Welcome to the Green Dot Blog!

Meet A Green Dot Educator: Kara Hayes

Dec 13, 2017

Meet Kara Hayes, a Special Education teacher at Destiny Middle School in Tacoma WA, and an exceptional Green Dot educator.

Photo Essay: Green Dot Parents Rally for a Better Future at ForwardLA

Dec 6, 2017

On December 2, over 1,000 parents and community leaders gathered to advocate for change around six major issues facing their communities.

Green Dot Public Schools Named Top Place to Work in Memphis

Dec 5, 2017

The Commercial Appeal, in partnership with research firm, Energage, LLC (formerly WorkplaceDynamics), announced today that Green Dot Public Schools Tennessee is one of the best places to work in the Greater Memphis area. Green Dot is thrilled to be acknowledged on this year’s Top Workplaces 2017 list, as the professional development and empowerment of its employees is a top priority for the organization.

Solar Eclipse Sparks Curiosity of Green Dot’s Young Scientists Across the Nation

Sep 13, 2017

This summer, Green Dot students witnessed the first total solar eclipse in the United States since 1979. Green Dot educators saw this as a great opportunity to continue linking current events and natural phenomena to the classroom, encouraging students to tap into their innate curiosity.

The 74 — Terry: 3 Things Every New Teacher Should Know That the Advice Books Won’t Tell Them

Sep 11, 2017

Read three practical tips to help you thrive in your first year of teaching and beyond, gleaned from Kris Terry’s experience as a new teacher, school principal and Director of New Teacher Development.

Statement by Green Dot CEO Marco Petruzzi on the Trump Administration’s Decision to Repeal DACA

Sep 7, 2017

We are deeply disappointed and frustrated about this week’s announcement from the Trump Administration repealing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) over the next six months.

Meet Ricardo Carranza, the Welcoming Smile of Kirby

Aug 31, 2017

On any given day at Kirby Middle School, you can guarantee to be greeted by the welcoming smile of Office Assistant Ricardo Carranza.

Green Dot Celebrates Graduates Across the Network

Aug 29, 2017

We’d like to say a final congratulations to over 1,600 Green Dot graduates from the Class of 2017. Catch a glimpse of graduations from across the network.

Just Keep Swimming: An Educator’s Letter to College Freshmen

Aug 21, 2017

English teacher Catherine Stine shares words of encouragement with Green Dot alumni embarking on their first year of college.

Watch Three Green Dot Students Along Their Road to College

Aug 14, 2017

In this video, we encounter three students in different grade levels — one middle school student, one recent high school graduate, and one alumni — from three different cities across the Green Dot network, all on different parts of their road to college.

VOTE NOW: Green Dot Submits Three Panels for 2018 SXSWedu Conference & Festival

Aug 14, 2017

For its third year in a row, Green Dot submitted proposals for our educators, leadership team and staff to lead panel discussions at the SXSWedu annual conference in Austin, TX. Vote for Green Dot’s panels today!

Cooling the Melt: Helping Our Students Get to Day One of Freshmen Year at College

Aug 10, 2017

A phenomena known as “summer melt” is a representation of the obstacles faced by many first year and first generation college students. This is why Green Dot’s educational model has built-in supports in the form of summer workshops, support groups, mentors, and outreach.

New Year, New Faces: Meet Three New School Leaders Excited For Their New Roles

Jul 27, 2017

As the school year approaches, Green Dot proudly welcomes new school leaders to our growing community as they prepare to roll up their sleeves and get to work in schools across California, Washington, and Tennessee. Meet the school leaders at Green Dot’s three newest schools.

parent community engagement coordinators

The Link Between Parents, Communities and Green Dot

Jul 12, 2017

At Green Dot, a special staff person helps power the vital partnership between schools, families, and communities — we call them Parent Coordinators, and they help bridge the gap between students’ home and school lives.

Parting Wisdom from Hillcrest’s Class of 2017

Jul 7, 2017

This is Hillcrest’s first graduation under Green Dot’s operation of the school, making it a very special Class of 2017. At this year’s graduation ceremony, the Hillcrest valedicotiran and two salutatorians shared insight and encouragement with their classmates.

Special Olympics Breaks Down Stereotypes and Builds Cohesion

Jul 5, 2017

The thumps of basketballs hitting the pavement were muffled over the applause of the audience, as Ánimo Western Charter Middle School and Ánimo Phillis Wheatley Charter Middle School students played in their first Special Olympics Unified Sports game.

Kevin de Leon Meets with Charter Parents to Talk Immigration Policy

Jun 22, 2017

This spring, parents and students from Green Dot Public Schools’United Parents and Students, KIPP Public Charter Schools, and Magnolia Public Schools, hosted the LA Stands for All Immigrant Families assembly, a collective effort to protect the rights of the families our schools serve — and by extension, families like them across the city.

Building a Great School Together in Hickory Hill

Jun 20, 2017

“Founding a school is a huge amount of work, but it’s also a huge opportunity,” said Jonas G. Cleaves, principal of Green Dot Tennessee’s newest school, Bluff City High School.

Memphis Seniors Graduate Ready For College, Leadership and Life

Jun 12, 2017

Green Dot leadership, educators and staff proudly celebrate the end of a successful school year as 209 students from our two high schools in Memphis walk the stage at their graduation ceremonies.