Guest Mindsetter: Central Falls Students Can Achieve Their GOALS

Guest Mindsetter: Central Falls Students Can Achieve Their GOALS

I want to applaud Superintendent Dr. Frances Gallo, her staff and the teachers of Calcutt Middle and Central Falls High Schools for the tremendous progress and transformation that has taken place throughout the Central Falls School District in just three short years. The result of everyone’s collaborative efforts cannot be overstated and their win is a win for our state as a whole.

I also want to publicly acknowledge Dr. Gallo for taking a chance on innovative programs that motivate students and involve their parents, teachers, guidance counselors and even coaches. One example is Project GOAL, an academic responsibility, tutoring and mentoring initiative – disguised as a soccer program. The Central Falls School District staff have been great advisers and supporters of this unique academic initiative, which I and several other community members have independently operated since 2004.

Program Impact

Since that time, Project GOAL has transformed the lives of more than 600 of Central Falls, Pawtucket and Providence’s most at-risk students, nearly all of which graduated high school. In fact, the program has motivated and helped 90 percent of its high school students enroll in colleges and universities. And that’s not the most amazing part. Project GOAL, which has grown as a non-profit, has operated through the works of passionate volunteers and only one full-time staff member!

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

The secret? Project GOAL has successfully channeled the community’s love of soccer – the most popular sport in the world – into an incentive for academic achievement.

One classic example of this program’s success is the story of Central Falls native Edward Gonzalez, the son of Colombian immigrants. Ten years ago, Edward was among the first students to enroll in this fledging effort while struggling in his seventh grade classes at Calcutt Middle School. In school, his attention and focus were short; after school, Edward’s focus was 100 percent on a soccer ball, which led him to the staff of Project GOAL. With the promise of receiving free soccer lessons from semi-pro and professional players, Edward pledged to improve his grades and attend mandatory after-school sessions, where he was tutored and mentored by the program’s accredited teachers and local graduate students. The deal: Every minute of class instruction meant another minute of soccer instruction.

Years of this routine made Edward both a scholar and an exceptional athlete, which attracted private high schools seeking to increase their student diversity. Edward and his parents soon realized his potential of going to college, which only furthered his motivation to maintain his grades. Eventually, with the help of Project GOAL, Edward attended Providence Country Day in East Providence and then Berkshire School in Massachusetts for post-graduate studies – both on full scholarship. Today, he attends American University in Washington, D.C., also on scholarship, and is the first in his family to go to college.

Edward’s story is not the exception – it is the standard for Project GOAL. Other students like Edward have transformed their passion for soccer into straight A’s and college enrollment. And the students and families served, 66 percent of which live at or just above the poverty level, do not pay a single penny. The program has been recognized by FIFA for three consecutive years as one of only five programs in North America for its work using soccer as a social change agent.

Looking Forward

Unfortunately, the program does have one limitation. It can only accept 85 students each year due to limited funds raised through the generosity of mostly individuals and private foundations. The program’s lean model requires approximately $1,200 to fund each student for a full year. This covers the cost of small stipends for certified teachers and coaches, one full-time staff member, school supplies, soccer uniforms and equipment, transportation to and from school, and food and beverages. Today, hundreds of students from Central Falls, Pawtucket and Providence have been wait-listed due to limited funds.

Our hope is this will change as we seek to engage the business community for the financial support of this effort, especially businesses that wish to establish a deeply meaningful connection with the growing and extremely diverse population that we serve. During the recent news of Central Falls’ progress, School District Chairwoman Anna Cano-Morales stated that she and the board won’t be satisfied until all Central Falls students are heading to college and are ready for life. We couldn’t agree more.

Transformation is happening in Central Falls and we’re extremely proud to be a part of it. We only hope this momentum inspires others to join the effort and help make the
turnaround in Central Falls a model for the nation.