What makes us different

That's a pretty long list: subsidized uniforms to save our families money and so kids can focus on academics instead of fashion trends; free breakfast, lunch, and snack, because kids can't learn when they're focused on how hungry they are; much smaller classrooms for individualized attention: When we know a student and his strengths and areas of challenge, we can more effectively and quickly get him back on track; family engagement, including regular events like Family Night and calls home at least weekly to share good news and any concerns...

There's more, of course, but I think you see the trend: What does it take for the young person to win? What does each child need to get back on track and reach her full potential? No blame, no fingerpointing...that doesn't get us far. Instead we focus on solutions. Our family advocate model, which you'll hear about a lot on this blog, is one way we walk the walk when it comes to solutions.

Family advocates are school-based professionals who help students and families remove non-academic barriers to learning. Family advocates conduct home visits, sit in on school district meetings like PPTs, connect families to valuable community resources like counseling, and ensure a family's basic needs are met. What do Domus Academy parents say about family advocates?

• "She tries to help [my daughter] be accountable."
• "[My son's family advocate] worked with us to solve any problems [my son] has. I think the world of her."
• "No other school keeps up with [my daughter] like this." 
• "[My son] used to get in trouble all the time, and now he goes and talks with [his family advocate]."
• "[Our family advocate] has provided a way for me to still be informed and also provides a ride when I can’t get up there on my own. She’s always there for everything."

When we started our school model in 1999, we had a mantra when it came to our staffing approach: Teachers are hired to teach, and family advocates are hired to make sure kids are ready to learn. Not everyone believed bringing a social services approach to education was going to work, but preliminary data for Domus Academy's first year shows an average improvement of more than two grade levels in both reading and math...in just ten months. 

Seems like different is good...and working.

This morning's 8th grade graduation

What a morning! Just ten months ago, we opened the doors at Domus Academy New Haven, a school we were asked to run by the New Haven Public Schools. Students were poor--desperately poor--were performing far below their potential, and had complex barriers keeping them from being successful students.

Fast forward to today, 10:35am: A sudden and intense downpour could not dampen the spirits of families and graduates who celebrated unprecedented learning progress (one student went from performing at a 1st grade level in math to an 11th grade level in 10 months) and significant social and emotional progress ("[My son] is more in control of his emotions--he's able to control his anger.")

Ashley, Domus Academy's director of social services, told the story of a young man who asked to speak with her, identifying a feeling he had of wanting to change his behavior and put himself in the position of being successful. This young man had, over the course of a few months, started to see he had a future if he wanted it. And he decided he did.

I think that's what I saw the most of today: hope. Hope in the eyes of the dad who told me with pride about his son's "100% academic change--and now no fights--he can control his anger" and that son telling me he knows he'll "do better in high school because of Domus Academy--my behavior, my attitude, my words" are different now.

Some would say we're in the business of running a school or educating children, but I think it's more accurate to say we're in the business of helping people rediscover hope for the future.
**********
More pictures (and more on the way) are here in our Domus online photo galleries. 

Here goes!

We're excited to bring you Life at Domus Academy, a new blog detailing everything going on--the good, the bad, and everything in between--at our New Haven middle school.

We'll kick things off next Wednesday with coverage of our 8th grade graduation ceremony. Over the summer, we'll give you an inside look at what happens at a Domus school (empty hallways? not even close): From Teach For America staff conducting curriculum reviews to our very active yet educational summer school, you'll see it unfold real-time. Our unique family advocate model runs all summer; we'll tag along with DA family advocates on visits to students' homes and show you how they help remove non-academic barriers to student success.

Suggestions on what you'd like to see? Let us know, and thanks.