Student Success in the New Salem Educational Initiative: Franco Martin

Franco Martin has an unusual history in the New Salem Educational Initiative, inasmuch as he first enrolled as a Grade 2 student during the 2009-2010 academic year but did not begin his second year of participation in the Initiative until his Grade 4 year.  I provide transportation to all weekly academic sessions of the program and interact with families of students in the program on an ongoing basis.  Thus, I am able to keep abreast of changing residences, telephone numbers, and schools of enrollment.  But in the case of Franco and his family during the 2009-2010 academic year, the switch of residence and phone number came so swiftly in the midst of a busy period that I could not catch up with Franco until many months had passed. 

The interruption in attendance was unusual.  My students have near-perfect attendance, and they overwhelming continue from one year to another.  Franco had his attendance interrupted after just a few sessions, and he missed all of his Grade 3 year (2010-2011) before I could track him down.  But I did track Franco down, a testimony to my vow never to give up on a single student once she or he is enrolled in the New Salem Educational Initiative. 

Franco reenrolled as a Grade 4 student along with his brother Juan (Grade 2) for the 2011-2012 academic year.  By this time, Franco had fallen two grade levels below that of school enrollment in reading and one year below grade level in math.  Franco is a good and willing student but not as intellectually nimble as his younger brother, Juan.  The fact that Juan is such an adept student, in many ways functioning academically above Franco, proved to be an emotional burden on the latter.  Under these conditions, I considered as more important than ever the careful sequencing of assignments in very manageable chunks so as to maximize the chance of successful performance by Franco.

Steadily, Franco’s successful completion of assignments gained momentum.  He gained two grade levels in reading and one grade level in math, so that by the end of academic year 2011-2012 he was functioning fully at grade level in both key skill areas.  At the June 2012 Annual Banquet of the New Salem Educational Initiative, Franco received the “Most Improved” award;   I carefully explained to all of those assemebled that this was one of the most prestigious awards earned at the banquet.

Miguel beamed.  His confidence had returned.  He no longer stood in the academic shadow of his younger brother.  Franco Martin is now eagerly anticipating academic year 2012-2013, positioned for a level of continued accomplishment that will be transformative for this child of an immigrant family from Mexico.