St. Louis Park High School in Minnesota Wins National ACT Award for College and Career Readiness

CENTER CITY, Minn., June 4, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On the evening of June 3, 2014, representatives from St. Louis Park High School in Minnesota attended a formal gala in Washington D.C. where they accepted the National ACT Award for College and Career Readiness. The school has been implementing a social emotional learning model called Building Assets, Reducing Risks, developed by Angela Jerabek and distributed by Hazelden Publishing, part of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. Building Assets, Reducing Risks is an evidence-based model proven to decrease educational disparities while increasing achievement for all students. 

"St. Louis Park High School has had a long tradition of creating and providing innovative programming for students. Much of this innovative work has focused on helping all students develop a post-secondary mindset and providing them with the academic supports they need to be successful in school and in life. Nearly all the innovations were created by teachers and developed at the school site in a collaborative effort with administrators and community partners," said Rob Metz, Superintendent, St. Louis Park Public Schools.

Building Assets, Reducing Risks is the recipient of the Investing in Innovation development grant (known as "i3"), the leading innovation grant program from the United States Department of Education. With i3 funding, four schools—two in Maine, one in Minnesota, and one in California—have implemented this school reform model with very positive results. Each of these schools have reported dramatically reduced rates of class failure, improved graduation rates, reduction in the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, regardless of socio-economic background or ethnicity. Building Assets, Reducing Risks is now available nationwide and it is listed on the National Registry of Evidence-based Practices and Programs (NREPP).   

Angela Jerabek says, "I am so proud of St. Louis Park High School, as the Building Assets, Reducing Risks flagship school, for being recognized as a national leader in college and career readiness. St. Louis Park High School has fostered an environment that has proven that positive teacher-student relationships are not just a wish for schools, but an essential prerequisite for academic success."

Mark Mishek, president and CEO of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation continues, "We are honored to offer a learning model that is helping so many students find academic and personal success. Building Assets, Reducing Risks aligns perfectly with our vision, mission and values as it has been proven to successfully prevent drug and alcohol use and promote good mental health by strengthening positive interpersonal relationships."

Angela Jerabek, M.S., is a licensed K-12 teacher and middle school and high school counselor at St. Louis Park High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is an author and nationally known as a speaker and educational innovator. She has developed numerous educational programs and directed evaluation projects in schools across the country. Her expertise and passion lies in high school reform, youth development, school safety, counseling adolescents and families, and data-driven decision making in schools. Learn more about Building Assets, Reducing Risks at www.hazelden.org/buildingassets

About the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation helps people reclaim their lives from the disease of addiction. It is the nation's largest nonprofit treatment provider, with a legacy that began in 1949 and includes the 1982 founding of the Betty Ford Center. With 15 sites in California, Minnesota, Oregon, Illinois, New York, Florida, Massachusetts, Colorado and Texas, the Foundation offers prevention and recovery solutions nationwide and across the entire continuum of care for youth and adults. It includes the largest recovery publishing house in the country, a fully-accredited graduate school of addiction studies, an addiction research center, an education arm for medical professionals and a unique children's program, and is the nation's leader in advocacy and policy for treatment and recovery. Learn more at www.hazeldenbettyford.org.

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SOURCE Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation