Abstract
Challenging the Community to Action using GIS
Track: Lightning Talk - Teaching
Authors: Carol Crutchfield
The Instructional Services Department of the Beaufort County School District isolated low test scores at a high performing middle school. Initial idea was to hand out flyers in the general community to challenge residents to get interested in mentoring and tutoring what turned out to be primarily African American males. Using GIS, the staff found that most of these identified students lived in several clustered areas in the community. Local churches were pinpointed, so staff could meet with pastors and congregations. "Gentleman's Clubs" were started by these mentors and begin meeting after school to engage students in learning, volunteering, and the value of an education. Many of the students have become positive leaders in the school.