Changes at "GWEC - Big Brother/Big Sister Ambassadors Program: High School Interns Supporting Elementary School Achievement"
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- +{"en"=>"GWEC - Big Brother/Big Sister Ambassadors Program: High School Interns Supporting Elementary School Achievement"}
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- +["<xml><dl class=\"decidim_awesome-custom_fields\" data-generator=\"decidim_awesome\" data-version=\"0.12.0\">\n<dt name=\"textarea-1756922998878-0\">Idea Submission for The People's Money:</dt>\n<dd id=\"textarea-1756922998878-0\" name=\"textarea\"><div>The Big Brother/Big Sister Ambassadors Program is a paid internship initiative that places trained high school students in elementary schools across their district to provide academic tutoring, mentorship, and positive peer leadership. Through structured reading and math support, high school “Ambassador Interns” help younger students build foundational academic skills while strengthening school community connections and cultivating leadership, responsibility, and career readiness among the older youth. Program Goals\n\nIncrease elementary student achievement in reading fluency, comprehension, and foundational math skills\n\nProvide paid, structured internships for high school youth\n\nBuild mentorship and leadership skills among teen Ambassadors\n\nStrengthen relationships across schools in the district\n\nPromote positive role models and foster community pride\n\nSupport teachers by offering additional academic support during and after school\n\nProgram Structure\n1. High School Ambassador Interns\n\nStudents in grades 10–12 apply to serve as paid interns. Interns receive:\n\nOrientation and training in literacy strategies, math support techniques, child development basics, and classroom etiquette\n\nOngoing supervision by school staff\n\nOpportunities to earn service hours, internship hours, and resume-building experience\n\n2. Elementary School Tutoring Assignments\n\nAmbassador Interns are placed in district elementary schools as:\n\nReading Buddies\n\nAssist students with decoding, fluency, read-alouds, small-group reading, and comprehension activities\n\nSupport literacy centers, book discussions, phonics work, and early writing exercises\n\nMath Mentors\n\nHelp students with number sense, addition/subtraction, multiplication, math games, math stations, and guided practice\n\nProvide one-on-one or small group support targeting classroom goals\n\nInterns serve 6–10 hours per week depending on funding and school needs.\n\n3. Mentorship & Social-Emotional Support\n\nAmbassadors serve as positive role models by:\n\nEncouraging younger students\n\nSupporting confidence-building routines\n\nReinforcing classroom expectations and emotional regulation\n\nModeling positive communication and behavior\n\nThis creates a caring school climate that strengthens community bonds.\n\n4. Weekly Ambassador Workshops\n\nHigh school interns attend weekly workshops led by educators and youth development professionals on:\n\nLeadership & communication\n\nCareer exploration in education, social work, psychology, and public service\n\nResume building & professionalism\n\nTime management\n\nConflict resolution\n\nCivic engagement and community responsibility\n\nThis helps interns connect their service to long-term career pathways.\n\nProgram Activities\n\nLiteracy tutoring and guided reading\n\nMath games, skill-building practice, and academic stations\n\nMentorship sessions and classroom buddy support\n\nEnrichment activities during afterschool programs\n\nFamily literacy nights and community events\n\nProfessional development sessions for Ambassadors\n\nEnd-of-year Ambassador Recognition Ceremony</div></dd>\n<dt name=\"textarea-1758648114412-0\">What is the problem your idea aims to address?</dt>\n<dd id=\"textarea-1758648114412-0\" name=\"textarea\"><div>This initiative addresses two urgent needs: academic recovery and youth workforce development. By empowering high schoolers as mentors and tutors, the district strengthens community ties, fills academic support gaps, and cultivates a generation of young leaders invested in the success of their neighborhood schools. Many elementary schools need additional academic support, especially in literacy and numeracy. At the same time, high school students seek meaningful internship opportunities that build professional skills and allow them to give back to their community. This program bridges both needs by creating a district-wide mentorship pipeline where older students uplift younger students, improve academic outcomes, and cultivate a culture of service, confidence, and community engagement. </div></dd>\n<dt name=\"checkbox-group-1756922140917-0\">Which groups does your idea focus on? Select all that apply</dt>\n<dd id=\"checkbox-group-1756922140917-0\" name=\"checkbox-group\">\n<div alt=\"youth\">Youth (under 24)</div>\n<div alt=\"public-housing\">Public Housing Residents</div>\n<div alt=\"justice-impacted\">Justice Impacted People</div>\n<div alt=\"disabilities\">People with Disabilities</div>\n<div alt=\"lep\">Limited English Speakers</div>\n<div alt=\"immigrants-migrants\">Immigrants / Migrants</div>\n<div alt=\"lgbtq-plus\">LGBTQIA+ People</div>\n<div alt=\"parents\">Parents</div>\n<div alt=\"unhoused\">Unhoused People</div>\n</dd>\n</dl></xml>"]
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