Thanks to;  A KIDS CHOICE FOUNDATION… Read More TEACHERS GO TO BOSTON ON A MISSION,

Thanks to;  A KIDS CHOICE FOUNDATION

It’s back to the books for Bossier Parish students.  Over the summer,

though, it was teachers attending a whirlwind of classes at The Landmark School

out of Boston, Massachusetts, cramming months’ worth of knowledge into just days.

Denise Bankston, founder/Trustee of A Kid’s Choice Foundaton, paid the way for

15 Bossier educators to attend The Landmark Outreach Summer Institute.  The

Outreach Summer Program offers ore than 30 seminars and graduate courses that

help educators hone their teaching skills and empower them in their classrooms.

Patricia Kimbrough, who is at Carrie Martin Elementary and Kelli Aiello, a teacher at

Legacy Elementary, attended Landmark last yea.  They chose to return with this year’s

group, and paid the difference, for a week-long course that earned them three college

credits.

Also attending from Legacy were Kim Slack and Lisa Smith Ashley Grantham, Bossier

Elementary; Bonita Huggins and Laura Selsor, Curtis Elementary; Shawn Fields, Julie

Templin, Stacy Barry, MichaelAnne Behrens, Debbie Vanderpool, Leslie Hadwin and

Samantha Bailey from Meadowview Elementary; and Kelli Rehak from W.T. Lewis.

Landmark Outreach instructor Ann Larsen guided Bossier educators through a course

that deived into the characteristics of language-based learning disabilities.  They also

learned how to best help students with these learning challenges achieve reading

fluency, how to take them from writing sentences to paragraphs to essays, and

how to help them develop study skills.

Bankston’s own son struggled with dyslexia and dysgraphia in school.  It wasn’t until

she found The Landmark School that he experienced a breakthrough, enabling

him to not only graduate from high school but also college.  Now, Bankston is on a

mission to introduce Bossier educators to the teaching methods that helped her son

excel, so other students like him can do the same.

Bossier Schools thanks Denise Bankston for being such an inspiration and benefactor,

not just to the 15 teachers who were awarded this educational opportunity, but to the

countless students who will benefit from the knowledge they gained and will pass on

for years to come.

A Kid's Choice Foundation

A Kid's Choice Foundation

“Sharing What Works in Education”  by Susan Tomases

When you meet … Read More DENISE BANKSTON

“Sharing What Works in Education”  by Susan Tomases

When you meet Denise Bankston, the archetype of a southern woman comes to mind; charming, quick with a laugh, warm, and hospitable.  What you soon learn is that she is also feisty, motivated, and determined to make as impact on public education in Bossier Parish, Louisiana.

Her passion stems from the jurney she and her son JT embarked on in his 3rd grade year.  Struggling to read and write, feeling totally misunderstood in school, JT was diagnosed with dyslexia, and Bankston looked unsuccessfully for a school that would fit his needs.

By the time 9th grade arrived, the quest had led 1,700 miles from home to Landmark School.  Bankston temporarily left husband and family behind to move to Massachusetts, where JT soon thrived as a student and athlete, graduating in 2005.  Seeing how a fitting education allowed him to reach his potential ignited a fire in Bankston.  In 2010 she established A Kids’s Choice Foundation to systematically improve elementary education in Bossier Parish.

Bankston and A Kids’s Choice generously adopt three schools each year and provide funding for Smartboards, iPads, and other educational tools.  She is also a strong presence in the schools, purchasing necklaces for all students, faculty, and staff to raise funds for hungry children in the US,  along with passing our journals to all 5th graders for documenting goals, and hosting a day where she moves from classroom to classroom showering students with hugs and her love.

Perhaps the most profound gift that Bankston gives to her adopted schools is sending eight teachers each year to Landmark Outreach’s Professional Development Summer Institute.  Last year teachers from Curtis, Legacy, and Meadowview Elementary Schools attended a week-long graduate course on establishing a language-based classroom.  Teacher Laurie Selsor who attended the course said, “I have seen firsthand the joy that Ms. Bankston’s loving, caring heart has placed on student faces.  I have also seen the lightbulb of learning illuminate above my students’ heads after they being to benefit from the strategies I learned during my course at Landmark.  She [Bankston] is definitely giving learning differences a voice.  Thank you for giving me an unforgettable learning experience at Landmark.”

]]> https://www.akidschoicefoundation.com/the-lanthern-magazinespotlight-donor-profile/feed/ 0 https://www.akidschoicefoundation.com/welcome/ https://www.akidschoicefoundation.com/welcome/#comments Sun, 22 Apr 2012 13:03:16 +0000 admin http://localhost/kidschoice/?p=1 Hi,
I’m, Denise Bankston, the founder of A Kids Choice Foundation.   I would … Read More Hi,
I’m, Denise Bankston, the founder of A Kids Choice Foundation.   I would like to welcome you to my website.  Please explore our videos that are from our local news stations, our photos from the 3 schools we have adopted, Curtis Elementary, Meadowview Elementary and Legacy Elementary throughout the last 2 years.  The articles from the Bossier Press Tribune and The Shreveport Times, Voices.

We are actively involved with The landmark Schools Outreach Summer Program out of Boston, MA, sending 8 educators every summer for one week, to help broaden their thinking about how to help students learn by providing the bridge that links teachers with the evidence-based practices that improve a students outcome.  The Landmark School does not deliver pre-packaged programs, they challenge teachers to understand the nature of language-based learning difficulties and find ways to make evidence-based practices work in their own classrooms. Educators who work with Landmark report significant increases in knowledge about LBLD and confidence in implementing language-based instruction.

I give you my testimony of Landmark School’s ability to help our children, I am a parent myself, who went on a mission to find that school that could help my son with severe dyslexia/dysgraphia as our public schools gave us no hope.  Through this journey, my son not only graduated from High School in 2005, but he went on to graduate from college in 2010.  My son succeeded when the odds were against him.

My goal is for our community to be supportive and spread the word that A-Kids-Choice Foundation is here to help our children/students and to provide more insight to help all students succeed in a classroom!

Sincerely,
Denise Bankston

Meadowview Elementary wanted to thank … Read More From:  The Shreveport Times
Voices
February 29, 2012

Meadowview Elementary wanted to thank Denise Bankston, founder of A-Kids-Choice Foundation, for donating 10 iPads and $20,000 to the school.

So it did just that last week at a celebration assembly during which Bankston was presented with flowers, both handmade and fresh, handmade signs and lots of hugs.

Denise Bankston receives hugs from students at Meadowview Elementary School. The school held a celebration assembly last week to thank Bankston for donating 10 ipads and $20,000 to the school.

“I’m just overwhelmed with all the excitement this morning,” she told students, faculty member and visitors in the crowded gymnasium.  “Dr. Barrett (Meadowview Elementary principal), you did an awesome job brining this assembly together.”

A-Kids-Choice Foundation is a nonprofit founded by Bankston, who moved to Boston from Bossier City more than 10 years ago so her dyslexic son, J.T., could attend Landmark School, which specializes in helping children with language-based disabilities such as dyslexia.

J.T., who sat beside his mother on stage during the recent assembly, went on to graduate with honors from New England College.

Bankston’s husband, Mike, also was at the assembly and told the crowd how passionate his wife is about helping children.  “Not just our son, but all of you.  You are our future leaders and we invest in you.”

Besides the iPads and money Denise Bankston donated to the school, at the assembly she gave keepsake necklaces to the more than 600 students, educators and employees.

“The money spent on each necklace will feed 25 cups of food to a hungry child in America,” she said.

Also among those in attendance were Bossier public schools Superintendent D.C. Machen, who thanked Bankston for her “outstanding investment in our students,” and District 8 Bossier School Board member Kenneth Wiggins, who had everyone laughing when he showed his appreciation for Bankston with a song and poem.  “Roses are red, violets are still blue, Meadowview says we love you.”

It was announced during the presentation that eight Meadowview Elementary Teachers have been selected to attend Landmark School for a week this summer.  All expenses will be paid by A-Kids-Choice Foundation.

Those teachers are Rachel Schillage, Shawn Fields, Stacy Croft, Debbie Vanderpool, MichaelAnne Behrens, Julie Templin, Leslie Hadwin and Kelli Haltom.

Julie Templin, MichaelAnn Behrens, Leslie Hadwin, Shawn Fields, Stacy Croft, Kelli Haltom, Rachel Schillage, and Debbie Vanderpool

Last year, a group of Bossier Parish teachers spent a week at Landmark School as part of its outreach course A Language-Based Classroom to learn techniques and strategies for students with language-based disabilities.

One of those was Meadowview Elementary teacher Ashley Grantham.  “I learned what a true language-based classroom is like.  “It totally changed my outlook on teaching because of the dynamic approaches they take toward reading and writing,” she said.  “The strategies are things you can do with any student in your room.  It’s beneficial for all students all the way around.”

Grantham said one of the methods she learned is how to be more organized.  “A highly structured environment supports those students with language-based disabilities.  My students are more organized because I’m more organized.”

According to the website dyslexiacenter.org., dyslexia is caused by a difference in brain structure at birth and often is hereditary.  Dyslexia doesn’t affect intelligence level; in fact, most dyslexics have above-average IQs.  But because incoming or outgoing information gets scrambled as it travels between the senses and the brain, it can impair a dyslexic’s ability to learn, retain and express information.

Legacy Elementary School teacher Kim Slack also attended Landmark School last year.  “We know we are making a difference and are even more excited about the future.”

By Barbara Widner
bwidner@shreveportimes.com

With a theme of … Read More A group of local teachers, is teaching– other teachers!

With a theme of a “Boston Tea Party,” Bossier Parish teachers got a taste of a different kind of party at their teacher inservice.

“A Kids Choice Foundation,” founded by local benefactor Denise Bankston, sponsored eight teachers to travel to Boston last summer.

Shelly Barrett, Principal of Meadowview Elementary School, said the mission is to better teach children who have learning differences.

“Kids who have a difficult time reading, in reading comprehension, there’s a need to make it relevant for them. Make it real-life, make it hands-on,” said Barrett.

At the inservice, the teachers enjoyed hot tea and Boston Cream cupcakes, and listened to presentations by teachers like Samantha Bailey. Bailey teaches first grade at Meadowview, and she was one of the few who spent a week at Landmark School in Boston.

“It was so amazing to see all the things that they can do to help these who have language-based learning difficulties,” said Bailey.

In addition to participating in the inservice, Pincipal Barrett also accepted a $10,000 check from “A Kids Choice Foundation.”

Immediately after the teacher inservice– the elementary school received a $6,000 donation from the Bossier Police Jury.

Author: Angela Cruz

Teachers attend, learn from Landmark School in … Read More From: Bossier Press-Tribune
January 6, 2012

Teachers attend, learn from Landmark School in Boston

Eight elementary school teachers recently visited the birthplace of the American Revolution to start their own educational revolution.

Educators from Curtis Elementary, Legacy Elementary and Meadowview Elementary attended a weeklong training session at the world-renowned Landmark School in Boston, MA.

A-Kids-Choice Foundation, established by Denise Bankston, paid for all eight educators to attend the session.

Now these teachers are reaching out to their fellow educators in hopes of spreading the knowledge and success gained from a local non-profit organization.

Although the Landmark School is dedicated specifically for children with language-based disabilities, the Bossier educators discovered that the methods and principles used there are also applicable to improving the education of all students.

Samantha Bailey, a first grade teacher at Meadowview Elementary, said she has implemented several strategies in her classroom since visiting the Landmark School in July, including better organization in the classroom itself and more small group activities.

It’s all about learning strategies,” Bailey said.  “We focus on the students as individuals at their own level and provide them opportunities for success.”

The eight educators collaborated with other teachers Wednesday morning during the first of many teacher in-services on what they learned at the Landmark School.  Ashley Grantham, a fifth grade teacher at Meadowview Elementary, said the goal of the first group to Boston is to share as much knowledge as they can to provide all students with a better educational surrounding.

We are lighting the fire and passing the torch,” Grantham said.  “We want to be a domino effect so it will just keep growing and growing.”

“Through A-Kids-Choice Foundation, Meadowview Elementary has also received $20,000 to purchase and incorporate new interactive technology methods into their classrooms.  The school received a $10,000 check prior to the Christmas break, but Barrett was surprised with the second $10,000 check Wednesday morning, delivered by Bankston herself.

According to Barrett the money couldn’t come at a better time.  “This is tremendous, “ Barrett said.  “We have great, hard working families, but this is a hard time for everyone right now.”

Barrett said Meadowview decided not to pursue traditional fundraising methods this year simply because they just don’t generate enough profit.

“We are careful of what we as our families to provide for the students, Barrett said, “They support the students academically, but what we lack is funding for some of the technology that we really need.”

Along with the $20,000 donation from A-Kids-Choice, Meadowview also received 10 iPads and $6,000 from Bossier Parish Police Jurors Brad Cummings and Barry Butler to fund Meadowview’s “Bird’s Eye View,” a program that integrates science and social studies with reading and math at all grade levels.

Barrett said A-Kids-Choice Foundation is truly what their philosophy at Meadowview Elementary is all about.

“We are taking care of our children, one family at a time, Barrett said.

Amanda Crane
arcane@bossierpress.com

On the last day of school, before … Read More What a way to start 2012.

On the last day of school, before the Christmas break, Meadowview Elementary was the surprise recipient of $10,000 and 10 iPads from local benefactor Denise Bankston, founder of A Kid’s Choice Foundation. Then January 4, the day teachers returned from the holidays, Bankston doubled the money, handing Meadowview principal Dr. Shelly Barrett a check for another $10,000. She could not have been more excited or shocked.

Barrett said the depressed economy has been particularly tough for her school and the parents of her students. “We haven’t had any fundraisers this year in light of that, so this money helps more than you know.” Barrett added that her school exhausted all technology funds it was allotted earlier in the year.

When J.T. Taylor first entered Sherri Pool’s fourth … Read More From: Bossier Press-Tribune
December 2011

When J.T. Taylor first entered Sherri Pool’s fourth grade classroom at Apollo Elementary in 1995, he was just nine-years-old and struggling to make sense of reading and writing.  J.T. had both dyslexia and dysgraphia, learning differences that, at the time, few educators knew much about. Yet Pool did not let that stop her from helping him, nurturing him, encouraging him — something that did not go unnoticed by his mother.

Like her son, Denise Bankston also formed a special bond with Pool, who taught and tutored J.T. for years.  Bankston vowed to one day re-pay Pool in some way. She’s doing that now.

Bankston formed the non-profit, “A Kids’ Choice Foundation,” and since July 2010 has given $67,000 to Curtis Elementary where Pool is now principal. She has also paid for eight Bossier Parish teachers to attend Landmark School outside of Boston, Massachusetts, for a week last summer. The world-renowned school specializes in teaching children with dyslexia and other learning differences and is where J.T. eventually attended and had his breakthrough. Still, Bankston is ever grateful to Pool.

“Dee Dee!” the students yelled as Bankston entered their classroom on the last day of school before the Christmas break. She was dressed in black but could easily be considered Santa Claus, for she came bearing gifts. Her son, J.T. and family were at her side. They passed out necklaces inscribed with the words “Wish. Believe. Dream. Receive.” All 450 students received one, as well as faculty and staff. But that’s not all, she told the kids. Bankston explained that each necklace is symbolic of 25 cups of food that a needy child elsewhere in the world will receive through the Greater Good Network.

Pool beamed as she watched her friend hug each child. The principal pointed out to the students working on laptops that Bankston was the woman responsible for buying them, as well as the Active Boards in their classrooms.

J.T. is pretty proud of his mom, too. “I love it. It’s a great honor that my mom is able to do these things for all these kids,” he said. He’s also pretty proud of his ‘second’ mom, Sherri Pool. “She’s been like a second mother. There’s a lot of love between me and her.” J.T. went on to say, “She’s been with me since fourth grade. She surprised me at my high school graduation and college graduation.”

There’s no question, friendship is a gift. And this one began when an educator saw the potential in a child and refused to give up on him when even he was ready to give up on himself.