October 2024

Root 2 Rise places high school students as academic tutors and behavioral mentors in neighborhood elementary schools. This leadership experience fosters academic achievement and personal growth.

A Larger Lesson

Public service and

personal growth

Simple things matter, even when doubt and cynicism prevail in the political arena. Helping each other is a simple, but powerful force, as is evident in Root 2 Rise

Helping each other is a simple, but powerful force. Alexis de Toqueville knew this nearly 200 years ago when he praised Amercans’ penchant for civic engagement in his book, Democracy In America. This force is evident in Root 2 Rise.

When Tutor-Mentors help younger students, they create an inclusive community, characterized by the cooperation that de Tocqueville admired. As they help, Tutor–Mentors gain the confidence necessary to succeed in school. By their own accounts, however, this success is secondary to the satisfaction they derive from helping others. 

Such selfless service is a potent counterweight to facets of American culture that worried de Tocqueville: a tendency toward excessive materialism and individualism, and racial inequality.

Root 2 Rise demonstrates that, if given the opportunity, students rise to meet expectations. 

We should do the same. De Tocqueville would be pleased.

Click below for a short video

Root 2 Rise welcomes three new sponsors: TruStage, the Ladies Philoptochos Society, and the Bank of Sun Prairie. We also received a second round of funding from the Sonnentag American Foundation.

An Administrator’s Perspective

Discovering

‘new’ leaders

 Root 2 Rise meets a need not that’s not usually filled by other programs, said Beth Thompson, a veteran administrator with the Madison Metropolitan School District.

Thompson was the principal at Madison West High School when Root 2 Rise was created by Denise Hanson, then positive behavior coach at the high school. Thompson shared Hanson’s view that many disengaged students “had leadership potential, but didn’t view themselves as leaders.” and often needed credits toward graduation.

“Root 2 Rise really, really helped these students” by letting them help elementary school students, increasing their confidence and letting them earn credit toward graduation,  Thompson said.  “I saw the benefits in real time.”

The stipend Tutor-Mentors received was an additional incentive.

Thompson said Root 2 Rise has the flexibility and resources that school districts often lack, factors  important “in times like these when finances are a concern. Districts might find it difficult to administer such a program.

“The cost-benefit ratio of Root 2 Rise is good, especially considering the worrisome low graduation rates and the lagging reading skills in elementary schools. I know we have partnered with all sorts of programs that didn’t achieve such good results,” she said.

Thompson’s 37-year career includes 11 years as assistant principal and three years as principal. Root 2 Rise was created in the Madison Metropolitan School District, and has been successfully implemented in several schools, including West and La Follette high schools.

Fulfilling Personal and Philosophical Goals

‘I felt my life had a purpose’

Shaneece Taylor

One semester with Root 2 Rise in 2017 changed the trajectory of Shaneece Taylor’s life.

The experience encouraged her to pursue a career helping youth. “In Root 2 Rise, I fell in love with working with kids.”  After graduation, she worked as a Special Education Assistant with the Oregon School District, a teacher’s assistant with One City Schools, and with the Madison School and Community Recreation program. She now works in restorative justice programs with Briarpatch Youth Services helping homeless and at-risk youth.

“In Root 2 Rise, I felt my life had a purpose when I saw how the faces of the kids I helped would light up. High school was a very difficult time for me, and I remember how others helped me.”

“Helping others is a personal  and philosophical goal for me,” she said.

She’s delighted that Root 2 Rise has expanded, and hopes the kids she helps can also participate in Root 2 Rise can participate to repair the harm they’ve suffered and help them avoid trouble.

Her participation in Root 2 Rise is on her resume – and it’s definitely part of her life.

Earning Public Support

A city alder is convinced

Steve Stocker

Seeing (and hearing) is believing.

Steve Stocker was all in when he recently heard Tutor-Mentors and Partner Teachers recount their experience with Root 2 Rise.

“In a nutshell, this program was a life-changing experience for these students,” many of whom hadn’t been interested in attending school, Stocker said. “The more people know about this program, the better.”

Stocker has been an alder for the City of Sun Prairie for a decade. He believes Root 2 Rise, which has been offered by the Sun Prairie School District for four semesters, is an integral part of the city’s future.

“Based on the feedback I’ve heard, Tutor-Mentors will contribute to our community to a much greater extent than anyone thought possible before they participated in the program,” he said.

A New Career Choice?

Helping and learning

Tutor-Mentor Lendsay Landavede and Partner Teacher Zach Richards

It didn’t take long for Lendsay Landavede to appreciate Root 2 Rise.

After helping fifth-grade students in the classroom of Zach Richards for two months, Landavede, 16, a junior, has already learned much about teaching, students – and herself.

“I love helping – and I know the students love to see me,” she said. “It’s so much more than just helping. I was a ‘naughty’ student, at that age and I mistakenly thought they would be the same.” 

“Lindsay is a good role model,” said Richards, who has worked with Tutor-Mentors for two years. She often works with students in small groups, and helps students “reset” themselves when they’re having a difficult time.

Richards said she notices students who need help before he does. “She always finds something to do without much direction. Students absolutely adore her.”

“I’ve learned to be more patient. Root 2 Rise changed my view of teaching, and maybe my choice of career,” she said. “My first choice was something involving medicine but now I am considering a career in teaching.”