Jumpstart at Roosevelt
News and Events | College of Education

Jumpstart came to Chicago for the first time in the fall of 2004, and one of its chapters settled into Roosevelt University.  A national program that partners with colleges and universities across the country, Jumpstart works to build school success for preschool children.  In its first year at Roosevelt, Jumpstart has recruited, hired, and trained forty students to work with early childhood programs in Chicago.

Twice a week for 2 hours each day, our students worked one-on-one with their partner child, fostering early literacy and language skills and promoting social and emotional development. On other days, our students worked in the classroom with the teacher and an entire class.  Pre-school sites included National Teachers Academy, Ariel Community Academy, Abbott School, and the Cook County/City of Chicago Child Development Center.

Bringing the program to Roosevelt began with a suggestion from Roosevelt President Charles Middleton.  Dean George Lowery and Early Childhood Director Sheila Coffin acted on that suggestion by contacting Jumpstart and initiating the Roosevelt Chapter.  Acting as liaison with the national program, Ms. Coffin wrote the proposal, organized the chapter, and hired Renita Johnson to serve as site manager of the chapter.

In the coming year, Jumpstart hopes to involve at least 50 RU students.