Puente Middle School Program

Mrs. Gizelle Roberson

(510)447-0925

gizelle.roberson@berkeley.edu

The Puente Project History

• Founded in 1981 by Felix Galaviz and Patricia McGrath at Chabot Community College.
• Founded at Chabot College in 1981
• Partnership between English and counseling faculty
• Program design based on enrollment and completion patterns of first generation, underrepresented students
• 43 Secondary Sites & 75 Community Colleges

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The Puente Project Mission

To increase the number of educationally �underrepresented students who

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• Enroll in four-year colleges and universities

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• Earn college degrees

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• Return to the community as leaders and mentors

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Puente Secondary Model

Counseling

Teaching

Community Leadership

Puente’s Approach

• Rigorous language arts instruction
• Culturally relevant and engaging curriculum
• Sustained academic counseling
• Structured participation in leadership activities and community service
• Parents as partners

Diary of a Reluctant Dreamer- Ledesma

Middle School/Jr. High Program

• 7th and 8th grade English Class
• Same Puente counselor both years
• English teacher and counselor work in partnership with parents
• Use of process writing and multicultural literature
• Portfolio assessment (track writing progress)
• College visits, cultural activities and leadership/mentoring exposure

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The Puente English Teacher

• Serves as students’ English teacher for 7^th and 8^th grade;
• Builds a sense of community (familia) with and among Puente students;
• Incorporates multicultural literature, issues, and culture into the district’s core college preparatory curriculum;
• Implements the rigorous Puente writing portfolio assessment process;
• Explores concepts of community, leadership, and service with students

The Puente Counselor

• Recruits and selects students for the program
• Provides academic advising, and actively monitors academic progress
• Motivates students to pursue a college education through exposure to university campuses, resources, and networks
• Actively involves, and provides information to Puente parents

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Community Leadership

Activities-based curriculum in which students will:

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• Explore the concepts of community leadership
• Explore a variety of career options
• Learn the value and benefits of contributing to the community through community/volunteer work
• Develop their leadership skills

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Puente Parents

• Collaborate with Puente counselor and teacher to monitor student academic progress
• Participate in counselor-led workshops and in student events
• Become a part of the student’s educational process
• Support student’s academic and career goals

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Students Whose Parents Are involved

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• Earn better grades in classes and exams
• Maintain better attendance
• Have better social skills, adaptive behavior, etc.
• Continue their education beyond high school

Puente Students

• Work with their Puente counselor in establishing individual a 6-year academic plan
• Work with the Puente teacher to accelerate their reading and writing and critical thinking skills in their 7^th and 8^th grades
• Successfully complete all the requirements of the Puente Writing Portfolio assessment process
• Attend all Puente activities and field trips
• Participate in the Puente Club
• Become involved in community service/volunteerism

Puente Data

Smarter Balanced ELA Results (2018) of

All Partner Middle Schools 7th and 8th Grade Students Compared to Puente Students

Smarter Balanced ELA Results (2019) of

All Partner Middle Schools 7th and 8th Grade Students Compared to Puente Students