http://whytry.org/
What is the WhyTry Program?
● It is a strength-based approach to helping students overcome challenges and difficulties regarding
truancy, behaviors, and academics, and improve their outcomes in these areas.
● Mission of the program is to offer hope and an answer to the question “Why try in life?”
● Key to program’s success is the power in the relationship between a caring adult and a student that needs
help.
● The Why Try Program is generally funded by Positive Behavioral Intervention Support (PBIS) and Safe
and Drug Free Schools (SFDS) grants.
● Program teaches social and emotional principles to students in a way that they can understand and
remember. Uses a visual tool to teach a specific principle and then reinforces the principle with musical
and physical activities. This approach addresses the major learning styles – visual, auditory, and bodykinesthetic.
How It Works
● For each visual metaphor used in the WhyTry Program, 2 hands-on group experiential activities are
utilized. The experiential activities are particularly helpful in working with groups for increasing
participation and learning.
● Studies have shown that using experiential teaching elements, including demonstration, discussion
(processing), practice by doing, and teaching others, dramatically increases understanding and retention
of a new concept.
Research on the Why Try Program
● Across multiple third party studies, researchers have seen significant academic improvements:
•Youth perceived themselves as being more capable of learning and accomplishing tasks or actions.
• The average student GPA increased by 11%.
• Academic progress improved in all areas.
• Students had a greater ability to initiate and sustain action toward goals and an increased capacity to
find a means to carry out those goals.
• 73% of students surveyed reported a stronger belief that their actions today will affect their future.
• Students had a 13% decrease in referrals and improved GPA for the WhyTry group.
www.whytry.org
www.whytry.org
2013 Collaborative Conference for Student Achievement (CCSA)
March 25-27, 2013
2013 Collaborative Conference for Student Achievement (CCSA)
March 25-27, 2013
Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons/Joseph Koury Convention Center
Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons/Joseph Koury Convention Center
www.whytry.org
www.whytry.org
2013 Collaborative Conference for Student Achievement (CCSA)
March 25-27, 2013
2013 Collaborative Conference for Student Achievement (CCSA)
March 25-27, 2013
Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons/Joseph Koury Convention Center
Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons/Joseph Koury Convention Center
Fletcher Kieckbusch
Career Development Coordinator
fkieckbusch@chccs.k12.nc.us
919-969-2482 x27172
Brenda McNeely Allen
Family Specialist
bmcneely-allen@chccs.k12.nc.us
919-969-2482 x 27147
Fletcher Kieckbusch
Career Development Coordinator
fkieckbusch@chccs.k12.nc.us
919-969-2482 x27172
Brenda McNeely Allen
Family Specialist
bmcneely-allen@chccs.k12.nc.us
919-969-2482 x 27147
Shari Coveney
Family Specialist / Student Assistance Counselor
scoveney@chccs.k12.nc.us
919-969-2482 x27148
Shari Coveney
Family Specialist / Student Assistance Counselor
scoveney@chccs.k12.nc.us
919-969-2482 x27148
Antoinette Joyner
Special Populations Coordinator
ajoyner@chccs.k12.nc.us
919-969-2482 x27022
Winslow Carter
Career Development Coordinator
wcarter@chccs.k12.nc.us
919-969-2482 x 27173
Antoinette Joyner
Special Populations Coordinator
ajoyner@chccs.k12.nc.us
919-969-2482 x27022
Winslow Carter
Career Development Coordinator
wcarter@chccs.k12.nc.us
919-969-2482 x 27173
Fletcher Kieckbusch
Career Development Coordinator
fkieckbusch@chccs.k12.nc.us
919-969-2482 x27172
Brenda McNeely Allen
Family Specialist
bmcneely-allen@chccs.k12.nc.us
919-969-2482 x 27147
Fletcher Kieckbusch
Career Development Coordinator
fkieckbusch@chccs.k12.nc.us
919-969-2482 x27172
Brenda McNeely Allen
Family Specialist
bmcneely-allen@chccs.k12.nc.us
919-969-2482 x 27147
Shari Coveney
Family Specialist / Student Assistance Counselor
scoveney@chccs.k12.nc.us
919-969-2482 x27148
Shari Coveney
Family Specialist / Student Assistance Counselor
scoveney@chccs.k12.nc.us
919-969-2482 x27148
Antoinette Joyner
Special Populations Coordinator
ajoyner@chccs.k12.nc.us
919-969-2482 x27022
Antoinette Joyner
Special Populations Coordinator
ajoyner@chccs.k12.nc.us
919-969-2482 x27022
Winslow Carter
Career Development Coordinator
wcarter@chccs.k12.nc.us
919-969-2482 x 27173
Winslow Carter
Career Development Coordinator
wcarter@chccs.k12.nc.us
919-969-2482 x 27173