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Unlocking the Potential ...
Today at Allendale, we have over 250 young people who attend one of our educational programs. What follows is an interview with Allendale's VP of Educational Services - Donal Barlow. In our conversation we will focus on Allendale's approach to not only educating scholastically, but Allendale's role in preparing our students for life.
Press: First, about you .. how many years have you been with Allendale?
25 years this October, I started on October 22, 1979 (only a couple of months before Ron Howard, the VP of Residential Services).
Press: How did you come to be at Allendale?
I grew up in Antioch and kids from Allendale attended Antioch High School, but back then I really didn't understand the work of Allendale. I was a Criminal Justice major in college, but came out of school without a job. I worked in the factory at Baxter for a summer and knew that wasn't what I wanted to do. A friend of mine was a student-teacher at Allendale, so I decided to look into working here. I started as a child care worker in Bush cottage. From there moved up through different positions; a Case Specialist and a Team Leader for Shumway Cottage. About then Bob Holway, the Executive Director at the time, offered an Educator Program in conjunction with UIC - there were about 4 or 5 of us that participated and received our Special Education Teaching Certification. I then became a Teacher in the Stepping Stone Program, and continued to increasing levels of responsibility as Master Teacher, Director of the Residential Education Program and now VP of Educational Services.
Press: Tell me about the kids who attend school at Allendale?
They are kids. Are they more severe today ... I guess that's true, but for the most part the kids who come to Allendale want to do well in school. They want to connect, to be involved, to learn.
Press: What distinguishes Allendale from the public schools?
The way we get to know our kids. Classrooms have 8 - 9 kids with 2 - 3 adults. With this intimacy, students and teachers can form real and genuine relationships over time, and with the families too. Because of behavioral issues (either acting outward, or many times acting inward), in the public schools these kids might struggle to be accepted, even noticed. At Allendale they can feel personal acceptance and personal accountability. Here we also don't expel and rarely suspend. No "easy" outs. Of course other differences between Allendale and the public schools include the therapeutic aspects of our programming - counseling for both individuals, groups and/or families as needed. Also there are many opportunities for these kids to participate - which they might not get involved in at a public school. Activities like competitive sports programs, performance music programs, auto shop or wood shop - where each child will receive individual attention. These type of "hands on" experiences are especially important to the students at Allendale, who in many cases have struggled in a traditional academic setting. There are different challenges in the programs for our residential students vs. our day students. Our day students can choose not to come to school. Our challenge is to make this a place they want to come. These students may face more of life's temptations outside of school hours. These temptations can get in the way of their success if they let them. Coming to school is not an issue for our residential students - it is a short walk across campus. However, many of these students have given up on school ... on learning, due to past failures.
Press: Talk a little about your staff … how would you describe them as a whole?
The teaching staff here is pretty experienced. Some teachers have been here 20 years, but I would say the average is 7 - 8 years. One thing I find most encouraging, is that many of our teachers started out as Child Care Workers or as Teacher's Assistants and have stayed and progressed in their vocations to become Special Education Certified teachers. Our Teacher's Assistants (TAs) come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and are a crucial part of our program. There is typically 1 teacher, 1 - 2 TAs, with a maximum of 10 students per classroom. In addition, there are teachers with other specialties, music, art, home economics, woodworking, auto shop, horticulture. The kids flourish in these areas. The specialty classroom settings are where we can sometimes see the true capabilities of many of our students.
Press: What makes a teacher that Allendale would hire "special"?
A commitment to see kids grow. A sincere desire to help these kids. A sense of humor helps. Flexibility, and the ability to balance empathy with encouragement. Honesty - to create honest relationships with kids ... because kids know!!! The good teachers demonstrate their commitment, not just say the words.
Press: What is the greatest challenge for the individuals in this role?
Allendale is good at working with the behavioral and emotional issues of our students. The challenge is to keep in balance developing good behavior and good accountability for academic growth. The biggest academic challenge we face is literacy ... written language and reading skills. Especially teaching these skills with our older students. Kids sometimes can't see the importance of literacy and how they might be limiting their futures if they are lacking in these skills. But we can't give up on these kids, nor can we "dumb it down" just so they can "pass". Reading is something that we must work on as a school community. Good readers don't just read in school.
Press: What is expected from the students that attend Allendale's Educational Programs?
Because the kids come here due to some sort of problem behavior, it is important that we focus, and help the kids refocus on the academic part of school. We want to convey high expectations to the kids for doing their best, learning good work and study habits, as well as getting along with peers and authority figures.
Press: How are these programs preparing these young people for life?
We focus on the experiences we give the students while they are here. We hope to give them enough good experiences, enough stability, enough love ... that even if they veer off course, they can still stabilize the ship. Press: For the kids that graduate from Allendale, what's next? Some return or transition to the public schools. After graduation there are many options ... some work, some attend vocational school or junior college, others go into the military or on to a four-year college. Some students do come back to visit, in the spring around the time of graduation or during the Christmas holidays ... just to check in and keep in touch. It's great to hear their stories.
Press: What is rewarding for you personally in your role as VP of Educational Services?
ISBE (Illinois State Board of Education) recently held a site visit and went through everything and visited classrooms. In their report they were very complimentary about our programs. I am excited each day when the kids come to school and do what they are expected to do. I love to see them take risks - like perform in the talent show or participate in sports. But my favorite part of the job is the "kids stuff". Listening to the kids and hearing their perspectives on things ... that's rewarding. Graduation ... with the students dressed up, surrounded by family and friends ... on graduation day everything is possible! And I like Allendale - the fact that it has been here for 107 years, doing good for kids. I love it when alumni from the 40's or 60's show up and tell their stories. "Captain Bradley's spirit lives on!".
Press: In conclusion, how would you describe the value of education for the children and youth at Allendale?
Allendale is about "no child left behind" ... and about "back to basics". The kids at Allendale have the right to and deserve an educational program that meets their needs. The students here in many cases, don't fit into a program that caters to the "average". Allendale is a place where the more challenging kids are NOT left behind. The measure of success here is not always a test score, a GPA or a class rank. Can a student ... work, hold a job (and in today's society you have to be able to read to hold a job), work with other people, persevere when they face a difficulty. Education is the pathway toward this type of achievement. Years ago education would not have been an expectation for many of these kids - they would have begun working at a very young age and many would have held that same job for the rest of their lives. At Allendale we want to create a different reality. We want these students to see their ability, to believe in themselves, to see past their pasts, to not be limited by their experiences prior to Allendale. At Allendale we look to see each student for who they are and for what they CAN be.
A Legacy of Involvement
It was twenty-one years ago, when a personal friend gave Jay Proops a call and recruited him to join Allendale's Board of Directors. The result has been 21 years of dedicated service, as a volunteer, a Board member, donor, committee member and as past Chairman of the Board. It was just recently that Jay provided time for us to interview him about his "legacy of involvement" here at Allendale.
Dev: Jay, what prompted you to say yes when asked to get involved with Allendale?
Jay: Allendale's focus on children and my wife and I were interested in being involved in the work of a solid organization. We found that in Allendale.
Dev: What is it about Allendale's work over the years that has inspired you?
Jay: Satisfaction in serving at Allendale has come from two areas - in helping kids that need help, certainly. But also - Allendale is not a high profile agency that can get help from anybody. You know, at Allendale, whatever work you do, truly helps. You can get really involved and the work you do really makes a difference. Every dollar goes right to the kids. It has been gratifying to see the agency's growth from under a million dollars, to over 20 million dollars annually. That means more kids served, improved facilities and an exceptional, high quality staff.
Dev: We understand that you have made a planned giving decision for Allendale. First, why Allendale?
Jay: What we expect is first, that an organization serves its mission. Quality of programs is most important!!! Then, we look to growth, this means growth not just in numbers but rich growth in programs and offerings and methods and expertise. Also, resiliency. An agency needs to be strong enough to weather the tough times. Allendale is all of these. It is a very healthy organization, with strong leadership, and with growth continuing to better serve the children and community.
Dev: Why did you choose to make a planned gift? Why now?
Jay: To be honest, our decision to get involved in planned giving really wasn't because of Allendale. It was because it was attractive from a tax standpoint to set up a Charitable Trust. With a Charitable Trust, you can choose where your money goes during your lifetime and get the tax deduction at the time you set up the trust. You can donate stocks to the trust tax-free and you can take an income stream from the trust. It is a win - win for organizations such as Allendale. The donor receives tax benefits, continues to receive guaranteed income, and contributes to charitable organizations - all during your lifetime, while you are still involved with the organization and watching it grow. By the way, I can't think of one negative to doing it now!
Dev: Did you seek advice from legal or financial counsel?
Jay: Yes - we did work with both our legal and financial counsel to set this up. We have made very thoughtful decisions about how we want to handle our estate. For example, our philosophy is not to leave the bulk of our estate to our children. We certainly want to provide basic security to our children, but what is left will go to a family foundation and our children will manage the foundation - we hope creating a legacy of giving in future generations. (Jay and his wife have four children, ages 17 - 32). This also works as financially advantageous as it minimizes the estate taxes, which can be very high.
Dev: Any final thoughts?
Jay: I encourage donors to be involved! Pass on your legacy, not just through your gifts, but pass on a legacy of involvement.
Calling All Alumni -
Did you live at Allendale or attend school here? Do you know anyone who did? We are trying to locate all Allendale Alumni.
As faculty and staff, we are trying to keep in touch with the reason that we are all here.
Please contact the Office of Development and Public Relations at (847) 245-6233, if you know of any individuals who would like to reunite with Allendale. Perhaps you would like to be reacquainted with friends or you may like to share your inspiring stories or advice with the young folks currently at Allendale. Personally, I would like to hear some of the interesting stories that are rumored to have happened here through the years.
Please give us a call!
--Noel Calhoun
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