Envoy Program Puts Gates Money to Good Use

Memphis, Tn - In the fall of 2009, the Memphis City School System was given a $90 million grant from the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation. But, in order to get the money, schools have to prove they are putting it to good use. That's where the Envoy Program comes into play.

The program puts powerful tools and concepts in the hands of students, raising their ability to teach as well. If the students are effective, they become an envoy, or advocate, who share their new knowledge with other students inside the classroom.

"These Envoy's are going to be on the mission of helping their classmates to know and to believe that they really can learn anything as long as they keep their head and minds interested in the work," says Barbara Logan, Director of School Training. "So we're teaching 3,000 kids directly over the next 3 years but over the next five years were actually going to have over 100,000 kids impacted by the change."

"I want to show people they can get smarter, they don't have to give up so that they can actually become something in life. Go to college have a family have a good job. That's what I want to bring back to my school," commented Adrienne Shores from Craigmont.

Getting students to think outside the box sounds good, but can it really work? Can everyone really be an "A" student?

"One of the problems that we have across the nation is students really believe that only so many people can be very smart. So what we are doing is countering that and teaching them the secret that it's really about believing in yourself that if you think you can you will work hard and that will help you get smart," says Logan.

Gabrielle Walker of Craigmont says, "The smart way of thinking is you have to have confidence and with confidence you have the effort to do what you need to do to develop."

MCS students aren't the only one's taking part. There is an envoy program available to teachers as well.

The money is also being used to measure how good the teaching staff is. If the teachers measure up, they could receive a bonus check.