Ep 23: Everything has changed - and our support for students should too - Under Pressure - with Men Tchaas Ari
“They have lost faith, and we have lost credibility with them,” shares our guest Men Tchaas Ari of Communities in Schools as we talk about the importance of relationships in supporting student academic, social, and emotional wellbeing in the wake of the pandemic. We discuss educational inequality, achievement gaps, mental health and trauma, and how nonprofits and community organizations can build partnerships with schools to support student wellbeing. Roger and Drew kick off the episode with David Bowie/Queen’s Under Pressure and we wrap up with a celebration of Soul to Soul’s Keep On Movin’. Shout out to Roger’s sister and CIS hero Marianella Echevarria and recent graduates at all grade levels - and enjoy PRIDE month!
So that we can play the music of the 80s/90s right in the episode, we are releasing our podcast on Spotify. Get Spotify Premium to listen along with the music mid-episode.
Key Takeaways
Students, particularly those who are struggling, need meaningful and strong relationships with adults. Providing whole-school as well as group support and structured individual case management services can help students overcome challenges and barriers to learning.
As Ari shares in the podcast, “They have lost faith, and we have lost credibility with them.” We have to avoid using outdated approaches to student learning and development and be willing to work with students where they are.
It’s true that the achievement gap has expanded during the pandemic. But we have to start with the trauma first. Rather than solely adding more opportunities for academic learning, we have to address the social and emotional concerns of students.
Schools and zip codes matter. Students who go to high-resource schools have better outcomes than those from middle-resource or high-poverty schools, regardless of race or other factors.
Students who live in poverty are often faced with difficult choices about their learning environments. Toxic stress and isolation in the wake of the pandemic have also compounded these difficulties. Rather than making assumptions about student behavior and learning, we have to understand the social contexts in which students are constrained.
Resources and Links
Elharake, J. A., Akbar, F., Malik, A. A., Gilliam, W., & Omer, S. B. (2022). Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 among Children and College Students: A Systematic Review. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 1-13.
Lewis, K., Kuhfeld, M., Ruzek, E., & McEachin, A. (2021). Learning during COVID-19: Reading and math achievement in the 2020-21 school year. Center for School and Student Progress.
Harris, N. B. (2018). The deepest well: Healing the long-term effects of childhood adversity. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Our Guests
Men Tchaas Ari is the President and CEO of Communities In Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg (CIS), a student support organization that empowers students to stay in school and achieve in life. Prior to joining CIS, Ari worked as the Deputy Director of Adult and Economic Services with Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services and prior to working at DSS, Ari was the Chief Program Officer at Crisis Assistance Ministry. A native of Bloomfield, Connecticut, Ari has lived in Charlotte for 23 years. He is fluent in Spanish, and has more than 23 years of experience in human services.
Ari holds an Executive Master’s degree in Public Administration from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Government and has an undergraduate degree from Morehouse College. Ari also received a certificate in Municipal and County Government Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill and is a member of the 2013 Class of Leadership Charlotte, for which he is the immediate past President on the Board of Directors.
Ari is a Toastmaster who has held positions at both the club and district level. Additionally he has served on the board of the Assistance League, WFAE’s Advisory Board and is a charter member of the New Generation of African American Philanthropists (NGAAP). Ari is an aviator, an avid reader and a self-proclaimed health enthusiast. Read More.
