Posts Tagged ‘education’
The GO FOR IT! Program has been highlighted in the following publications and blogs:
The Shreveport Times — July 2011
Bud Bilanich, The Common Sense Coach — July 2011
The Denver Post — January 2010
Director of Community Outreach and Support
dmcmurtry@goforitinstitute.org
David McMurtry is currently the GO FOR IT! Director of Community Outreach and Support. He oversees the creation, planning and implementation of all of the GO FOR IT! Seven Keys to Success school/youth programs. He began working with the organization in January 2009 and finds the opportunity to be a perfect blend between two of his passions: working to improve education in the country and empowering teachers, parents and students. His view on the world stems from the belief that individuals ultimately control their own attitudes and are free to choose in every moment. He sees limitless potential in each person and knows that all people have the power within them to be a force of nature.
Before joining the GO FOR IT! team, David taught middle school humanities and was a high school tennis, basketball and baseball coach. Additionally, he has worked as an Assistant Director of Admissions at a Denver school and before that he was a counselor for at-risk youth at a short-term residential facility in San Diego. The common theme throughout these years has been his commitment to working with and empowering young adults.
David is a Denver native but has spent the majority of the past ten years living outside of Colorado and traveling abroad. He graduated from Connecticut College with a B.A. in Comparative Politics. While in college he spent a semester living in South Africa and has been passionate about traveling ever since. His travels have taken him to Ecuador, Thailand, Cambodia, parts of Europe and most recently, India.
David enjoys tennis, yoga, the Broncos, doing magic, reading and camping. David describes himself as someone who loves life, knows that he is constantly evolving, and is grateful for the opportunities that each day brings.
Lisa M. Rose
Educational Curriculum Developer
Lisa is currently involved with GO FOR IT! as an Educational Curriculum Developer and is working to develop “Getting Ready to GO FOR IT”, the Preschool through 2nd grade version of the GO FOR IT! Curriculum. Lisa has been working with the organization since 2011 and is excited to be a part of the revolution aimed at infusing the next generation with the necessary tools to lead out successful and positive lives.
Lisa has been developing trainings and curriculums for children and adults since 2002. Her professional passion lies in working closely with agencies and schools to identify training and curriculum needs and produce tailored packages that align with their organizational goals. In addition to developing personalized trainings and curriculums, Lisa has also taught elementary school grades, worked with developmentally disabled adults and advocated for residents in long term care settings. Educationally, Lisa has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Social Work and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education. She is also currently pursuing her Doctorate Degree in Educational Psychology.
Lisa and her husband, Sean, reside in Boulder with their 5 children. They enjoy traveling with their family, being outdoors and staying active within their church. Originally from Washington State , The Rose Family moved to Colorado in 2004 and has loved every minute since!
Every 26 seconds, another high school student drops out of school. The loss of 1.2 million graduates annually imposes unquantifiable costs on every family and every community across our nation. Even though policymakers continue to seek improvement in U.S. schools by increasing government control, decades of increased spending and increased federal control have yielded little improvement in student performance. The harsh realities of these drop-out rates will continue to impact the cycle of poverty in our nation. Students that drop out are:
- 8 times more likely to go to prison;
- 50% less likely to vote;
- More likely to need social welfare assistance;
- Not eligible for 90% of jobs; and
- Paid 40 cents to the dollar.
Even among those students who do graduate from our nation’s high schools, a significant number receive diplomas without possessing the necessary skills to succeed in life. This fact represents a considerable impact on the economy and the health of communities and families across the nation.
Please click here to read more about how the GO FOR IT! Institute is addressing this need…
Our landmark teacher certification program, Motivating Students to Succeed, is a 32-hour training experience that provides educators with very specific, effective tools to transform ECE-8 schools into positive, motivational learning environments. Educators and school administrators say GO FOR IT! is “the missing link in education today.” We invite you to watch the video to see the GO FOR IT! Program in action. Testimonials from principals, teachers, donors, parents, and students showcase the power of this program to inspire our children to succeed!
