“Through I AM, our scholars have become aware of the importance of who they are and how valuable they are at a young age. ”
Curriculum Expansion Project
In March 2022, we began Phase One of our Curriculum Expansion Project. The purpose of the project was to create individual curriculum for each grade level, kindergarten through fifth grade. Writing curriculum for each grade level was necessary to address specific SEL skills and meet the developmental and academic needs of the students. Phase One was completed in July 2023.
Phase Two of the project began in July 2023 and is project to be completed by December 2024. The purpose of this phase is to have the new curriculum developed, revised, and edited. This will increase students' comprehension of lesson content and their ability to apply these skills in their personal lives. Following the completion of this project, we will be able to better support the social and emotional development of the students in our current schools and increase our capacity to implement our program in additional schools.
Thank You to the sponsors of Phase One:
Thank You to the sponsors of Phase Two:
Research Studies
LSU Research Partnership
I AM partnered with the Louisiana State University Social Research and Evaluation Center (SREC) in 2018/2019 to conduct a Research Study into the effectiveness of the I AM program in fostering social-emotional competence among elementary students. Social-emotional competence, which is key to children’s cognitive development, language skills, mental health and school success, comprises several dimensions including, social skills, self-esteem, self-efficacy, emotional control, perseverance, communication skills, and conflict resolution skills (Center for the Study of Social Policy, 2013).
The Research Study was a Randomized Controlled Trial designed to evaluate the social-emotional learning outcomes of the I AM program, as well as its impact on students’ behavioral and academic success. The study was conducted in two phases: Phase I, involving the development of a program logic model and research design, and Phase II involving data gathering and analysis.
SREC is a unit within the College of Human Sciences and Education that fosters healthy social systems by facilitating the development, implementation, and evaluation of social programs; conducting research; and providing consultation and expertise. The SREC research team consists of Judith Rhodes, PhD, LMSW; Jonathan Lomotey, PhD; Danielle Eugene, LCSW; and Kandra Colomb, MBA.
Thank you to LSU Social Research and Evaluation Center.
