Hear how United Way site coordinators support Quad-Cities students with United for Schools

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Like educators, United Way Quad Cities site coordinators spend most of their days inside a classroom, working directly with students.

United Way piloted its "United for Schools" initiative at Madison Elementary School in 2021, aiming to help local Title I schools and students overcome non-academic barriers. Schools receive Title I funding if 40% or more of their students receive free and reduced-price lunch or are from households at or below the federal poverty line.

In 2023, the initiative expanded to Washington Elementary School in Moline. This past October, three more local schools -- Jefferson Elementary in Davenport, Rock Island Academy in Rock Island and Wells Elementary in East Moline -- signed on to become United for Schools sites via a new partnership with the nonprofit Communities in Schools.

People are also reading... Investigation of Bettendorf massage spas leads to arrest of woman on pimping charges Iowa Senate President: Bill passed by state lawmakers 'not a property owners' rights bill' Former Iowa Hawkeye basketball player, Clear Lake-native Ken Grabinski dies Demonstrators rally against ICE in Davenport, spurred by L.A. protesters Iowa's Next WNBA Star: How Lucy Olsen cultivated a permanent fanbase, WNBA future with Hawkeyes Davenport police make arrest in early morning homicide A new Mexican restaurant, Icy Bubbles opens and more Quad-Cities business news Whitey's to open new location in Bettendorf later this year Eldridge family to hold fundraiser Friday to help 10-month-old daughter with leukemia Minnesota man makes first appearance on Scott County murder charge LeClaire woman sentenced to 25 years after pleading guilty to vehicular homicide, OWI Rock Island Arsenal Museum on list for potential closure, decision weeks out Charge of possessing child sex abuse materials dropped as Scott County prosecutors investigate further Marissa Meloy Lawsuit: Rock Island police shooting of Jakarta Jackson was 'objectively unreasonable'

Students at Madison Elementary in Davenport and Wells Elementary in East Moline are used to being greeted by their site coordinators, Faith Martinez and Tracy Hadley, respectively, as they arrive at school each day.

"I have quite a few on my caseload who pop in late, so I like to be one of the first faces they see, just to let them know I'm happy they came to school," Martinez said, adding she has the same approach at dismissal.

Hadley begins his day at Wells' Breakfast Club, sharing a meal with his students to get them ready for class. He also uses this time to gauge students' needs, such as food access, clothing or family conflicts.

"I usually meet with about two students in my caseload a day," Hadley said, adding that these meeting are usually staggered between the morning periods and lunch.

On Mondays and Fridays, he eats with the "Lunch Bunch," his fourth graders with the highest behavior rates -- students exhibiting frequent or significant behavioral incidents at school.

Students will also catch Hadley on the playground, a great space to build relationships with students.

"And, to ensure that unstructured time isn't causing students to have a bad day or make bad decisions," he said with a smile.

Martinez meets with students in her caseload in small groups over their lunch hour, also scheduling regular parent check-ins.

"Just to make sure I'm keeping in constant contact with (students, families)," she said. "I've specifically worked with some of the older girls on life (and) social skills, because I know being a teenage girl can be difficult sometimes."

Being a "steady" figure for students is the crux of their work as United Way site coordinators, the two said. As a licensed Communities in Schools partner, United Way integrates full-day academic and non-academic support into students' school days. It also shows students someone cares about them.

"I could just see how excited the kids were to have (someone) in their school who cares, who they can rely on and go to if something was going on," Martinez said, describing this as an "open door policy" for her students. "They know they could come talk to me if they're hungry and need a snack."

They can come to her even if they just need someone to lend an ear, she said. For some students, that's all they need to succeed, Martinez said.

While most educators work hard to build similar connections with each student, Title I teachers often have many needs and "pivot points" they must attend to each day, Hadley said.

"Schools are so busy, you know?" Martinez added. "It's not that teachers don't want to be that person, it's just harder for them to be that person."

Academic, attendance and behavioral data is showing their work to be effective, inspiring Hadley and Martinez to continue the impact. Hadley has worked as a substitute teacher in the past but holds a background in data analytics, and Martinez holds degrees in psychology and criminal justice.

Despite coming from non-education backgrounds, both have made a real difference in students' lives.

"Being that shoulder they can lean on, and being consistent, can make a huge impact," Martinez said.

She was interested in pursuing the position after studying the school-to-prison pipeline for her master's program.

"I also firmly believe that positively impacting kids of the next generations is how we'll change the world," Martinez said. "So being able to set them up for success is really profound to me, and I hope to be someone they can look back on and think, 'Ms. Martinez was the person who helped me do this.'"

Hadley echoed this, using his finance background to highlight the importance of social capital.

"Seeing how I can improve students' lives from that (lens) drives me ... I have always believed in intergenerational mobility and that the next generation will be greater than us," he said. "So, how can we help?"

Photos: Quad City Bank & Trust sponsors Madison Elementary fun runs 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0

Want to see more like this?

Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Olivia Allen

Education Reporter

Author twitter Author email Follow Olivia Allen Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification.

{{description}}

Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today