Mission A community collaboration to transform Tehama County

Mission A community collaboration to transform Tehama County by championing higher expectations for higher education and career readiness.

The “Over-Coffee” Conversation Two years ago, a small group met at Starbucks to discuss how to spend precious dollars on education in Tehama County. The small group grew and the scope of the conversation broadened from education to the needs of the community, of economic development, of positioning ourselves for future opportunities, of increasing our regional skills base and more. We realized that by partnering with stakeholders, we could champion existing resources and programs and begin to fill in the gaps. Expect More Tehama was born.

Questions we began to ask… • How do we encourage our residents to Increase their skills? • How do we make sure that all of our students understand their options for college and vocational training? • How do we educate parents on the true cost and options for higher education? • How do we run that message as a consistent, frequent thread throughout our communities, through all age groups and populations, and raise our overall expectations? • What resources can we tap? • What challenges do we face?

Current Reality • Rural areas have a lower percentage of residents with higher education. Poverty numbers are high. • Northern California is no exception. • From an economic development standpoint, the region needs to raise the skills of the workforce to compete for good companies and to retain our higher skilled. Increasingly the fastest growing, high wage jobs require postsecondary education. • Now more than ever, we need all students prepared.

Income and Poverty in Tehama County Estimate of Percent of People Below Poverty Level 19. 8% Per capita annual income $20, 299 • Source: US Census: 2005 -2009

Per Capita Annual Income Comparison

Comparison of Educational Attainment Ages 25+

Can a county or region be transformed through community collaboration? If so, how? By championing higher expectations for higher education and career readiness.

Vision Expect More Tehama is a grass roots movement primarily focused on rebuilding Tehama County to a community that offers safe, caring neighborhoods, quality schools and thriving employment opportunities; while promoting life-long learning to all Tehama County residents. Focus Education is vital to the success of this vision. Thus Expect More Tehama strongly supports the all students graduate from high school with the plan to continue their education and/or technical skill development after high school.

Important! This is not a college-only message. • We fully realize that a four-year university experience is not for everyone. • There are many options including apprenticeship, certificate programs, trades school, community college, the military and more. • Our position is that the more prepared and aware students are before leaving high school, the more options they have when they graduate.

Expect More Tehama Commitments • We collectively agree that it is not the sole responsibility of our education system to teach our students… we must Expect More Tehama. • The grass roots movement is lead by the community in order to enhance the community. • Expect More Tehama is about continuous improvement in an environment not stuck on the past, and not willing to lay blame, justify or pass responsibility but instead seek solutions and reasons to support and celebrate. • Expect More Tehama identifies important areas where the community can work together to address pressing educational issues, better leverage resources and have a measurable impact.

Higher Education through Higher Expectations Movement Goals: 1. All Students in Tehama County graduate from high school. 2. All Students have access to and are prepared for higher education/college, if they choose. 3. All Students have access to pathways sustainable for jobs and careers. 4. Community knows where to find resources to gain/increase their own skills.

Expect More Tehama is not an education issue… • It is a community issue. • It is a discussion about expectations and intentions. • It encourages a culture shift.

The Power of Marketing • Non-intrusive, non-threatening campaign focused around enhancing, revitalizing and infusing support to current or new systems. • Create a plan for each audience (stakeholder) group to add awareness and/or support. • Utilize the diverse support team to support and broaden existing plans.

Reaching our Stakeholders • Based on the goals, the movement will focus on raising awareness and generating support to the stakeholders of our community through a comprehensive marketing plan: • • • Students Parents Educators Business Sector Support Services

The Journey Begins • From September to May 2009, dozens of visits were made to establish relationships and understand the current reality. • In May 2010, over 100 stakeholders met at an inaugural Summit to tackle the BIG question: • What can we do or put in place that will start to raise expectations and support youth in continuing their education and skills beyond high school?

Community Collaboration • What can business, education, service clubs, coaches, counselors, students, government, non-profits, parents, grandparents, school board members and individuals do? • What suggestions did one group have for another? • The room was electric and positive. The ideas were proactive and numerous. • Based on the outcomes of the Summit, Expect More Tehama (the community) was eager to support new and already established efforts through stronger marketing promotion and physical support and involvement.

Stakeholder Group: Students Stakeholder Movement Achievements • • 8 th Grade Leadership Conference College OPTIONS Programs College Campus Field Trips T-Shirt Project Stakeholder Message • Beginning in Kindergarten and promoting throughout the elementary and high school experience, the campaign will focus on providing college options.

Stakeholder Group: Parents Stakeholder Movement Achievements • Parent Night Meetings • General awareness for the opportunities that higher education provides • Easy to access to resources and expertise (College OPTIONS, mentors, website and events) • Weekly Newspaper Column Stakeholder Message • The message to parents is two-fold; educating on the accessibility of higher education options and providing the tools/resources.

Stakeholder Group: Educators Stakeholder Movement Achievements • • Small Learning Communities Grant Special events – College Quest Collaboration on grant opportunities College OPTIONS Advisor Stakeholder Message • Respecting the tremendous amount of responsibility our educators have, our campaign goals are to support the current system and look for ways to aid in enhancement (funding, implementation, etc).

Resources: Different Kinds of Capital • Financial capital – Money or other resources to invest for services or supplies • Network capital – People you know, connections you can make, other systems you can plug into • Intellectual capital – Smarts; software systems; access to people with insight • Physical capital – offices, warehouses, etc. • Prestige capital – using your reputation to open doors or to gain support • Instigation capital –The ability and the guts to say yes. Leadership prodding it forward. Getting others involved & maintaining momentum

What will ensure long-term success? • Long-term commitment from leadership • Leadership team with clear goals, structure and measurable outcomes. • The need for change has surfaced; needs of stakeholders have been validated and support has been received and/ is in progress. • Must maintain a grassroots movement

Challenge STEP ONE: In the next 10 minutes, write down your ideas that answer the following two questions: a) What can I personally do or put in place that will start to raise expectations and support youth in continuing their education and skills beyond high school…in the next three months? b) What can we as a board and staff do or put in place that will start to raise expectations and support youth in continuing their education and skills beyond high school…in the next three months?

Challenge STEP TWO: Over the next 10 minutes, identify and share one of your favorite ideas from each list with those at your table. My favorite idea from #1 is: My favorite idea from #2 is:

Challenge STEP THREE: As a group, choose one personal and one school board and staff idea to share with the entire group. One personal idea we want to share with everyone: One School Board and Staff idea we want to share with everyone: Our reporter will be…

Thank you! Questions, Comments and Open Discussion Contacts: Kathy Garcia kgarcia@ncen. org Kate Grissom kgrissom@rollinghillscasino. com www. expectmoretehama. com