Study: Cape Girardeau students involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters showed gains in attendance and academics

Kristen Pender knows the effect mentoring can have on youth. For more than three years, Pender has worked as a school-based manager for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and her experiences with the Cape Girardeau School District demonstrate how the program can transform a child's life.

"I've seen a lot of significant differences in these kids' lives," she said. "Sometimes you see it at first and sometimes you see it later on down the line. You don't just see a miracle happening in front of your eyes."

But now Pender has the science to back it up.

A three-year study of Cape Girardeau students involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters found significant increases in attendance, as well as smaller but noticeable improvements academically. The study stemmed from the ABC Education Initiative, a pilot program launched in Cape Girardeau in 2007. Not only did the initiative bring hard numbers to back the program's success, it has become a model for national replication.

On Thursday, the Cape Girardeau School District will be honored for its creation of the ABC Education Initiative and its partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri. This special event will mark the first time a school district has received the President's Award from the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. The event will be held at the agency's new location at 1610 N. Kingshighway. The program begins at 5:30 p.m. and will include two other major announcements.

Kaleb, 7, of Cape Girardeau, swings with his Big Brother and Big Sister Chris and Debbie Gross of Cape Girardeau Sunday at Arena Park. The Gross couple have been working with Kaleb since October. They said they wanted to work with Big Brothers Big Sisters since both of their children have grown and left the house. (Elizabeth Dodd)

Collecting data

Becky James-Hatter, president and chief executive officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri, said the ABC Education Initiative spurred from the organization's strategic plan. Along with its plan, the organization partnered with the Cape Girardeau School District to collect data on students involved with the program.

James-Hatter said an Education Task Force, made up of individuals from the school district and "people that really understand education," was formed in 2007. The task force set out to find new systems of measurement that would best reflect the effect on each child involved with the program.

The team set three main objectives for the children: attendance, behavior and classroom success, or the the ABCs. It collected data on 150 children, or "littles," involved with the program and monitored their number of absences, tardies, discipline referrals, reading level and math grades over the three-year period.

Data collected from the 2007-2008 school year showed 38.4 percent of the students had improved overall. Of the students, 61.2 percent had fewer tardies, 54.3 percent had fewer absences, 17 percent had fewer discipline referrals, 26.9 percent received higher grades in reading classes and 19.2 percent received a higher grade in math class.

Ashley Beggs is the senior regional program director for Big Brothers Big Sisters in Cape Girardeau. (Elizabeth Dodd)

Dr. James Welker, superintendent of the Cape Girardeau School District, said the new data alleviates any question of the program's influence on students.

"We know they make a difference because we have the data to back it up," he said. "It was a good joint effort to look at how we can better help our students."

In addition to highlighting the students improvements, program director Ashley Beggs said the data shows which students need more help and in what way.

Students who have five or more absences or tardies, three or more discipline referrals or below a C grade in reading or math are red-flagged. She said now the agency can collaborate with the student, parent and mentor to better focus on the areas that need improving.

"Now that we're able to see where kids are struggling, we're able to help them better. Now it's fact; we know how they're doing in school," she said. "I think we've kicked it up to a whole new level of taking care of our kids and working with our schools to make them successful."

James-Hatter said the Cape Girardeau branch is the only agency nationwide collecting data at this level, and it's already received a lot of attention.

"We're very excited about what we're doing. As we continue to collect more data, we understand the power of this data," she said. "Clearly this ABC Education Initiative is the first of its kind and has really become a model for national replication."

She said the model will be showcased at a national conference in June in Miami.

"Hopefully we'll be able to show other communities the difference this has made in the lives of kids."

Being a Big

Volunteer Jena Stoverink said the differences are obvious.

Stoverink is a 21-year-old dietetics major at Southeast Missouri State University, but to her little, Kei'Airian, she is more than that. Stoverink became the 11-year-old's mentor in November 2006. Even though she's busy juggling college and a job, Stoverink said she always makes time to spend with her. Whether it is spent studying, doing homework or playing games, Stoverink is with Kei'Airian at least 3 hours each month. In two weeks, they're going to the St. Louis Zoo.

"I am very busy, but knowing that she is depending on me to help and just be there for her, I'm willing to take my time out of the day for someone who appreciates it so much," she said. "This program gives them someone else to look up to other than family or teachers. Having that positive influence in their lives makes the children do better."

Central Middle School principal Mark Kiehne said he's seen children revert from bad behavior because of their big brother or big sister.

"You tell them, 'You know we're going to have to tell your big about this,' and you can see the disappointment on their face," Kiehne said. "Also, what I've seen is the excitement level when their big comes to school."

Ruthann Orr, principal of Alma Schrader Elementary, said she has seen students turn around because of the program.

"When behavior improves, academics also improve. It's been a huge boost for these kids. If you feel that someone's taking an interest in you at school, school becomes a little bit more valuable to you," Orr said.

Alma Schrader's counselor Julia Unnerstall said the organization has done a great job matching up the children with mentors, "personality to personality."

"We have a really terrific partnership with them. They have been instrumental in getting some fabulous big brothers and big sisters here," Unnerstall said.

The organization

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeast Missouri has been making those one-to-one matches since 1914. The chapter expanded to include Cape Girardeau in 2001, and the creation of the ABC Education Initiative is one of its many accomplishments.

The local organization is considered a standout model chapter by its parent organization and is currently ranked 13th largest and first in match retention rates out of 430 affiliates. The chapter provided 2,656 adult-child pairings last year alone.

James-Hatter said the matches cost around $1,200 each. The money is spent to recruit volunteers, and she said a "big portion of those costs are to have staff that can screen the volunteers."

"Magic happens in these relationships, but it does not happen magically. An enormous amount of work goes into quality mentoring," she said. "For mentoring to be effective, you need a strong bond that lasts a long time."

To encourage lasting relationships with the littles, she said, the organization keeps in monthly contact with those involved -- about 9,000 people a year.

The largest agency fundraisers are the Eddie Fund, an annual fund that contributes about $1.4 million; Bowl for Kids' Sake, which contributes about $400,000; and the United Way.

Beggs said the help from these fundraisers, volunteers and the community are what make the program a success.

"All of us working together can make a real difference, but we can't do it alone."

The agency in Cape Girardeau matched 350 young people with mentors in 2008, but 200 children currently wait on the list. To donate or volunteer to be a big, visit www.bbbsemo.org.

In addition to honoring the Cape Girardeau School District, Thursday's event will honor Southeast Missouri State University with the Partner Award. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri will present Southeast with the award as recognition of its volunteers, paid tutors, interns and participation on the Education Task Force.

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder will also announce Big Brothers Big Sisters Amachi Missouri as the official charity of the Tour of Missouri.

Pertinent addresses:

Big Brothers Big Sisters agency in Cape Girardeau

1610 N. Kingshighway

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri

501 North Grand Blvd.

St. Louis, Mo. 63103