Coaching for College began with an all volunteer effort of young professionals wanting to give back to the community where they worked. In 1999, two graduate students from Harvard Universitys Kennedy School of Government Mark Bayer and Shana Montesol Johnson relocated to Washington, DC and developed Coaching for College.
Noting the economic and educational disparity affecting Washington, DC residents, the founders of Coaching for College believed that a mentoring program that prepared students for the realities of high school and employment would be a valuable service for the community. Interested in alleviating these problems and giving back to their community they sought out schools that met certain criteria more than 80% of school children qualified for the federal subsidized meal program, no other organizations operating in the school, and a highly receptive school administration.
Coaching for College provides critically-needed academic tutoring, adult mentoring and career exploration enrichment activities to a District of Columbia student population with limited access to such services. While poverty is a persistent problem in the District, it is particularly acute within the community served by Coaching for College. Although the Shaw neighborhood is a rapidly gentrifying area, our student population consists almost entirely of African-Americans from single parent households, who struggle economically and have not benefited from many of the positive changes in the neighborhood, such as rising home values.
Coaching for College met with Shaw Junior High Schools administrators in September of 1999 and began its program in January of 2000. Coaching for College began its operation with 10 students in the junior high school and 20 mentors. During the 2006-2007 academic year, Coaching for College expanded its program to serve students at the Garnet-Patterson Middle School also located in the Districts Ward 2. Our Garnet students experience similar socioeconomic challenges as Shaw students. Combining the personal experiences and educational training of its founders, Coaching for College is able to provide not only educational support but also guidance to students on how to realize their dreams. Shaw Middle School and Garnet-Patterson Middle school has since consolidated and Shaw Middle School is currently housed at Garnet-Patterson Middle School. Coaching for College currently serves 40 students at 65 coaches.
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