonus structure has had, or will have, an impact. At this point, we don't have the data to tell, but my current reading is forcing me to ask questions.

I'm currently reading Drive by Dan Pink. In his book (and this TED Talk), Pink tells us that there is little correlation between contemporary incentive structures and the scientific research regarding human motivation. If a task involves even some cognitive skill, then pay-for-performance incentives actually have been proven - again and again - to be harmful. Rather than provide financial incentives, it seems that we should be focusing on providing our tutors with three more intrinsic sources of motivation: autonomy, mastery, and purpose. While there is work to be done around the idea of mastery, I feel that much of our early success with tutors can be linked to the ways we already promote autonomy and purpose.

So, what does that mean about the financial incentives we're currently using? In my mind, paying our tutors is still an important part of our program model. They remain at school for additional hours and provide an important service. Additionally, many of our tutors would not normally volunteer for such a program - in part, because many have not previously experienced success at school. We need something to get them in the door.

I do, however, see potential for significant changes in our bonus structure. Nothing in the research outlined by Pink indicates that we will create academic improvement by providing financial incentives - in fact, research indicates that these incentives might actually hurt academic performance. While the research may confuse us, it is abundantly clear.

There are many decisions ahead of us. Will Reach continue to offer bonuses, or should we move to a simple stipend model? If we do offer bonuses of any kind, what behaviors should we incentivize? The answers have large financial implications, but more important, they will strongly impact the efficacy of our work.

Thanks, as always, for reading.

Mark

Exciting News

Reach is again a semi-finalist in the Echoing Green Fellowship Competition. Of 2,854 applications, only 224 organizations - about 8% - were selected to move forward!