If you’ve ever asked Rick Dalton what exactly College for Every Student (CFES) does, you’ve witnessed a mysterious-but-beguiling force of nature. The Rick Dalton phenomenon. Part philosopher, part pundit, part snake charmer, part visionary, part salesman, and part wizard. He is a hybrid of your favorite teachers, professors, coaches, mentors and the Energizer Bunny. No joke!

Rick Dalton is the founder, President and CEO of College For Every Student, “a global leader at helping underserved students get to and through college, ready to enter the 21st century workforce.” Over the last fifteen years CFES has empowered 75k+ underserved students in forty states across the country to

• stay in high school through graduation,
• set sites on post secondary education,
• master requisite skills for college admissions,
• and matriculate and thrive at competitive colleges.

Consider the fact that many/most of these students did not have parents or immediate influencers who attended college. It’s a triumph of epic proportions. And despite its nationwide, indeed its international footprint, CFES is based in Essex, NY.

Building College and Career Readiness

For everyone curious how CFES has accomplished so much in so little time, I recommend you order a copy of just-launched College For Every Student: A Practitioner’s Guide to Building College and Career Readiness (link to Amazon.com), co-authored by Rick Dalton and Edward P. St. John and published by Routledge. Drawing upon CFES’s experience and peppered with inspiring vignettes that illustrate the diversity and personalized interaction that underpins CFES success, the authors deliver a succinct guidebook for anyone interested in educational reform.

In a tidy, accessible 167 page book full of useful tables and graphs Dalton and St. John tackle some of the most pressing challenges schools and teachers are facing:

• How can we improve educational opportunities?
• How can we tailor schools, curriculum, advising/mentorship, service learning to the demands of tomorrow’s workplace?
• How can we revitalize the tradition of upward mobility that has distinguished US resident aspirations, even expectations for generations?
• What elements are critical for college acceptance, college success, and career readiness?

Until December 31 Routledge is offering a 20% discount (enter the code IRK69 at Routledge’s checkout) if you purchase directly from the publisher.

ORDER FROM ROUTLEDGE

Remember to enter code IRK69 during checkout to receive a 20% discount.

Routledge Authors of the Month

Concurrent with the launch of College For Every Student: A Practitioner’s Guide to Building College and Career Readiness Routledge, an academic publisher founded in 1836, announced Rick Dalton and Edward P. St. John as their authors of the month.  Here are a couple of highlight from their interview.

What motivated you to write College For Every Student?
We both have one goal: To improve opportunities for low-income students through college and career readiness.

From your experience, what’s the biggest challenge educators face today?
The standards and accountability movement has constrained the time educators have to teach outside the curriculum. Practitioners frequently comment on how College For Every Student allows them the opportunity to get back to the reason they got into education in the first place. They’re able to have meaningful student interactions through mentoring, leadership development, and support networks with community…

What has been one of the proudest moments of your education career so far?
We are inspired every day by students who overcome staggering odds. These students not only improve their own lives but the lives of their families and often communities. Gregory was one of many students who beat the odds. When Gregory’s father was incarcerated, his mother could not afford rent and the family was forced to move into a homeless shelter. Despite these challenges, Gregory attended school every day and served as a role model for his younger siblings. He maintained a 98% average, the highest in his school. Through the CFES program, he mentored younger students, became a student leader, and helped his peers apply to college. Gregory went on to graduate from the University of Vermont and today is a mathematics teacher. (Source: Routledge)

Book Reviews

College For Every Student provides a clear and compelling evidence-based blueprint for fostering college and career readiness for the United States and beyond. With an inspiring call to action through a sound literature review, this book makes the case for the importance of college readiness for any country that cares deeply about developing the talents of all its citizens.

– William R. Fitzsimmons, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, Harvard College

This book should be required reading for anyone looking for strategies to prepare underserved youth with the skills that they need for college and career success. Edward P. St. John and Rick Dalton recognize that in order to prepare our students for success in a changing global economy, we must focus not just on college, but also on career preparation and success. College For Every Student gives us hope, grounded in practical solutions.

– Kelli Wells, Executive Director of Education and Skills, GE Foundation