Kepner Educational Excellence Program’s mission is to improve academic achievement of Kepner Middle School students by setting high expectations and providing support to meet those expectations. Included in the support provided to students and their families is teaching the “hidden rules” of the middle class to assist students to understand and adopt key behaviors and attitudes that help to break the cycle of poverty. KEEP builds a community that invites families to become active members of the school culture and empowers them to positively influence their student’s life.

KEEP’s mission also includes expanding the capabilities of the dedicated Kepner Middle School staff through the KEEP Mini-Grant Program and supplementing Kepner’s professional development program that specializes in teaching skills to educators whose student population is growing up in generational poverty.

Goals

• Educate students about life skills necessary to accomplish a goal and increase understanding of the behaviors and attitudes vital to success.
• Build open and collaborative relationships with students and their families through positive, meaningful interaction with teachers as all work together to achieve families’ goals for their students.
• Introduce mentors and role models from the business community who have life experiences that the students can relate to for setting their own life goals.
• Increase the opportunity for developing additional positive relationships by financially supporting after school programs.
• Improve measurable academic achievement by creating a community of learners through striving for personal best, identifying personal world views, practicing team learning, and developing a shared vision.

The programs supported by KEEP are intended to enrich the education of the Kepner students by giving them experiences beyond the typical classroom experiences that will motivate them to continue their educations through high school and beyond. KEEP also assists the professional staff at Kepner to learn about and work with the unique perspectives of students who find themselves growing up in generational poverty.