HERE IS WHAT OTHERS THINK

We've heard from people from across the country. If you'd like to tell us what you think, click here. Read stories and testimonials from:

Classroom Teachers
Institutes of Higher Education
Parents
Publications
School Administrators
Students

Classroom Teachers

"I would like to take this time to inform you of the postive learning experience I have had with presenting the Learn. Earn. Do. website; both for myself and for the students! The first two class sets I have presented to loved the slides that dealt with "How to Be a Millionaire." They asked higher level thinking questions and wanted to know what they can major in once they arrive in college to have a higher paying job so that they can one day be that millionaire!

In addition, it was an eye opener for many of my students to view the references slides because it depicted that you cannot have friends fill one out! Many of my students were also shocked to learn that attendance at work was serious and that "you could not be absent more than three times!" They realized why they had school rules that were similar to the work place. In fact, one student said; "Oh Miss [XXX], is that why we get in trouble if we are late now?!"
-Teacher, New Jersey middle school

"Wow, I think this is "just what the educator needs". I am always trying to impress upon my high school math students how important it is to do their best, be punctual, and be prepared! After looking at the educator site I am very interested in integrating your website into my lesson plans! Thanks for a worth-while website to use with my students."
-Math Teacher, New Jersey high school

"You provided a concrete example of what creative thinking can accomplish when you answered the question about the strongest material on earth and then provided examples of how it has been used. I always thought kevlar vests were made of some type of metal! The challenges we face are huge. I look forward to using the system with the students at [my school]."
-Reading Specialist, New Jersey school

"I showed the presentations in my Academic Support class and in [our] summer work study program. I started with World Class Students in Academic Support, and Work the Money in the summer program.

The students were engaged from the start in both instances, but what seemed to work best for me was starting with Work the Money. Many of my students want to make lots of money, but they have little or no real idea of what it takes. The fact that there are workable rules for handling money and that any one can be a millionaire, or at least make enough money to do what they want, if they are disciplined enough took the mystery out being rich and seemed to hit home.

Once they realized they had an actual shot at a decent future, they seemed to be more accepting of the connection between education and how it shapes their future. For instance, it was good for them to be able to equate a minimum of one year of college and a certificate with an annual income of $40 - 65,000 - entry into the middle class. Basically I used the students' preoccupation with money as a motivator for the rest of the program.

As I said, the students were engaged from the beginning. The presentations generated a lot of discussion with very little prompting from me. Many couldn't believe the facts and figures they were seeing; others did. So this made for a lot of lively back and forth.

The biggest advantage of the presentations overall was one of credibility. Students were getting the message from the "real world"; it wasn't something their teacher simply made up.
-Special Education Teacher

“We teachers always tell students to work hard. But LearnDoEarn presents students with a statistical rationale for why they have no choice but to work hard.”
-Grade 8 Mathematics teacher, New Jersey

"This is very applicable - enlightening."
-National Board Certified Teacher

"Thank you. Information is needed by our students. I will be using your website."
-National Board Certified Teacher

"I reviewed the parent sequences. I discussed the presentations with the teen mothers in my program. They were motivated by the presentations and appreciated being able to view the salaries for the various positions listed."
-Social worker with teen parents, New Jersey

"[Our] group has been enjoying all of the webinars so far and have learned a great deal from the experiences. This morning's presenter delivered another outstanding web presentation.

Thank you for your efforts to bring career exploration to the classroom."
-New Jersey Post Secondary Transition Program teacher

Institutes of Higher Education

“The singular strength of the program is that it helps kids see that what they do now in school does relate to what they can do later on.”
-Dean, Graduate School of Education, New Jersey university

Parents

"I attended your presentation last night. I had to write to tell you that I was blown away by the statistics you presented. I think we, as parents, assume that our children will ‘do their best’ in high school, move onto college and then jump into a career, just as we have done.

I have two sons who have always done very well in school and I have never really worried about their futures. But you have given me a new perspective on the role my husband and I need to take as advocates for their education.
My older son is a sophomore at a specialized high school, .... This school embraces the concept of extensive math, science and technology in their curriculum and the course load is rigorous and extremely challenging.

My younger son has chosen not to attend [this school] but will be going to [a different high school]. Although he is unclear about his future interests you can be assured that I will be an active parent in the scheduling and focus of his course load throughout his high school years.

I see the Learn Do Earn program as an initiative for every student and parent. Thank you for the valuable insight you provided."
-New Jersey parent

"While helping my 11-year old son with his math, he got very frustrated with it. He said he did not care about math. I took him to the LearnDoEarn website and showed him a sixth grade presentation module. After viewing that, he realized why math was important and had a renewed interest. In fact, the information he learned in the module made an impression because days later, he quoted statistics he learned from the presentation. His commitment and resolve to his work has soared."
-Pennsylvania parent

Publications

“. . . no other business-driven program . . . encompasses the broad academic and personal competencies necessary to success in college and employment.”
-Education Week, December 20, 2006

School Administrators

“I would like to be somebody when I grow up. So that people could say, “Hey look at Freddy, he’s a lawyer!” A quote from an 8th grade student’s report as part of the assignment on the power point presentation entitled, “Only YOU Are The Boss of You.”

LearnDoEarn week was a huge success at [our school]. Our objective for the week was to motivate the 8th grade students and plant the seed regarding student achievement and life after the 8th grade, high school and beyond. We began our week with a seminar that took place in the auditorium. During their Language Arts Literacy block, three 8th grade classes were invited to attend a LearnDoEarn seminar. At the seminar, students were greeted by me, the vice-principal and presenter. Each student received a LearnDoEarn packet that included the agenda, copies of the presentation, a checklist, and an invitation to our Dress for Success day. I began the presentation with a brief overview of the workshop I attended surrounding LearnDoEarn and how thrilled I was to implement and expose the students to the powerful materials I received.

I decided to present the second 8th grade power point. The presentation and slides selected were ideal because our students are in the process of graduation and embarking on new challenges. Each slide I read with feeling and conviction in my tone. I wanted to ensure that each student comprehended the meaning of each slide. Throughout the presentation, you did not hear a pin drop; students were engaged as well as their teachers. After the presentation, I paused for questions and comments. I was pleased by the comments and questions that were all centered on student achievement and future jobs. When I transitioned to the assignment piece, students were very eager to continue and take notes as I presented their assignment.

The assignment included the following: interviewing five adults on what was more important being smart or hardworking, creating a chart based on their results, and generating a report pertaining to the assignment. To enhance the assignment, I created a fourth assignment; on Friday students were required to come to school “Dressed for Success.” Representing their career of interest, students were invited to a professional workshop of leaders. Only students that were “Dressed for Success” could attend. The workshop consisted of a continental breakfast hosted by our district’s Equal Employment Opportunity Coordinator and the 8th grade teachers. [The EEO Coordinator’s] presentation consisted of job hunting strategies, resumes, and professional etiquette. Each teacher provided a brief synopsis of their educational background and how they chose teaching as their profession.

In the afternoon, students were provided a buffet lunch hosted by the school principal, who addressed proper grooming and etiquette in the work place. After lunch, a local dentist born and raised in [town] shared his experiences and the importance of academic achievement and how their behavior can affect their futures. We ended the day and week with a celebration; students enjoyed their LearnDoEarn cake and discussed their futures.

The students’ reaction to the presentation was both positive and rewarding. Next year, I am looking forward to training other staff members on LearnDoEarn with the hope of implementing the materials in our classrooms. “Always work hard on those things you desire the most. If you put your mind into it, you could do many things,” 8th grade student.
- Principal, New Jersey Middle School

"The system has enabled us to emphasize the need for students to enroll in rigorous courses in high school and at the same time, provides the groundwork necessary to develop a professional-level work ethic. Our students get the message that hard work is necessary to succeed in college, work and life....[LearnDoEarn] activities encourage young people to ask important questions and helps them understand that what they do in school contributes to their success in both higher education and the work place."
- Superintendent New Jersey School District

“The LearnDoEarn program can be a powerful tool to help motivate students, improve student academic achievement and prepare them for life after high school. It is such a powerful tool / resource that we have only begun to scratch the surface of its true worth. The program addresses achievement issues in three ways. It clearly raises expectations for student achievement and it helps steer students to rigorous course selections. To help ensure success, students have to be exposed to and succeed in classes with high demands. Secondly, students receive positive recognition for a job well done. Parents and educators sometimes miss this very important point. LearnDoEarn points to what kids do right. Finally, the program helps to establish and bolster business / school partnerships. These partnerships quickly become mutually beneficial.”
-Assistant Superintendent, New Jersey school district

“The information on the website has helped us decide to phase out the less rigorous non-laboratory science courses like oceanography, and start encouraging more students to take the chemistry they had been avoiding.”
-Assistant Superintendent, New Jersey school district

“Enrollment in physics classes has soared, as has enrollment in economics classes, which we had phased out several years ago – all because of mounting student demand.”
-Director of Education, New Jersey high school

“More students are taking physics and economics since we started using LearnDoEarn four years ago. Additionally, the work-ethic focus of the School Counts modules is particularly important. Students do need the academic component, but they won’t be productive members of society unless they know how to work in the workforce.”
-Director, High School Programs, New Jersey vocational school

"The information is fantastic - the fact that teachers have so much access to the info for free is great! It's so relevant and appropriate for middle/Jr. High and high schools - the best presentation I've attended today."
- Administrator attending National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Conference

Students

“LearnDoEarn made me put things together. I decided that in order to get where I wanted to in international economics, and to distinguish myself in applying to college, I would have to take those courses [outlined in the World Class Students sequence]. The things they stressed to us really helped me get my job as a bank teller. My attendance and grades showed I was responsible and able to work hard. Usually, they don’t hire 16-year-olds.”
-16-year-old male senior, New Jersey

“For the first time, I feel like I am controlling my future. For the first time, I don’t feel lost trying to figure out what to do.”
-female eighth grade student, New Jersey

"After hearing this, I think that I may (take) some college prep classes because, you know, I could challenge myself once in a while and that could help me."
-female eighth grade student, New Jersey

"This [LearnDoEarn] is the guide to my success; the guide to my future. If I follow this, if I abide by this . . . then, most certainly, my future is looking bright. I was never really planning on taking Physics, or anything like that, but . . . you need to have at least one year of Physics, Chemistry,
Biology."
-female high school student, New Jersey

"The statistics are stunning, and you don’t really see that coming. It’s like, huge."
-male eighth grade student, New Jersey

"The real world is scary out there, and . . . this [LearnDoEarn] just opens your eyes."
-female high school student, New Jersey

"I don’t do a lot of my homework, so this [information on LearnDoEarn] makes me want to do more of it so I am prepared for high school."
-female eighth grade student, New Jersey