The Westside Debaters A HISTORIC JOURNEY JEFF MAY, STUDENT MENTOR WESTSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The Changing Face of Westside About 700 PK-5 th Grade Students About 700 PK-5 th Grade Students 9 U.S States as well as 19 Countries represented. 9 U.S States as well as 19 Countries represented. 74% African American 23% White 2% Asian 1% American Indian 74% African American 23% White 2% Asian 1% American Indian 85% Free or Reduced Lunch 85% Free or Reduced Lunch 15:1 Student : Teacher Ratio 15:1 Student : Teacher Ratio

The Westside Debaters Est School Year Est School Year Teacher Selected Teacher Selected Academic/Behavioral Incentive Academic/Behavioral Incentive Critical Thinkers Critical Thinkers Analytical Students Analytical Students Ability to “Think Outside the Box” Ability to “Think Outside the Box” Students who have an “edge” Students who have an “edge”

THE GOAL Develop Public Speaking Skills Develop Public Speaking Skills Foster Confidence Foster Confidence Encourage Critical Thinking Encourage Critical Thinking Develop the Ability to Research Develop the Ability to Research Learning how to Disagree Learning how to Disagree Promote Personal Responsibility Promote Personal Responsibility Developing a Personal view of the World around you. Developing a Personal view of the World around you.

The Personal Investment Self-Control Self-Control Self-Monitoring Self-Monitoring Academic Commitment Academic Commitment Recess & Lunch Recess & Lunch “Multi-Sourced” Research “Multi-Sourced” Research Fact Finding Fact Finding Interviews Interviews Memorization Memorization

OUR ARGUMENTS SOL Testing SOL Testing Teacher Pay for Performance Teacher Pay for Performance Improving the Economy Improving the Economy Bullying Prevention Bullying Prevention Bilingual Education Bilingual Education Drug Prevention (Red Ribbon Week) Drug Prevention (Red Ribbon Week) Project-Based Learning Project-Based Learning

THE HIGHLIGHTS Newspaper Newspaper Television/ HLN Television/ HLN Syndicated Radio Syndicated Radio City Hall Performances City Hall Performances RCPS Convocation RCPS Convocation School Board Mtg. (Pay for Performance) School Board Mtg. (Pay for Performance) Wiley College & The Great Debaters Wiley College & The Great Debaters

THE SUCCESS Personal Pride Personal Pride The Family Effect The Family Effect Student Stories Student Stories Academic Improvement Academic Improvement Increased Attendance Increased Attendance School Pride School Pride Program Expansion Program Expansion

The 5 Tenants of the Debate Program Belief in Self Belief in Self Develop a sense of purpose Develop a sense of purpose Obligation to Excel Obligation to Excel Determination to Succeed Determination to Succeed Develop & Own a Vision Develop & Own a Vision

Student Clubs & Organizations Violin Club Violin Club Yearbook Yearbook Choir Choir Step Team Step Team Safety Patrol Safety Patrol Book Club Book Club Spanish Clubs Spanish Clubs Debate Team Debate Team Social Committees Social Committees Mentor “Lunch Bunch” Mentor “Lunch Bunch” HAM Radio Club HAM Radio Club Debutants Debutants Recycling Club Recycling Club Chess Club Chess Club Peer Mediators Peer Mediators

The Moral of The Story… What they are becoming is more important than what they are accomplishing.

William Arthur Ward “Mediocre teachers tell. Good teachers explain. Superior teachers demonstrate. Great teachers inspire.”

THANK YOU!!!