'Little Nudge' Helps At Hinsdale D86

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale High School District 86's program to "champion" struggling students is seeing good results, an official said last week.

For three 10-week periods this school year, Hinsdale Central and South focused on students who officials determined needed extra help with their studies.

According to district figures, 5 percent of students at Central required such assistance and 12 percent at South.

Of the 293 students "championed" at South over the last year, 142 saw improvement in their grades. (That doesn't include those who improved in the third period, which has not ended.)

At Thursday's school board meeting, Patrice Payne, the district's director of instructional equity, pointed to the number of students needing to be championed at South. It dropped to 28 in the third period, down from 95 in the second.

She also pointed out students' transformation over the year. Of the 42 students championed in the first period, 17 required such help in the second, she said. In the third period, the current one, none of them needed such assistance anymore, she said.

"I think that is commendable," Payne said. "It shows that the process works."

Describing the "champion" model, Payne said, "It allows students to have one person to consistently check in with. One person who champions them during a whole 10-week cycle. One person they built a relationship with. One person who held them accountable."

Payne called the program a "little nudge" for students. Sometimes, it requires helping students communicate with their teachers, she said.

"I championed a student and literally sat with the student to help him craft an email to a teacher," she said. "Those are important skills that students just need."

Payne, who was hired for the newly created position in July 2021, is planning to resign June 9.

At the meeting, board member Kay Gallo said she appreciated the numbers that Payne presented and did not want to lose the continuity.

"I'm just heartbroken because you're leaving us," Gallo said. "Do you have any suggestions on what can be done to make sure we don't lose the momentum?"

Payne promised to work on the transition with whomever her successor would be.

"Shame on me if the work stops because I am not here. True change is not person-centric," Payne said. "This is equity work. This is leveling the playing field. This is giving access to resources."

Payne's position is being advertised. Its title is changing to "director of equity and inclusion."