Think Together and AVID: Working Together to Change the Odds
Think Together and AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) have joined forces to change the odds for kids! AVID is a nationally recognized education nonprofit dedicated to helping students overcome obstacles and achieve success.
AVID typically operates within school hours, but now they are branching their methodology to the afterschool hours for Think Together students. The partnership with AVID is a unique one, as Think Together is the first and only expanded learning partner they’ve collaborated with.
“We are so proud to be the first expanded learning partner able to offer its staff the exceptional professional development opportunities provided by AVID,” said Think Together Founder and CEO Randy Barth. “We both have a shared vision of changing the trajectory of kids’ futures through education and we couldn’t be more thrilled to broaden those opportunities for our students and the schools we serve.”
Think Together’s new partnership with AVID means our middle school and high school sites benefit from additional access to AVID’s student activity materials, curriculum resources, and core strategies. The partnership initially began with nearly 60 schools that were already offering AVID curriculum during the school day and separately offering Think Together programming afterschool.
With the additional implementation of strategies and methods, Think Together knows this partnership to be a critical support for our students. The AVID partnership supports students in confidence building and boosting efficiency when it comes to their schoolwork and planning for their bright futures ahead.
One of the major benefits of Think Together’s collaboration with AVID is the enhanced college and career readiness preparation students are offered. The AVID Professional Learning framework allows students to take control of their own academic destiny.
“Students that need the help are often the most resistant to ask for help. So, what we’re able to do at AVID is provide the tools, resources, strategies and support for students to get what they need to be as successful as possible,” said AVID Program Specialist Dr. Trent Mohrbutter.
Think Together started incorporating AVID strategies at schools like Sierra Vista Middle School in the Baldwin Park Unified School District and has seen a significant increase in student attendance and grade improvements. Currently, the site is at max capacity at 155 enrolled students attending the afterschool program, in comparison to the 100 students attending the year prior before AVID was fully implemented.
“AVID at the Think Together program helps me to stay organized and do homework after school. My grades improved because it helps me understand… I’m understanding more of what to do and I have more time to do it,” shared sixth grader Xavier.
AVID continues to support Think Together to ensure this partnership is aligned and well-positioned for success by supplying the resources needed to excel. AVID has provided specialized training and a dedicated “AVID Center Staff” to Think Together regions, ensuring our Program Development Team, regional leadership and site staff are able to offer and implement focused and consistent programming.
Raylene Vasquez, Sierra Vista’s Think Together Site Coordinator, shared that the new AVID methods are making it easier for her and her team to support each student’s academic journey.
“The partnership with AVID is great because the learning component has [been] strengthened a lot. Having all these AVID strategies, homework and the intentional check-ins gave us the power to be able to check in on them (the students) and help them improve,” Raylene said. “It further bridges the gap between a school day and program so we’re all one big team.”
A prioritizing shift coming up for Think Together is working on transitioning the elementary and TK-2nd grade sites toward the AVID strategies and structure. Think Together is ecstatic to partner with AVID and continue expanding the tools provided for students to support building a strong educational foundation where every student can be college and career-ready!
Watch the video below to learn more about Think Together’s partnership with AVID!
