From the start of her career in education, Principal Kristin Erat knew that “once we had established a safe and trusting environment and celebrated student strengths – the sky was the limit for my students.” As the founding principal at Grant Avenue Elementary, she has put that philosophy into action, empowering a student population in need. In the community around Grant Avenue, a third of children come from families who live on less than $15,000 a year; at the school, the overwhelming majority receive free or reduced lunch. We are proud to help Grant Avenue Elementary achieve their goals of academic excellence, maintaining a strong and supportive school culture, and engaging families as partners in education. In the words of Principal Erat, “Our students are inspiring and so is Change for Kids; we are so excited about the tremendously positive impact this partnership will have on student learning in our school community.”
For more information, contact Director of Development Rahul Brahmbhatt at [email protected].
Principal: Kristin Erat
Lead Sponsor: Bechtolsheimer Family
Student Population: 464
90% receive free or reduced-price lunch
83% of children in the community are born into poverty
29% of families in the community live on less than $15,000 a year
Story Pirates: Creative writing and literacy support for students in the second and third grades
Museum Residency: Arts instruction and experiences for the first grade through our partnership with the Children’s Museum of the Arts
Dance: A dance program hosted by the Third Street Music School Settlement that provides students with a unique opportunity for physical and artistic expression
Parent Workshops: Held throughout the year to support parent engagement and education
Chess: Students learn the basics of this powerful game
School Manager: CFK staff member working on the ground at the school to develop and maintain relationships with the leadership team, parents, community members, program partners, and volunteers
Principal Network: Opportunities for collaboration and learning with other CFK partner school principals
School Beautification Day: Transforming the halls and classrooms by painting bright and engaging murals, organizing and cleaning teaching resources, and making the school an even more engaging place to learn
Build-a-Book Day: The school's youngest readers and their parents make their very own, personalized ABC books
Career Day: Introduces students to new educational and professional experiences so they can chart a path to their futures
Family Field Day: Fun games, dancing, and sports help kickstart healthy habits for our students and their families
Family Fun Nights: Organized around a theme, these evenings bring parents and children together to learn and have fun
School Supplies and Book Donations throughout the year
Food, Coat and Toy Donations in November and December
