The Truth Staff
The Art Tatum Zone and Pickett Elementary celebrated the Success Planning initiative on Thursday, May 21, as students, teachers, parents and the Success Planning staff gathered to acknowledge the first year’s accomplishments of the program.
Eighty-two students in both kindergarten and the sixth grade participated in the Success Planning initiative at Pickett and demonstrated dramatic increases in learning achievement. The students received more than 1500 hours of individualized time with more than 40 volunteer Success Coaches during the academic year.
In addition, 85 percent of the students have shown improvements in at least one of the three main areas of focus: academics, behavior or attendance and students and families reported a greater sense of belonging and connectiveness to the school and greater confidence in their goals for academic and life success, reported
In 2024, it was announced that the Art Tatum Zone, along with core partners, United Way of Greater Toledo, Lucas Metropolitan Housing and Toledo Public Schools, had been named one of 10 organizations in the country to participate in Harvard University’s EdRedesign Lab’s Institute for Success Planning Community of Practice.
After a year of planning and preparation with experts from the Success Planning team at Harvard, the Art Tatum Zone implemented the Success Planning initiative at Pickett Academy and the results from the first year have indeed been impressive.
Prior to last week’s celebration, Christine Sweeney, executive director of the Art Tatum Zone said: “The dedication of our Kindergarten Champions has been nothing short of inspiring. These five remarkable women from our community gave more than 1,000 volunteer hours to help kindergartners build the skills and confidence they needed this year. Their commitment is a powerful example of what happens when community members come alongside our youngest learners with love, consistency and purpose.”
“We are here to celebrate a journey of growth, resilience, connection and success,” said Shelia Cook, one of the volunteer Success Coaches, as she opened the celebration last Thursday with remarks. “It has been more than a program and service, it has been about people.”
Cook praised the adults for helping the students as “they discovered their strengths and overcame challenges and moved towards their goals.” The celebration, said Cook, was a way “to reflect on how far we have come together.”
“This is a celebration,” said Christine Sweeney during her remarks. “All of us need someone who knows us and hears us. The [Success Coaches] have seen and heard [students] who have experienced growth academically but also personally and emotionally – they have set goals and have accomplished them.”
Praising the students for their overall success during the year, Christina Sweeney added that “the greatest success is never academic; we believe in you, you are more than capable.”
Dinner was part of the celebration, after which the students and coaches were presented with certificates memorializing the success each had achieved during this first year of the Success Initiative.
As for the second year, Calvin Sweeney, president of the Art Tatum Zone, said: “Our vision for the Success Planning initiative for the 2067-27 academic year is to build on the momentum of this year and ensure students continue to feel supported as they transition into new learning environments. We are deeply committed to the continuity of care, walking alongside students and families with individualized support that helps them navigate change, stay connected and continue moving toward success. As we look ahead, we want to expand this level of personalized support to even more students who can benefit from a consistent, caring partner in their educational journey.”