HARLINGEN — “Yes! Our Kids Can.”
The statement is at once a rallying cry, a mantra and a tool for encouraging children to set their sights high.
And that’s why Warren Tichenor, a former Austin elementary student and ex-UN ambassador, is donating not only the digital learning system by that name but the equipment to use it.
That learning system from “Yes! Our Kids Can” is a curriculum geared toward encouraging first graders to aim for college. Principal Magda Gonzalez said she plans to implement the curriculum in February after the iPads, covers and charging stations arrive, all funded by Tichenor.
“Oh my gosh, I am so excited,” Gonzalez said. “We are very fortunate to have this program down here in the Valley.”
Tichenor has paid regular visits to his old school for about four years. His involvement with the school began with donations for teachers to make purchases at book fairs. He has continued that support up to the current project.
“He came to visit our campus several months ago,” Gonzalez said. “He was interested in bringing this program to our campus.”
The “Yes! Our Kids Can” curriculum had been developed by Tichenor’s friend Lionel Sosa, and he asked Gonzalez if she’d like to use it.
Of course she said yes.
“I was thrilled, super excited about having this opportunity because it’s such a huge opportunity for my kids,” she said. “Probably we’re going to start doing parent meetings in February.”
So how do you interest first graders in college? She gave some examples of the curriculum.
“They will have the names of universities and pictures of their logos,” she said. “They can be more knowledgeable about what’s around them. A lot of it is just exposure. One of the games is mascot match, so they’re going to match up which mascot goes with which college.”
Yes! Our Kids Can was established in 2016 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit to operate as a social enterprise.
Its primary goal is to help every parent and every teacher create an expectation of success and prosperity in the mind of every disadvantaged child in a way that is measurable, scalable and affordable.
Using today’s mobile technology, the YOKC App and parent outreach component is a unique and innovative digital learning system aligned with YOKC’s classroom content. It is also affordable, scalable and measurable. These tools are designed to be easy for parents, engaging for children, and encouraging for families.
YOKC bridges college awareness and social and emotional learning with parental engagement in Grade 1, motivating students to dream of a brighter future, make better grades, improve attendance, score higher on tests and stay in school longer.
YOKC engages parents at least three times a week on their smart phones and captivates students in class and at home with TEKS-aligned games, songs, puzzles, character and confidence-building messages to help them to see a future full of new possibilities.
YOKC provides content in English and Spanish.
Austin Elementary has 61 children in first grade this year.
The donation will include 30 iPads, one for every two children
The monetary worth of the donation is more than $17,000
