Education Trend Includes Coaches in Classrooms

As you know I enjoy researching the very latest trends in education, so that I can keep my website www.roccobasile.org up to date. I found an interesting article on the Internet today, written by Emily McCormick, a teacher and curriculum facilitator at Fairlawn Elementary School in Evansville. Her article talks about the fact that today’s schools are now implementing of instructional coaches in classrooms. It is one of the fastest growing trends in education.

Why? Apparently because schools are faced with greater accountability than ever before and to meet this demand, many school districts are seeking new methods of supporting professional development among teachers to strengthen teaching practice and improve student learning. Some districts use coaches to help implement reform while others focus on particular critical areas such as mathematics, science and reading to support broad implementation of best practices in the classroom.

In some instances, like a pitching coach, these professionals narrow their focus to anticipate and support the unique needs that face a small group of players on the team. Trends across the nation also indicate that districts providing targeted assistance to certain populations of teachers, such as those within their first five years of teaching, have greater success with retention of quality employees and increased student achievement.

This reminds me of the fact that this is why our programs have been so successful for Children of the City. With 15,000 kids dropping out of school every year, our founder and president Joyce Mattera founded Children of the City in 1981 to reach out to kids in the Sunset Park community of Brooklyn, New York.

House-by-house, a small group of volunteers began visiting children weekly to assess their needs and invite them to various community programs, helping them by means of academic support, life skills training, family counseling, holiday dinners, Christmas gifts for hundreds of children each year.

Our volunteers include those who participate in the Create Success program which is constantly being evaluated for needs and even better success, and it is fast becoming a model sought after by other agencies for their own after school program sites. High priority is placed on student’s academic success with intense tutoring and daily personal homework help, and provides the student with counseling, advocacy within the social systems such as courts, plus age-appropriate group and individual mentoring.

Children of the City Gala Raised $100k plus

Our Children of the City gala last Thursday evening was a huge success, raising more than $100k for the non- profit organization based in Sunset Park, New York. There was a tremendous amount of press generated with the celebrities in attendance including David Tyree of the New York Giants, Steve Schirripa of the HBO hit series The Sopranos, who was Master of Ceremonies and New Jersey Nets Richard Jefferson, their second all time leading scorer.

The event was really fun, and there were lots of celebrities. David and I were each presented with the "Children's Champion" Award from Children of the City the at the charity's 4th annual Gala 2008 which was held in New York City at Tribeca Rooftop. This award celebrates all the work David has done in the last three years with the organization -- long before his SuperBowl fame.

Again, the real honor should go to my friends and colleagues who contribute to this wonderful organization so that we can be successful with programs such as our Create Success after school program that helps each student’s academic success via intense tutoring and daily personal help for the kids homework issues from volunteers. We've seen dramatic increases in each participating student’s reading and math levels. Plus it gives them healthy study habits and improved communications and better peer relationships.

You can read more about my philosophies about education for our youth on my website www. RoccoBasile.org

Tyree Deserves the Children of the City Award

There was an amazing article about David Tyree back on February 11 in a New York Times story written by that talks about why and how he decided that he needed to change his life after his arrest for drug possession in 2004. Now he is planning to write a book about the changes in his life after he was arrested, which he believes could have been the best thing that ever happened to him.

David Tyree with his wife, Leilah, and sons, Teyon, left, and Josiah. He and his wife run a nonprofit group that counsels teenagers. (Photo by Suzanne DeChillo/The New York Times)

He is also involved with a variety of charities, including Children of the City, which helps children and their families overcome poverty in Southwest Brooklyn. The work he does offers such hope to the kids in this program, because they can relate to his real experiences as a teenager, when he was addicted to alcohol. Based in Sunset Park, the program has offered help and services to thousands of underprivileged inner-city children and their families to achieve success in education, social relationships, at home, in finances and careers through the dedication of many volunteers like David.

When I read the article, it reminded me that I too had some issues to overcome in my past, and thanks to the work I do with my charities, including being on the Board of Children of the City and the Joe DiMaggio Committee for Xaverian High School, my Alma Mater, life is so much more fulfilled.

The Times article said Tyree was a moonlighting drug dealer who became a born-again Christian ... a child who drank alcohol and smoked marijuana with his family who turned into a sober father and husband . Just like many of the families and kids at Children of the City, transformation is the key word here.

Tyree also made this statement in another article, "Since learning about Children of the City, I have admired the aggressive approach it has taken in helping our young people. I only seek to do my best in community service with an organization that operates in excellence."

One success story there is about Erica, who never goes anywhere without a book since joining Children of the City’s Create Success Program.

“I tell other kids how nice it is to get help with your homework and reading at Children of the City”, comments the soft spoken fifth grader," she said. After just a few months, her grades improved dramatically and she learned to love reading.

It is stories like this that is the reason David Tyree will be getting that award tonight at our annual fundraiser and gala. Here's yet another brief blurb Tuesday in the NY Daily News about it that appeared about the event yesterday, which I am truly honored to be part of.

"New York Giants Super Bowl hero David Tyree and local businessman and Bay Ridge resident Rocco Basile will be honored Thursday at the Children of the City's Night of Champions Benefit Gala." Currently Children of the City reaches over 2,000 children and youth in Sunset Park every year, but also serves 900 children monthly through home visits from volunteers.

New York Daily News Article on Children of the City Gala

There was an article today in the New York Daily News written by staff writer Gayle Dewees about our Children of the City event this Thursday March 13, hosted by the New Jersey Nets, Richard Jefferson, and with actor Steve Schirripa, who will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

"New York Giants Super Bowl hero David Tyree and local businessman and Bay Ridge resident Rocco Basile will be honored Thursday at the Children of the City's Night of Champions Benefit Gala." Our friend David Tyree has been a supporter of the Children of the City for three years, long before his recent Bowl fame.

The article said, "Rocco Basile helped establish the after-school program by securing resources and funding for the program. They will both receive the program's highest honor, the Children Champion Award."

I'm so honored to receive this. The real honor should go to all my colleagues and friends who contribute to this wonderful organization. I thank you all and truly appreciate your help in supporting my cause and giving the resources to make this dream come true. Your generosity during the holidays with gifts for our toy drive brought so much joy, and the funds have made so much of a difference in our Create Success program. You have helped so many children and their families.

Create Success is an after school and also a summer program focusing on each student’s academic success. There is intense tutoring and daily personal help from colunteers for the students' homework. There have been dramatic increases in each participating student’s reading and math levels. Plus it gives them healthy study habits and improved communications and better peer relationships. Click here to learn more.

Children of the City's Founder and executive Director Joyce Materra said that its a "tremendous opportunity to educate New Yorkers about the challenges these children have to face."

Children of the City, based in Sunset Park, New York has offered help and services to thousands of underprivileged inner-city children and their families for the last 27 years so that they could achieve success in education, social relationships, at home, in finances and careers through the dedication of volunteers and staffed professionals.

Check out the David Tyree interview -- the now famous New York Giant was interviewed last week on 660 WFAN radio on the Boomer and Carlson show. David scored the touchdown to give the New York Giants the lead against the Patriots' and then caught the pivotal pass that led to one of the greatest upsets in NFL history. He will be honored this Thursday evening, March 13 by Children of the City at the Tribeca Rooftop in New York City.

"It is all about the children," said Tyree, who is from New Jersey. He is one of ther 50 most charitable guys in the league, and giving back is really important to him. He will be receiving the Children's Champion award at their gala where Steve Schirripa of the Sopranos, and Richard Jefferson of the New Jersey Nets will inspire an evening of fun and surprises. David has been working with the organization for the last two years. The charity has served the children and families of Southwest Brooklyn for more than two decades.

On the infamous Sunday his wife was nine months pregnant, but she flew to California and saw him play at the Bowl in Glendale, California. Their twin baby girls were born two weeks ago, joining his two sons.

As many of you know from my own website, Rocco Basile.org, I am a huge fan of the programs sponsored by Children of the City. The charity's goal is to reach at-risk inner-city children and youth with hope, guidance andresources to positively affect their lives and communities. Children of the City comes alongside those we serve and not only meets their needs and connects them to resources to address their current crises—we also educate and empower them to break the negative and destructive cycles in their lives and to take responsibility for change in their environment, and their community.

Strong Minds and Strong Homes is one program that fosters a great response. Volunteers reach out to hook up with kids and families in Southwest Brooklyn and connects them with services they might not otherwise seek out on their own.

David Tyree to Get Children's Champion Award

I saw this article in a local paper here in New York regarding our up and coming Children of the City gala on March 13. Of course you all know about my affiliation with the charity as a board member.

GIANTS SUPER BOWL HERO DAVID TYREE TO RECEIVE CHILDREN'S CHAMPION AWARD AT CHILDREN OF THE CITY 2008 GALA ON THURSDAY NIGHT, MARCH 13, AT TRIBECA ROOFTOP IN NEW YORK CITY

Yes it appears as if our New York Giants Super Bowl hero David Tyree will receive the Children's Champion Award at our March 13 4th annual gala and fund raiser. This year the Sopranos star Steve Schirripa will be the Master of Ceremonies, while the Nets star Richard Jefferson will be a guest of honor. Tickets are $400 each, but the cool thing is that the event takes place at reknowned Tribeca Rooftop in the city.

For tickets and more information contact Joyce Mattera at 718 436 0242, ext. 18.

Tyree, who is from Montclair, NJ, will always be remembered for his miraculous reception of the Eli Manning pass on the Giants final touchdown drive en route to the Super Bowl championship this year.

Here's a quote from Tyree: "For the past three years since learning about Children of the City, I have admired the aggressive approach it has taken in helping our young people. I only seek to do my best in community service with an organization that operates in excellence. Children of the City touches my heart, and I am honored each time I can be a part of serving this community."

You can read more about Children of the City on my Rocco Basile educational website -- but basically Children of the City is a community based organization that has been serving disadvantaged children since 1982. The group's mission is to reach at risk children in the inner city with hope, guidance and resources, hoping to positively affect their lives.

Programs like this breaks the cycle of poverty and its effects. Children of the City's outreach provides disadvantaged children with prevention programs, crisis intervention, educational support and healthy activities. Just go to ChildrenoftheCity.org and read more about these programs that continually produce tremendous documented progress and results. I

Currently we are reaching more than 2,000 children in Sunset Park each year, and we serve 900 children monthly through home visits from volunteers and counselors.

A Motivational Year with Children of the City

The first Children of the City newsletter reflected about the successes from last year. We've increased our board with some wonderful new members who will be a great asset to the organization as we continue to grow. As you know, I am also on the board of Xaverian High School, and we are privileged to have Dr. Salvatore Ferrara who is the president of the school join us at in our development process. You can read more about the school on my Rocco Basile website.

It is with Dr. Ferrara's assistance that we have progressed from having one fundraising event, which is known as our annual Gala (coming up again this March 13, 2008) to several events, including two Legislative Breakfasts.

We now have a number of connections with some of the elected officials who have been watching the results and impact that our programs are making.

One of my personal favorites is the Children of the City after school program, which is doing really well. Several students in our program who were at-risk students in junior high school but are now doing terrific in high school. Plus they are volunteering their free time back into the program.

We have many testimonials that you can read about on the website but one is about Stephanie Garcia, one of five children in a struggling single parented home. She was recently accepted into the National Honor Society. Stephanie attributes her success to the support that Children of the City has given her and her family.

Parent Workshops have been getting high attendance where we are providing needed resources and encouragement to the families. And we're very excited about the possibility of opening a Charter School in 2009. This would enable us to use the methods that have been so successful, taking Children of the City to the next level, increasing the number of children that we can service, and increasing our capacity for the after school and summer programs.

Our goal is to increase the scope of comprehensive services that Children of the City provides to the disadvantaged children of Sunset Park.