Brief Organization History

Touch Point Connection (TPC) grew from working with school leaders in the Seattle, Washington area.

Joan Hillebrand Alexander, TPC’s founder and a certified professional coach, was providing executive coaching to school and district leaders. Some started having coaching conversations with students. As a result, one high school leader lowered discipline referrals by more than 60% in just one month.

Joan

Joan and another certified coach then organized a school-based coaching program for that high school. For two years, community women coached 40 female high school students. Their impact was positive in academic performance, attendance, and behavior referrals. The male students were also asking for coaching.

By then, Joan had moved to Tucson and wanted to form a non-profit organization. It would formally fund and test coaching applications and delivery methods for use with both male and female students.

A group of concerned citizens attracted to Joan’s compelling story joined in and a “construction crew” was formed. Touch Point Connection was incorporated and gained federal tax exempt status. A test site was established at Amphitheater High School within the Amphitheater School District.

Touch Point Connection: Accomplishments

  • Provided Success Coaches to over 120 distinct students, many for multiple school years
  • Operated a school-imbedded Coaching Office to test just-in-time coaching.
  • Recruited, trained, qualified, and provided case management for more than 50 community volunteers who served as Volunteer Success Coaches

    Graduation
    Volunteer Coach and Teen on Graduation Day
  • Provided specialized coach training to volunteers who served as staff coaches in the Coaching Office
  • Established processes and procedures for working seamlessly with community volunteers and within the school environment
  • Worked in cooperation with the high school and school district administration and staff
  • Collected both quantitative and qualitative data on program outcomes and program delivery methods
  • Secured program funding through grant applications and individual appeals
  • Provided workshops to agencies that support youth and parents

Outcomes of teen coaching at Amphitheater High School

  • 5-fold decease in disciplinary referrals
  • 50% increase in Grade Point Averages (GPAs)
  • 75% cut in absenteeism
  • Students realized the relevance of their schoolwork, set goals, learned to deal with and manage distractions — and create choices for their futures.

Coaching Teens… Building Futures

Students Say…

“At first we just talked, it felt good to talk to someone and really trust them.”
“My coach didn’t judge me and tell me I was throwing away my life.”
“Since I started working with a coach I'm way more confident and I don't care if people judge me.”
“I know now that when I have a problem there are different ways to solve it other than violence.”
“I used to think of myself as lazy and a failure. Since I've had a coach, my perspective is different and now I can see myself being successful.”
“Before my coaching I had no ideas of what to do after high school. Now I have ideas on how to reach my goals.”
“Coaching has given me the strength to show the world what I've got and what I can do. I have learned to not limit my challenges but challenge my limits.”
“I had somebody who would help me set up steps to reach my goals. It wasn't complicated, she made it simple. It was positive, and I had the ability to identify those steps.”
“Before my coaching I had no idea of what to do after high school; now I have ideas on how to reach goals I didn’t know I had.”
“I had someone who just listened. When I had a question there was a combination of getting ideas from him, and figuring out myself.”
“Coaching was a moment where I could just talk about what I want.”
“My coach and I worked on a graph so I could organize my time better. I was getting C’s and D’s on my progress report, now I am getting A’s and B’s on my report card.”
“When asked what makes an ideal coach, she responded: "Somebody who listens to my opinions and helps me get more ideas about what I want.”
“It was good. My coach helped me a lot with organizing my life.”
“I learned that I can be independent and don’t have to rely on others, but can get support when I feel I need it.”
“Before coaching I was getting C's and D's. Now I am getting A's and B's on my report card.”
“Our relationship was more about a friendship. I have told him secrets - things about myself I have not told anyone else.”
“Because of coaching, my life is better because I can actually meet my goals and reach for my future goals.   I'm stronger and more positive since having a coach.”
“It felt good to have an adult in my life that I could trust and didn’t judge me.”
“Talking with someone helped me to understand what was right and wrong.”
“I connected with my coach. I wasn’t afraid to tell her personal stuff. I could trust her because I wasn’t being judged.”
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