Our Mission

EAGLE Scholars 

Excellent Achievement through Growth in Leadership and

Education

EAGLE Scholars Focus

To create experiential learning opportunities that will expose middle and high school

students to various careers and opportunities while also educating and equipping them

with the knowledge needed to reach, enter, and graduate from college.

History

When VMYDF was formed in 2007, the founders visited the schools in Vickery Meadow to find out what was needed to best assist their students.Over and over they heard, “We have programs to assist our struggling students, but nothing to help those who have good grades, ambition, and

could go to college one day.” As a result, EAGLE Scholars was formed.Designed as a college-readiness program, the tuition-free program encourages, supports, and helps rising first-generation college students realize their potential. EAGLE Scholars was inspired by Breakthrough Austin.

Sherril English, an Assistant Professor at SMU, was hired and a partnership with SMU was created. The program started with five weeks in the summer,

focusing on preparing kids academically in reading, writing,math, and science for the upcoming school year. After five years of operation and an upcoming first graduating class of the program, VMYDF recognized the

need for a more robust, year-round program. During the fall of 2012, Dr.Janet Morrison was hired.

Though the college readiness focus stayed the same, other components were added to allow a stronger connection to the students and the school.Each spring, teachers at Sam Tasby Middle School nominate and help choose 6th grade students based on their grades, attitude, ambition,attendance, and desire to go to college. Incoming Scholars attend a six week on-boarding process. At the completion of those six weeks, the students who have completed the on-boarding are invited to be permanent

EAGLE Scholars. Students invited in remain in the EAGLE Scholars program until they graduate from high school and enter college.

Janet Morrison 

-Director of the Eagle Scholars at Vickery Meadow Youth Development Foundation. 

Tiffany Johnson

- Assistant Director of the EAGLE Scholars at Vickery Meadow Youth Development Foundation

Philosophy

The following philosophical principles and understandings guide the daily operations in the

EAGLE Scholars program:

We believe in the 100 Languages of Children. ~Reggio Emilia

We believe every person has various degrees of the Eight Multiple Intelligences:  

Musical (Music Smart), Visual-Spatial (Picture Smart),

Verbal-Linguistical (Word Smart),

Logical-Mathematical (Logic Smart), Bodily-Kinesthetic (Body Smart), Interpersonal

(People Smart), Intrapersonal (Self Smart), Naturalistic (Nature Smart). ~Howard Gardner

We believe in providing experiences that connect with each student’s Zone of Proximal

Development in order to stretch their growth of thinking. ~Lev Vygotsky

We believe that everyone is both teacher and student. ~Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the

Oppressed

We believe that experiential learning enhances academic growth in students. ~John

Dewey, Democracy and Education

We believe collaborating with parents exponentially impacts the child and work to do

this as much as possible. ~James Comer

We believe in meeting parents where they are and getting to know them on their “turf”

instead of always expecting them to come to us. ~Patricia Edwards, A Path to Follow

We believe in high expectations and high quality…from everyone.

We listen to parents and work to support their dreams and desires for their children.

We believe in horizontal, reciprocal relationships with families and communities.

We believe in looking for and discovering the assets our youth bring and reject labeling

terms like “at-risk,” “disadvantaged,” “underprivileged,” or other such stigmas.

We believe in partnering with programs, groups, and people who believe in the

capacities of our youth and treat them as equal participants.

We believe in valuing the diversity in everyone and believe we can learn from each

other. 

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