Sinton High School rootEd Advisor Receives Inaugural Award for Helping Rural Students Succeed After Graduation
Recognition part of statewide effort to place dedicated advisors in rural high schools to help students develop a path to achieve career success and economic stability
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (August 11, 2023) – A college and career advisor at Sinton High School has been named “Advisor of the Year” by rootEd Texas. The inaugural award recognizes exemplary efforts to help high school students in rural communities develop and achieve strong plans for life after graduation.
Stephanie Dotson was announced the winner at a special ceremony hosted by rootEd Texas following a statewide nomination and selection process. rootEd Texas is a collaborative effort among national organization rootEd Alliance and local partners Region 1 Education Service Center, Education to Employment Partners, Kilgore College, Texas Impact Network, and Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas. The effort is designed to boost long-term outcomes for students in rural communities by placing dedicated advisors, called rootEd advisors, in rural high schools to provide students with individualized support to develop a path to achieve career success and economic stability.
“rootEd advisors bring incredible creativity, tenacity, and deep knowledge on potential paths after high school to support their students, leading to greater access to financial aid for post-graduation education and training, and a shift in mindset about what is possible,” said rootEd Alliance President Noa Meyer. “We are especially impressed with and grateful to Stephanie, and congratulate her on a well-deserved honor.”
At Sinton High School, Dotson tailored her advising to all 143 students’ unique dreams and circumstances. She met with students every day, supporting them to identify career paths that best fit their interests, apply for and secure financial aid to help them pay for their post-graduation plans, and more. She also connected with students’ families and with the broader community.
Among her notable initiatives was hosting a “No Pie Until You Apply” event to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which must be completed to receive federal grants and scholarships to pay for education and training after high school graduation.
As a result of her efforts:
FAFSA completion rates significantly increased. Ninety-nine percent of students completed a FAFSA, an increase of 47 percentage points over the previous year.
Students graduated with a strong plan for the future. All students graduated with a plan to achieve career access after graduation, and 98 percent graduated with a financial plan. Every student also submitted at least one college application, and in total, the graduating class received 146 postsecondary acceptances—more than one per student, on average.
Students explored workforce opportunities. Ninety-eight percent of students graduated having completed a career exposure opportunity, and 62 percent of students graduated with a completed industry-based certification.
In an end-of-year survey, students said Dotson changed their life in a positive way. One student wrote, “I really appreciate [Dotson] taking the time to get to know me … for listening to my problems and always making sure that we craft[ed] the perfect plan to keep me on track.”
“Stephanie gave hope to those who never thought they had the opportunity to do anything after high school. She gave options to those who thought they could only do one thing. And she gave love, and support to those who may not have had that at home,” said Joshua Sosa, a regional director for rootEd Texas. “Overall, she’s what I think of as the heart of an advisor who loves what she does and focuses on providing opportunities for her kids.”
The awards ceremony took place during rootEd Texas’s statewide advisor training. The training brought together 40 advisors who will serve students at 47 participating high schools during the 2023-2024 school year. In the year ahead, rootEd Texas aims to build on its strong momentum. Last year, for example, college enrollment among students who attended schools participating in rootEd Texas increased by 22 percent. It also plans to emphasize its focus on ensuring every student is career ready.
“We’re thrilled to gather our advisors, both new and returning, to receive training on rootEd Alliance’s successful advising model, to share best practices with their peers, and to bring new resources and insights back to their schools and communities,” said Jeffrey R. West, executive director of Education to Employment Partners. “There’s no better way to kick off our convening than by honoring an advisor who truly embodies the program’s values—and who has the results to show for it.”
“Our training is just the start of an exciting year ahead for rootEd Texas, as we expand our reach and strengthen our focus on preparing students to meet the demands of an ever-evolving workforce,” said Dr. Amelia Reeves, director of career education for Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas. “When our students graduate high school with a strong plan for the future—whether they enroll in college, enter the workforce or enlist in the military—we all prosper.”
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About rootEd Alliance
Every student should graduate high school on a path to achieve career success and economic stability. rootEd Alliance places dedicated college and career advisors in rural high schools to work with all students to define and plan their futures, whether through a college degree, work-based learning, or military service. Launched in 2018 and now operating in Missouri, Texas, and Idaho, 183 rootEd advisors have served 30,000 students at 189 high schools. This approach is working: in the 2022 school year, rootEd schools saw a 13% increase in postsecondary enrollment, while national enrollment rates remained flat over the same time period. rootEd Alliance is made possible by a group of philanthropists and family and founder-led businesses, convened by BDT & MSD Partners. For more information, please visit: https://rootEdAlliance.org.