IT’S SO COOL TO BE SMART PROGRAM EARNING WEST SIDE STUDENTS PLACES ON SCHOOL HONOR ROLLS

With encouragement and rewarding educational enrichment activities from the “It’s So Cool To Be Smart” program, students of Lewis Elementary School are now proud to be smart. Shown are: Crystal Lujano, parent winner Ms LaShanda Williams, Whitney Rankins, Jayla Glanton, teacher coordinator Mrs. Shontrece Wilson, Keyshun Davenport, and Principal Dr. Sharon Brown-Haynes.

Middle school students from six Chicago Public Schools, including Leslie Lewis Elementary School and Horatio May Community Academy in Austin, have earned positions on their school honor rolls through a new program called, It’s So Cool To Be Smart, a project of Teach America’s Children.
    According to implementers of the program, “For many, this achievement required overcoming name-calling and rejection from their peer group.” Studies suggest that African American and Latino honor students often cave to classmates’ taunts that they’re “acting white.” To win their peers’ acceptance, they set aside schoolwork and their grades decline. This new program, It’s So Cool To Be Smart, has transformed studiousness into coolness.
    Since its introduction, schools report that they have increased the number of honor students since the first quarter of this school year. Teach America’s Children awarded grants of up to $10,000 to each participating school.
    The honor roll students are continuing to excel and many of their classmates now want to join the Smart Club and participate in academic enhancement activities, such as the Is It Cool To Be Smart? Essay contest. Ariel Thompson, an 8th grade student at Leslie Lewis, won 3rd Place in the essay contest.
    Students in the program attend special programs at area universities, math and science camps, and compete for scholarships. A Langford Elementary School 8th grader won a $4,000 scholarship to Providence-St. Mel High School. The award can be renewed annually.
    Parents of honor roll students are also recognized for their efforts, including LaShanda Williams of Leslie Lewis and Tiffany Shell of Horatio May Academy.

In one of their Smart Club activities, students from May Academy made a presentation to executives at Old World Industries in Northbrook, explaining the T-shirt business they created. Their plan is entitled SMART – Savvy Motivated Achievers Running Things.