2016-2017 EAST Initiative Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017

EAST 2016-2017 Annual Report | 1

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

V I S I O N.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 M I S S I O N .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 G R O W T H.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 IMPACT...................................................... 8 CONFERENCE........................................... 10 T R A I N I N G.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 SUPPORT.................................................. 14 F I N A N C I A L R E S U L T S.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 D E V E L O P M E N T .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 COMMUNICATIONS................................... 20 BOARD OF DIRECTORS.............................. 21

GREETING

W

e often emphasize that EAST offers opportunity, but we don’t always fully explain what

we mean by “opportunity.” Yes, EAST means access to sophisticated technology and the

chance to learn skills that are highly valued in today’s modern workforce. But that alone wasn’t why the Silicon Valley Education Foundation recognized EAST as innovative in 2016.

In EAST, learners (of all ages) are encouraged to take an active role in charting their own course.

They choose what they will learn about and then learn by doing as they help others. This is a special thing, because it imparts responsibility right alongside opportunity.

Our responsibility is to maintain the highest level of service in all that we do. As you read this

report, you’ll see that we do quite a lot, from implementing and supporting EAST programs to applying our unique approach to education and our technical knowledge in ways that benefit

facilitators and even teachers outside of the EAST classroom. We also have a special talent for

planning events and celebrating student successes. If you haven’t been to the EAST Conference, you’re missing out (and consider this a personal invitation to the next one).

Please take this opportunity to get to know more about us and how our operations seek to

impart our unique brand of service-minded education to affect growth in learners, whether

they’re enrolled in a class, standing in front of it, or acting as a community partner and mentor.

We encourage you to follow us on social media or reach out to us. We like to share, because we believe that working together presents an opportunity to make us all stronger. And that, we believe, is our greatest responsibility.

President and CEO

|

Matt Dozier THE EAST INITIATIVE

EAST 2016-2017 Annual Report | 1

V IS ION

Communities strengthened through s e r v i c e a n d t e c h n o l o g y.

2 | EAST 2016-2017 Annual Report

EAST, as both an organization and an idea, is a community built around a shared philosophy that working together and using the best tools available makes the whole stronger. Simply put, we envision communities strengthened through service and technology. Our belief is that a community isn’t limited by geographic or political boundaries. It includes everything from a single classroom to the entirety of EAST, and in 2016 that was 234 schools in five states comprised of hundreds of educators and administrators and tens of thousands of students and their innumerable project clients and civic partners. Empowered by this vision and given the freedom and responsibility of taking a hand in their own educational future, our students are changing the largest community of all: the world they will inherit.

FOUR PILLARS OF THE EAST MODEL: Service-based learning

Technologydriven

S t u d e n tled

C o l l a b o r at i v e Learning EAST 2016-2017 Annual Report | 3

Whether serving students, educators, or the public at large, the mission of the EAST Initiative remains the same: provide all learners the opportunity to have relevant, individualized, life-changing educational experiences. Opportunities abound in the EAST classroom, but the organization also serves educators, both by training new facilitators to lead EAST classrooms and providing professional development for traditional classroom teachers as well. By offering training, support, grants and instruction, the EAST Initiative serves as both provider of and advocate for innovative, empowering education.

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MISSION

T h e E A S T I n i t i at i v e p r o v i d e s a l l l e a r n e r s t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o h a v e r e l e v a n t, i n d i v i d u a l i z e d , l i f e - c h a n g i n g e d u c at i o n a l e x p e r i e n c e s.

arkansas districts with east

131 of 288

44

districts

w i t h m u lt i p l e east schools EAST 2016-2017 Annual Report | 5

GROWTH

EAST began in a single classroom in 1996. As other schools took interest in the concept, a nonprofit organization, the EAST Initiative, was chartered in 2001 to help support the growth and implementation of the EAST model of education.

Fifteen years later, the nonprofit counts 234 schools with EAST classrooms. It continues to offer technical support, train new EAST classroom educators, and ongoing support for these facilitators of learning, as well as reaching out to provide professional development to traditional classroom teachers through a program called Education Unleashed. As always, the guiding principle in EAST is self-directed, serviceoriented learning powered by sophisticated technology.

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12 new schools for school year 2016-2017

234 t o ta l s c h o o l s w i t h an east program

20,400 t o ta l s t u d e n t s i n v o lv e d i n e a s t p r o g r a m s arkansas east student demographics male female Free Lunch

Reduced Lunch

Paid Lunch

Title i status

48.18%

8.36%

43.45%

58.43%

s o u r c e : a r k a n s a s d e p a r t m e n t o f e d u c at i o n

EAST 2016-2017 Annual Report | 7

I M PA C

2,257,356 volunteer HOURS at an estimated value of

$54 million

*Source: Independent Sector https://www.independentsector.org/resource/the-value-of-volunteer-time/

8 | EAST 2016-2017 Annual Report

“

CT

Recently, our community suffered a tragic death as a result of a grain bin accident. After meeting with emergency personnel, [we] set out to create a map using ArcGIS... to pinpoint the exact location of grain bins and reduce the amount of time taken to respond to these types of accidents.

[When a person is trapped in grain] minutes matter, and emergency personnel need to know exact locations.

Buffalo Island Central High School 2017 Founder’s Award Winner

The EAST classroom is a unique learning environment in which students are challenged to think critically about the world around them. They identify problems within their community and apply technology in the EAST classroom to solve those problems. That work contributes real value to the community, both in terms of volunteer hours and end product. Oftentimes, such as when students work with emergency responders, that work can even save lives.

additionally, community members

volunteered

90,954

hours to work with east students EAST 2016-2017 Annual Report | 9

More than 3,000 students, facilitators and guests from 227 schools gathered in March for the most innovative and exciting three days in education anywhere. Supported by dozens of sponsors and offering thousands of dollars in awards, the EAST Conference is an opportunity for students to get handson training, network with peers nationwide, become leaders and, most importantly, celebrate the successes of the past year. It is at this event that the highest achievement in EAST, the Timothy R. Stephenson Founder’s Award, is presented each year.

T o ta l C o n f e r e n c e S p o n s o r s h i p *

$185,516 Conference 2017

13% I N C R E A S E

over 2016

*INCLUDING IN-KIND AND OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS

10 | EAST 2016-2017 Annual Report

CON

NFERENCE FOUNDER’S AWARD WINNER buffalo island central high school awards of excellence student growth: helen tyson middle school p r o j e c t i n n o vat i o n a n d s o p h i s t i c at i o n : armorel high school community and c o l l a b o r at i o n : nettleton high school

3,087 total conference attendees

81 total conference presenters

89 total conference volunteers

62 total breakout sessions EAST 2016-2017 Annual Report | 11

1,069 STUDENTS attended east training

157 Facilitators attended Summer Seminar

67 Facilitators attended tech camp

70 Facilitators attended east Phase Training

58 ADMINISTRATORS attended administrator training

90 Teachers attended 3 Education Unleashed 12 |sEAST e s s2016-2017 i o n s Annual Report

TRAINING

Utilizing a network of educational partners, the EAST Initiative offers training for students and professional development for educators throughout Arkansas year round. EAST’s Little Rock headquarters includes 3,000 square feet of training space, which can be adapted to accommodate the variety of sophisticated technologies covered. In student training, EAST employs industry professionals to provide expertise on specific technologies that can be applied to student projects.

In professional development, the organization serves EAST facilitators as well as teachers of any subject from any school at any grade level through its Education Unleashed program.

EAST 2016-2017 Annual Report | 13

SUPPORT

TECH SUPPORT SITE SUPPORT

a total of 2,588 responses to 617 help ticket requests, with an an average response time of 7 minutes.

188 east classroom visits during six months of the school year, an average of more than 31 visits per month.

I n a d d i t i o n , t h e E A S T I n i t i at i v e , i n pa r t n e r s h i p w i t h t h e a r k a n s a s d e pa r t m e n t o f e d u c at i o n , o f f e r s g r a n t s t o s u p p o r t s c h o o l s. beyond the bell grants provided $41,305, augmented by an additional $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 f r o m a n o u t s i d e d o n o r , t o s i x s c h o o l s f o r p r o j e c t s u n d e r s ta k e n during the summer or outside of normal school hours. east upgrade grants offered a combined $142,230.78 t o 3 1 s c h o o l s t o a s s i s t i n t h e p u r c h a s e o f n e w t e c h n o l o g y.

With technical support and programmatic divisions, the EAST Initiative has a dozen staff members devoted to direct support of schools employing the EAST Model of Education. The technical support staff helps students and facilitators troubleshoot hardware or software issues, while the program support team conducts visits to schools to meet with facilitators, students and administrators throughout the year to support and strengthen EAST in the classroom, in addition to offering professional development.

EAST 2016-2017 Annual Report | 15

FINANCIAL RESULTS STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

ASSETS

JUNE 30, 2017

JUNE 30, 2016

Cash Cash - Capital Reserve Acounts Receivable Prepaid Expenses Fixed Assets, Net Other Assets

$3,443,779 150,000 1,238 60,468 2,331,655 4,414

$3,120,200 100,000 5,119 75,346 2,360,803 7,005

Total Assets

$5,991,554

$5,668,473

$1,307,781 1,747,949

$1,016,749 1,813,344

Total Liabilities

3,055,730

2,830,093

Unrestricted Net Assets

2,935,824

2,838,380

Total Net Assets

2,935,824

2,838,380

$5,991,554

$5,668,473

LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses Debt

Total Liabilities and Net Assets

See audited financial statements for additional information

16 | EAST 2016-2017 Annual Report

79% PROGRAM SERVICES

79% 17%

17% ADMINISTRATION 4% FUNDRAISING

4%

STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES

FOR THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2017 AND 2016 YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2017

YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2016

1,742,998 501,819 2,244,817

$1,789,924 624,202 2,414,126

258,779 164,013 78,343 112,784

361,638 156,686 52,577 112,063

2,858,736

3,097,090

Program Services Management and Administration Development and Fundraising

2,181,701 462,855 116,736

2,224,680 432,945 98,529

Total Expenses

2,761,292

2,756,154

CHANGE IN NET ASSETS NET ASSETS, beginning of year NET ASSETS, end of year

97,444 2,838,380 2,935,824

340,936 2,497,444 $2,838,380

REVENUES & OTHER SUPPORT State of Arkansas Department of Education: Appropriations Grants

Contracts Event Revenue In-Kind Revenue Other Revenue Total Revenue and Other Support

EXPENSES

See audited financial statements for additional information

EAST 2016-2017 Annual Report | 17

Donations and other financial support add a new dimension to the work of the EAST Initiative. From direct public fundraising to grant support and donations from both public and private entities, the EAST Initiative seeks to leverage existing funds to maximize the value of outside contributions. Here are some examples: Public Fundraising: $3,950 - Arkansas Gives 2017 Helped support EAST in local communities Private Donation: $12,000 - Optimist Club of Greater Little Rock To support grants and scholarships 18 | EAST 2016-2017 Annual Report

Federal Support: $ 1 5 8 , 0 0 0 - D e lta R e g i o n a l Authority Helped establish three new EAST classrooms in A r k a n s a s D e lta s c h o o l s

G enta

168

F o r m o r e i n f o r m at i o n o n g i v i n g , c o n ta c t J a m c o o r d i n at o r , at d e v e l o p m e n t @ e a s t s ta f f. o r g v i s i t u s o n l i n e at w w w. e a s t i n i t i at i v e . o r g / s u

NEW SPONSORS EAST would like to thank new sponsors who supported the o r g a n i z at i o n i n 2016-2017:

Areas for potential support include:

i v i n g d o e s n ’ t a lway s ail a monetary donation.

Over the past year,

Classroom technology upgrades

donated a total of

Student technical trainings

to EAST valued at

After school programs

8 unique volunteers 1,775 hours $42,848.50.

mes Hopper, development g or (501) 371-5016, or upportthecause

Event sponsorships And much more

Greater Little Rock

EAST 2016-2017 Annual Report | 19

C O M M U N I C AT I O N S

EAST Quarterly, or EQ, is the official magazine of the EAST Initiative. Produced four times a year, the publication is intended to highlight the stories of EAST: student achievements in projects and community impact, standout educators, successful alumni, technical tips and much more. The magazine is available in printed form at the office of the EAST Initiative and online at http://issuu.com/eastquarterly.

For daily and weekly updates, visit our website or find EAST on social media:

EASTinitiative.org

20 | EAST 2016-2017 Annual Report

@theEASTinitiative

fb.me/EASTinitiative

@EASTinitiative

2016-2017

BOARD OF D I R E C T O R S

CHAIRPERSON Mr. David Moody Principal Jacksson David, LLC VICE-CHAIRPERSON Mr. Dale Johnson Senior Vice President Advanced Commercial Banking Division FIS SECRETARY Ms. Melanie VanZandt Bradford Division Leader, Research and Technology Arkansas Department of Education IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR CHAIR, FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE Mr. Jerry Damerow Retired - Partner Ernst and Young CHAIR, DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Ms. Mildred Franco Executive Director Innovation Hub, An Initiative of Go Forward Pine Bluff Ms. Karen Eoff Director Southeast Arkansas Education Service Cooperative

Dr. Michael Gealt Executive Vice President/Provost Central Michigan University Mr. Prakash Jalihal Retired Senior Vice President FIS Dr. Dean Kahler Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management University of Idaho Dr. David Rainey Education Consultant Mr. John Riggs, IV Dr. Andrew Rogerson Chancellor UA Little Rock Dr. Jim Rollins Superintendent Springdale Public Schools Mr. Brent Staley CEO Staley Inc. Dr. Charlotte Lewellen Williams Associate Professor and Director Clinton School Center on Community Philanthropy

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6215 6215 Ranch RANCH Drive DRIVE •• Little LITTLERock, ROCK,AR AR 72223 72223 EASTinitiative.org www.EASTinitiative.org