Why This Founding Green Dot Student Came Back to South LA

Daisy Estevez, a social studies teacher at Ánimo Mae Jemison Charter Middle School, became a teacher in hopes of changing the lives and trajectories of students. Estevez was inspired by her teachers at Ánimo Ralph Bunche Charter High School (ARB) who helped change her life when she was a founding student in 2006.

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How Middle Schoolers are Creating Safe Spaces for LGBTQ+ Students

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“I’m kind of mad I didn’t come to this school earlier. I came here a month ago and I finally feel like I belong,” admitted Yair Montano, an eighth grader at Ánimo Mae Jemison Charter Middle School. “In other schools, I felt shut out like I was nothing, but now I feel like I’m really a part of something.”

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Creating Middle School Pathways to STEM Careers

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People of color are grossly underrepresented in STEM careers. That’s why at Green Dot, we begin preparing our students in middle school, many of which have added 21st Century Learning Lab courses that utilize curriculum from Project Lead the Way.

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Reflecting On a 2018 of Growth

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As we turn the page on a new year, we take this time to reflect on all the ways we’ve grown in the past year. We have much to be proud of, and still more growth to pursue, but always, we remain committed to the students and families who have entrusted us to help pave a path of preparation for college, leadership, and life.

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Five Green Dot Schools Up For Renewal Are All Re-authorized

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Several schools across South LA were renewed this week by elected officials, helping keep more high quality public options to these historically underprivileged neighborhoods. Green Dot Public Schools’ network of Title I secondary schools had five schools under scrutiny this week–and all five were renewed!

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What it Takes to Build a School Vision

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Ánimo Mae Jemison Charter Middle School Principal Nate Geller has spent the past year working with staff, students, and families to reinvent school culture and build a new vision that can help them see the future they are building together.

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How Ánimo Mae Jemison is Strengthening Parent Relationships

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Ánimo Mae Jemison Charter Middle School works closely with parents to bridge the gap between students’ home and school lives. In addition to the traditional back-to-school nights and School Advisory Council (SAC) meetings, Green Dot partners with United Parents and Students (UPAS) to offer a series of Parent Academy workshops.

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