For the past seven years, YCCF has been focused on improving educational outcomes for all children in York County. Across the country, student achievement in districts with higher rates of poverty lag far behind their more affluent counterparts. The School District of the City of York (YCSD) is tackling this challenge by investing in a transformational recovery plan. YCCF has been by its side supporting key initiatives such as the Communities in Schools program. The District has remained committed to implementing its plan with fidelity and has begun to see the results. Because of this trusting relationship, Dr. Holmes, the former Superintendent of the District, reached out to YCCF for support to recognize teachers who are achieving outstanding growth in student academic performance. YCCF’s grant distribution committee considered a proposal from the District to offer financial awards for teachers who are ‘Shining Stars’ that could be used for classroom enhancements. Knowing that many dedicated teachers reach into their own pockets to purchase additional teaching supplies, YCCF saw how a small award would be a meaningful recognition from the community and awarded a grant to create the Shining Stars recognition program. In 2019, 45 teachers were celebrated because their students achieved more than one year of growth in a single school year.
“Our staff works incredibly hard every day to prove what’s possible with our students,” reflected Goode K-8 Principal Chantress Williams. “I can’t say enough about how they invest in every one of our students every single day.”
“The teachers love this. They talk about it for weeks on end afterwards, “said Dr. Andrea Berry, Superintendent of the City of York Schools. “This is an opportunity for us to celebrate them and their kids’ accomplishments.”
