04/17/2012
Stacey Watson, co-founder of Drop-In Nation, which prepares students to achieve a high school level in education, will speak about using a holistic curriculum to reach at-risk learners on Friday, April 20, at SUNY Cortland.
Watson, whose hour-and-a-half presentation will address the importance of a high-quality education to all individuals, will begin at 5:45 p.m. in Sperry Center, Room 204. Presented by the Literacy Department, the event is free and open to the public.
“It is criminal to cast aside the incredible drive, hunger and intelligence my students have,” said Watson, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Buffalo State College. “These beautiful young minds are essential members of our community.”
Drop-In Nation, which was established in 2004, prepares students for their General Educational Development (GED) diploma, while focusing on personal development based around core components of the organization. Students at Drop-In Nation study English, math, science, social studies and writing.
The mission of Watson’s non-profit organization is to serve out-of-school youth and unemployed or underemployed adults by providing holistic education, which includes life skills and career-training opportunities in a collaborative, community-based setting.
The organization offers yoga classes, volunteer activities, personalized career exploration days, internships and college visits to its students as part of its trademark holistic curriculum.
Watson and her co-founder, Susan Mendel-Hausman, both share a passion for improving educational access for youth while supporting the educators that serve them.
In addition to her commitment to Drop-In Nation, Watson serves on the Governor’s Statewide Organization Team for School Engagement and Drop-Out and the New York State Education Department’s Alternative Education Steering Committee.
She also works as an alternative education consultant at SMH Associates, Inc.
Watson was elected Educator of the Year by the Greater South Buffalo Chamber of Commerce in 2006 and was the youngest person ever nominated for the New York State Board of Regents.
The event is sponsored by the Campus Artist and Lecture Series, the Faculty Development Center/Small Grants, the President’s Office, the Institute for Civic Engagement, the Dean's Office of the School of Education, and the Literacy Department.
For more information, contact Sara Egan, adjunct Literacy Department faculty member at the College, at (607) 753-4375.