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County Implements World-Class Program

Saturday, 03 February 2007

RIVERSIDE

By Chris Levister

Image a public school where all students are high achievers, where there are few fights or disruptions and everyone respects one another! M.B. Flip Flippen, an internationally known educator and motivational speaker from Texas says such a school is not only possible, but is currently evolving in 22 Riverside County elementary and secondary schools using his award winning achievement model "Capturing Kids' Hearts".

"To reach students minds, you have to reach their hearts." That was the captivating message delivered to Riverside county teachers by the founder and president of The Flippen Group, a man who practices what he preaches. He and his wife Susan together have raised 20 children.

Flippen was featured on Super Bowl XXVII and the Today Show. He walked into a packed room of teachers wearing his signature grin equipped with a cache of engaging role plays. He reached out and grabbed the hand of Moreno Valley 8th grade teacher Latasha Jimerson.

Award winning educator Flip Flippen engages in role play with Moreno Valley teacher Latasha Jimerson during 3-day leadership training.

"Come on play along with me. You've been bad. You want to get back into my classroom, you've got to earn it and I'm here to help you. But first you got to say you are sorry." "I'm sorry," said Jimerson. "Are you willing to work at respecting your teachers and classmates?" Flippen asked. "Yes," she responded. "I care about you. Don't let anyone tell you you're not a champion. I'm going to help you become the outstanding student you want to be," said Flippen.

The teachers erupted into thunderous applause when Flippen ended his role play by hugging Jimerson. "We gotta do more than test them. We've got to touch them and love on them. We've got to reach their hearts," he said. "Anyone who advocates not touching our kids is wrong. Great teaching is taking whatever comes in the door and calling forth their best."

Capturing Kids' Hearts is based on a simple philosophy: "Children perform for people they feel connected to."

During the intense 3-day training program teachers create a ‘Class Contract': How teachers want to be treated; how they should treat others including staff, visitors and students on the campus; what they can do to prevent conflict and how they can best reach the heart and mind of a student.

The results are measured. The goals are tough, sincere and highly achievable says Flippen. "Our mission is to help schools raise the individual student's academic performance 5 to 8 points in a year's time; to raise their standardized test performance 5 to 8 points, to lower the truancy rate. Additionally to lower the dropout rate and raise teacher moral and satisfaction," he said.

Flippen told teachers he refuses to blame kids for joining gangs or causing classroom disruptions. "Kids are kids. Children need relationships. More than anything, they need appropriate relationships with appropriate adults." He said teaching is about reaching out and developing strong one-on-one relationships even in a classroom of 25 students.

Jimerson says the leadership training helped put her role in the classroom in perspective. "Yes we want kids to respect us. But what are we saying to kids with our own body language? We tend to think we deserve respect just because we are adults. Today's kids demand that we earn their respect. We should ask ourselves, how do I communicate with other people who are different? Sometimes it's very uncomfortable to confront our own prejudices. This workshop teaches us, you don't run from conflict, you face it head on and you learn from it even if the lesson comes from a child."

Social worker, Annette Taunton, traveled from Redding, California to hear Flippen. "From a personal standpoint I was awestruck! The Flippen approach is not only a great model for our foster family agency, it works for everyone. Imagine if we all got along. There probably wouldn't be an Iraq War."

Flippen repeatedly gets rave reviews from teachers, administrators social and business leaders around the country.

"I've attended many workshops over the years, but never have I been so ‘engaged' by a presenter. The possible impact of this approach is staggering," said John a teacher from Hemet Unified Schools.

"Flip gave us a powerful gift: hope. I can hardly wait to get started," said Laurie a Riverside elementary school teacher.

The Flippen approach is now in more than 3,000 schools in 44 states. Riverside County is the first county in the western U.S. to implement Capturing Kids' Hearts.

"It's a powerful approach. We are committed to implementing the model countywide. Our goal is to train every teacher. Through the training curriculums Capturing Kids' Hearts and Teen Leadership we want to see our students perform better, learn better and increase academic performance," says Cami Berry, project director of the Riverside County Office of Education Safe Schools Unit.

School officials were reluctant to put a price tag on the courses. The program is expensive admits Berry, "but our children are worth every penny." She said schools will draw on federal No Child Left Behind funds and other state, local and private grants.

Dave a Temecula Valley High School teacher with more than 27 years in the classroom remarked, "Flip and his team had us eating out of their hands.

I was truly moved. I feel a renewed sense of enthusiasm to return to my classroom and "capture kids' hearts."

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