Coyote Youth was a Character Developing elective-program
that started in the Poway Unified School District in the
Fall of 2002. The primary implementation took place at Abraxas
High School and Poway High School for the 2002 - 2003 school
year. The program gained in popularity, claimed many successes but, when the federal grant expired in June 2006, lack of funding led to the end of Coyote Youth and Project Coyote.
But what was this program?
By promoting community partnerships and creating collaboration
between schools, parents, and the community, we allowed an
environment to exist that fostered family values, cooperation,
and open communication with the greater good in mind. Coyote
Youth acted as a liaison between those who need to receive the
proper resources of time, attention, and encouragement and
the surrounding community who cares about their involvement
with those in need.
The character education curriculum consisted of
practical life scenarios which students find themselves
in every day, but have never had any practice at. These
situations included going to the library, starting a bank
account, taking public transportation, and shopping for
nutritious groceries.
The mentorship program had a trickle-down effect: the adults
acted as guides to the high school students, the high school
students to middle school, and middle school to elementary.
This way knowledge was passed on in a way that was both in
a format that was understandable, and made the concepts
more ingrained once the student passed on this knowledge
to the next generation of Coyote Youth participants.
Through this cooperative interaction, we built a character
that had the core values of: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility,
fairness, caring, and community citizenship. We put into
action concepts that were based on the heritage of the past.
Not adopting old attitudes, but incorporating ancient truths
and spiritual wisdom that transcend culture, religion, and
time in order to create a more dynamically healthy and considerate
world view.
Coyote Youth - Where Character Counts!
School is not a place!
Perhaps one day, in the not too distant future, a new administration and a bold President will promote programs such as these and, Coyote Youth will return as part of High School Curriculums nationwide!
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