HISTORY

2018

In July 2018, a cohort of 20 CUSD high school students traveled to the San Diego County Office of Education to attend ASSET®.

Students attended the same ASSET® training that thousands of after school leaders, teachers assistants, inclusion aides, counselors, teachers, and youth advocates had attended before them.

Once students completed ASSET®, they left with:

  • Trauma-informed classroom engagement techniques

  • Trauma-informed communication strategies

  • Professional soft skills

  • An introduction to the helping professions

Photo: ASSET® at the San Diego County Office of Education, San Diego, California (07/20/18)

A smaller group of students continued to develop their ASSET® skills by attending additional ASSET® events together as a cohort in San Diego and Calexico.

Students strengthened their ASSET® tools by using them daily in their own student-led and adult supported ASES after school program. As a result, they developed a more trauma-informed and restorative after school space.

After completing two rounds of ASSET®, students volunteered with the SPARKS after school program at a local elementary school. Where they applied their ASSET® positive engagement tools with elementary school students in an after school setting under the watchful eye of SPARKS staff.

Photo: CUSD high school students attending ASSET® at Normal Heights Elementary School, San Diego, California (11/17/18)

2019

The pilot program provided student leaders with an introduction to elementary school education through a trauma-informed lens, ultimately establishing a pipeline.

Students continued to develop their own after school program to include leadership and professional development components.

A select group of students were invited to share their after school empowerment story as student panelists at the ICOE Expanded Learning Conference in 2018.

Photo: CUSD high school students at the ICOE Expanded Learning Conference, Calexico, California (02/26/19)

IGRADUATING SENIORS FROM AURORA HIGH SCHOOL

Graduating seniors who completed the pilot program received:

  • A $100 Scholarship from After School Unlimited, Inc.

  • A Letter of Reference

  • Valuable volunteer experience

  • Robust trauma-informed training

  • An invitation to return to Calexico Unified School District and apply to become a SPARKS tutor

Photo: Graduation Celebration, Calexico, California (06/04/19)

2021

In May 2021, Destiny Ruiz, a former member of the pilot program who attended Aurora High School, was hired as a SPARKS Tutor.

Destiny because a SPARKS tutor and worked at Kennedy Gardens Elementary School where she masterfully used her ASSET® skills.

As part of Destiny’s ongoing training and development, she participated in ASSET® on a regular basis with her SPARKS colleagues.

Photo: Destiny attending ASSET® 2.0 (05/01/21)