Major Mental Health Investment
The Waukee Community Schools Foundation has made a major investment in the mental health and safety of Waukee Community School District students and employees. Following a successful pilot program of the Mercer Elite leadership program at Prairieview School and South Middle School in 2021-22, the Foundation has committed $43,000 to expand the program to include four schools in 2022-23: Prairieview School, Timberline School, South Middle School, and Northwest High School. All four schools requested to be involved in the Mercer Elite program and are in support of its execution.
The Foundation has been working closely with District administration to identify needed resources and opportunities within the District’s three-pronged approach to improving school safety. That approach includes: building security, mentorship/mental health, and staff & student training. “Mentorship and mental health are two areas very special to the Foundation, as one of our priority outcome areas is wellness,” said Adrianne Towe, Waukee Community Schools Foundation Executive Director. “We saw incredible results from the Mercer Elite program last year, so when the District asked if we could partner with them to not only continue but expand the program in 2022-23, our Board of Directors jumped at the opportunity.”
The Mercer Elite program works with teachers to identify students in our district who have leadership potential, but due to various reasons, may be exhibiting behaviors counteractive to their potential. The program works with those students to identify their strengths and build a stronger sense of self-confidence. At Prairieview School, 45 students participated in the program last year. Some highlights include:
Students who participated increased their school attendance by 62% compared to their first semester attendance.
38 students in the program had documented behaviors during their first semester. At the conclusion of second semester, 11 students (30%) saw a decrease in behavior referrals.
20 students in the program had at least one suspension during the first semester. By the end of second semester, nearly half of them (9) had decreased their number of suspensions.
One student had five suspensions in the first semester and only one suspension in the second semester while participating in the leadership program. This student also went from 32 documented behavior issues in the first semester to 10 in the second. This student also increased attendance significantly. After missing 52 days in the first semester, this student only missed 9 days during the duration of this program in the second semester.
“The Foundation believes increased investment in support of mental health, mentorship, and leadership programs in our schools will help improve safety and the classroom experience for all students and employees,” said Adrianne Towe. “We are also incredibly grateful to Endow Urbandale and the Waukee Betterment Foundation for contributing their own grant dollars to this investment.”
Endow Urbandale
Check Presentation on November 3, 2022.