Girl power to take off in October

By Rebecca Kenyon

Buffalo State College’s Center for Excellence in Urban Rural Education is ready to empower girls from Herman Badillo Community School 76 for the third year in a row.

Since 2003, the program has been a joint effort by CEURE, the Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers Inc. and funded by the Western New York Women's Fund.  The principal of School 76 has selected 30 girls for Girl Power this year.

Fifteen seventh-grade girls and 15 eighth-grade girls were chosen for the program because of their performance on standardized tests in English and math.  The aim is that 90 percent of students meet or surpass grade-level standards.

Percentage of eighth-grade students from School 76 who passed state Assessments 2002 -2004

Graph by Rebecca Kenyon

Sources:  New York State Education Department and National Center for Education Statistics

CUERE has selected 6 tutors this year.  Each girl will be paired with a tutor for a minimum of 2 days a week.  Tutors will help the students sharpen their English and math skills.

Rachel Griffo will tutor English for the first time.  Griffo, who has a bachelor’s in English, is currently working on her teacher’s certification.

“I think working with girls will be a good experience.  I understand where they are coming from in a retrospective sense.  If I could be a role model for them in any way, that would be cool.  I want to fulfill a need,” said Griffo.  “I feel like there is a greater need for good teachers in the city.”

According to CEURE tutors:

  • Are English, math or education majors
  • Must have a minimum GPA of 2.5
  • Are trained in a mini workshop
  • Paid $9 an hour
  • Tutor for 8-10 hours a week

Ellen Trautman, program director of BFNC, said that through mentoring the program also seeks to provide girls with essential tools for their future.

“Girls attend life skills workshops that will help them make the connection between school and the rest of their lives,” said Trautman.

Last year field trips included the Women’s Rights Museum, a performance at Shea’s Performing Arts Center, the Sister-to-Sister Conference at BSC and ice skating.

“We have seen substantial changes and maturation in the girls— learning to talk out issues rather than fighting; thinking about their futures and so on,” said Trautman.

Girl Power is scheduled to start Oct. 24.

Rebecca Kenyon can be contacted at usiarm65@mail.buffalostate.edu