Citizen Schools
Citizen Schools' mission is to educate children and strengthen communities. Citizen Schools seeks to change the life trajectories of middle school students making them more likely to succeed in high school, attend college, get and hold good jobs and serve as leaders in their communities.
Apprenticeships The Citizen Schools program gives adults the opportunity to take what they do best in their professional careers or personal pursuits and use it to help middle school students move to a long-term trajectory of success. In 90-minute classes one afternoon a week (Monday or Wednesday) for 13 weeks, these volunteer Citizen Teachers enable young people to learn real-world skills by creating real-world projects. Lawyers turn their apprentices into prosecutors, artists cultivate young muralists, and gardeners lead a team of twelve-year-old green thumbs. On the 11th week, apprentices will present a final product, presentation or performance called a WOW! Every WOW! showcases the students' learning for a public audience of family, school staff, and community leaders. Past WOW!s include a video on lead contamination, cereal production, a home design, an arts show, environment-friendly packaging, healthy cooking, a CD of student music, even a financial plan for a new business--all created by young people themselves.
Support All Citizen Teachers receive intensive training and are supported by a full-time, professional educator (Citizen Schools Team Leader) who helps design the apprenticeships and inspire middle school students. Impact Whatever your profession or passion, Citizen Schools will help you turn it into a life-changing apprenticeship for young people. It will be an unforgettable experience of growth and learning for you.
1995
Liza Aguirre-Oviedo