LEAD Program

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Letting Education Achieve Dreams
Pre-K - 12th Grade College Awareness Campaign 

Our Mission

LEAD’s Mission is to raise the educational attainment level of youth in WCJC’s service region by instilling the concept that college is a “welcoming place” and to encourage planning and preparation for college level school work after High School graduation. 

The Problem: 

Trends- 

• 4 in 10 Adults do not have a high school diploma

• 1 in 10 adults have a bachelor’s degree

• 1 in 50 Hispanics have a bachelor’s degree

The Reasons

• Low expectations of students

• Lack of Parental encouragement

• Lack of preparation

• Overestimation of college costs

• Lack of familiarity with a college environment

LEAD Goals 

• To raise community educational expectations

• To enhance college and career awareness

• To promote adult/parental involvement in education

• To enable educational attainment

LEAD Strategies

WCJC Campus Visits (9th graders) - LEAD hosts 9th grade students from WCJC’s service area in the Pioneer Student Center for a scheduled LEAD WCJC campus program. After a WCJC guided walking tour, the WCJC college ambassadors take students through sessions such as “Why College is Important and Basic College Preparations”, Internet Scholarship Search, and The Money Game, a student budgeting interactive presentation.

• Money Game

• Scholarship Search and Career Interests Game

• College Importance and Differences Presentation

Ambassador Visits - WCJC college students will travel to area schools and visit with students on their school campuses about college and college experiences. LEAD ambassadors visit 4th - 12th grade student classrooms and spend up to 20 minutes speaking about their college career and what it takes to achieve their dream. PreK - 3rd grade are entertained with a puppet show that introduces characters with professions that need a college education to perform their dream job. The puppet show is about 15 minutes and keeps students attention throughout the show. 

• Student Presentations (4th - 12th)

• Puppet Show (Pre-K - 3rd)

Awareness Presentations - Throughout the school year presentations are made to parents and community organizations about college. The LEAD manager will present talks to school districts through out the year.

• Parent Groups

• Community Groups

Mentoring - WCJC will help area schools start productive mentoring programs.

• Consulting 

• Support

LEAD Manager - Johnnie Svatek 979-532-6431