Beyond the Classroom: The Sustained Influence of Educators on Student Success

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the professionals who left schools with their cargoes – students and communities. It illustrates the great variety of positions that former young teachers take, from starting youth organizations to having nonprofits, supporting literacy, and after school activities. In this chapter, using typical and anecdotal examples, authors describe how educators remain committed to supporting student learning and others' personal as well as social-emotional well-being. For example, such social projects as Linda Robinson's ‘Youth Connect' youth mentoring programme and James Lee's ‘Eco Teens' environmental organization represent how educators contribute to the construction of positive contexts and encourage students to learn more and be active citizens throughout their lives. The chapter also examines the competencies that educators possess in the grant writing and fundraising approaches and thus supplement educational assets and openings.