Behind the Scenes: Recognizing the Invaluable Role of JEP’s School Coordinators
While our newsletter articles usually focus on “What’s New at JEP” (as per the newsletter’s title), this semester’s match-up session in January inspired us to highlight something that has been a steady part of JEP for a long time: our amazing school coordinators.
It is no question that JEP would not be what it is today without these hardworking individuals who connect our USC community to the schools surrounding our campus. From informing teachers, students, and families about the myriad programs JEP offers to selecting initiatives tailored to meet the unique needs of each school, our coordinators play a pivotal role in shaping the educational landscape. Their tireless efforts ensure that the communication between JEP and partner schools flows seamlessly, fostering an environment conducive to learning and growth.
Moreover, our coordinators are instrumental in the evaluation process, offering invaluable feedback to enhance program effectiveness continually. Their insights serve as the compass guiding JEP’s mission of need-based service, ensuring that our initiatives resonate with the communities we serve.
Beyond their core responsibilities, many coordinators go above and beyond, serving on scholarship committees, aiding in the organization of after-school workshops, and spearheading outreach initiatives alongside our JEP team. Their unwavering dedication exemplifies the spirit of service that defines JEP.
In the words of Brenda Pesante, our Director of Community Partnerships, “I love their passion and commitment for helping students. The relationship between their school and JEP makes the program successful.” Indeed, the impact of our coordinators extends far beyond their role, shaping futures and nurturing aspirations.
Dieuwertje Kast, Director of STEM Education Programs at JEP, echoes this sentiment stating, “We have so many amazing coordinators who we just could not do without. Nelly Cristales, our coordinator at 32nd St School for example, is a force to be reckoned with. I have so many examples but one recent one is her dedication in helping us receive important teacher data that we use to evaluate and improve our programming.”
When asked about what they like about their role as coordinators, two of our amazing coordinators let us know that the appreciation is mutual. Coordinator Dionne Patterson at Birdielee V. Bright Elementary shared, “I like knowing that I can play that role for the elementary students and the university alike. It’s amazing to see how the programming gives them purpose and encouragement and I can be a part of that. I find it a very worthy and significant role and encourage our principals to keep the programs going because I know it makes a difference to our students and families.”
Sherrell Lanoix, Coordinator at John Mack Elementary School, reflects on her experience, saying, “I remember I benefited greatly when I was still a teacher and had Young Scientists Program TAs in my classroom because these college students have so much more depth of science knowledge being that they are science majors and its hands on and lab-like which really engaged my young students. Knowing that I can now bring that to our students at Mack is just very fulfilling.”
Listening to the voices of our coordinators, such as Dionne Patterson and Sherrell Lanoix, we can see firsthand the passion and dedication that drives them. Their contributions and unwavering commitment to their schools and JEP are invaluable to our joint success. There is no way to put into words the gratitude that we feel for what they do day in and day out, but maybe putting it this way helps illustrate how essential they are to our work: Only through them and the coordinators at our community-based partner organizations can we be the Joint Educational Project, and for that we want to say thank you.