Latest news with #Panorama
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
To Tackle Chronic Absenteeism, This DC High School Lets Students Lead
It was the last Friday before winter break at H.D. Woodson High School in the eastern corner of Washington, D.C. — historically one of the toughest days of the year for attendance. School team leads Rachel Curry-Neal and Ashlee Judon were eager to see how the day would play out. Their colleagues and they had an ambitious goal: improve overall in-seat attendance rates by at least two percentage points. Like schools across the country, Woodson has struggled with high rates of chronic absenteeism. According to the D.C.'s Office of the State Superintendent of Education, nearly half of high schoolers missed school regularly during the 2023-2024 school year. Rates have improved since the worst days of the pandemic, but they remain stubbornly high, hovering around 40 percent across the nation's capital. Nationwide, the picture looks much the same, as disruptions from the pandemic, student mental health, socio-economic status, and chronic disengagement compound on one another to create a perfect storm of worsening attendance. These absences aren't just about missing class. They're predictors of whether students will graduate, pursue higher education, or find stable employment. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter To address the problem, Curry-Neal, Woodson's redesign director, and Judon, the school's student experience coach, looked beyond conventional solutions — disciplinary threats and mandatory parent calls — and took a novel approach: letting students lead. Woodson is part of DC+XQ, a partnership between XQ Institute and DC Public Schools (DCPS) to improve the high school experience through the implementation of XQ's six, science-backed Design Principles that together lay the foundation for effective high school learning. One of these principles is youth voice and choice: creating authentic, regular opportunities for students to build agency and develop their identities. DCPS Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee has been out front in linking attendance to students' feelings of engagement and sense of belonging. We know chronic absenteeism is anything but simple,' said Dr. Ferebee. 'As part of DC+XQ, Woodson is enlisting the entire school community to help tackle this and other important challenges—and they're leading with student voice. Our partnership with XQ is showing what's possible when our young people have a seat at the table.' Related In addressing chronic absenteeism, leaders at Woodson seized on the opportunity to bring students into the fold. Curry-Neal and Judon met with about 70 students eager to improve their high school experience and presented them with attendance metrics and Panorama data, which provides valuable insight for schools to monitor their students' learning experiences. From those students, the school selected 10 mentors and charged them with leading a pilot program to boost attendance numbers. Known as the Attendance Pep Squad, these 10 students gather every Tuesday at lunch to strategize. Their goal is twofold: first, identify students who might benefit from peer mentorship. And second, come up with creative ways to change the culture around attendance. During the fall semester, they developed an innovative outreach event — a playful, low-stakes peer networking gathering during which students exchanged stories and identified common experiences. Potential mentees also shared their schedules, academic interests, and any obstacles they were encountering, enabling mentors (along with Curry-Neal and Judon) to determine how best to pair students. About 22 students opted in to receive a peer mentor, and the program began in December of last year. The Pep Squad also took steps to strengthen their fellow students' sense of belonging. They organized a 'Winter Spirit Week,' strategically timed for the week before winter break when attendance rates typically dip. They set up scavenger hunts, social activities and games, and a school-wide assembly to celebrate and close out the week. The results exceeded expectations. In the 2023–24 school year, the Thursday before winter break had an attendance rate of just 42.6 percent. After the Pep Squad's initiative, that number soared to 76 percent. Even the Friday before the break — one of the toughest days for any school to manage — recorded just under 60 percent. 'Students understand the barriers to attendance better than anyone,' said William Massey, Woodson's principal. 'We knew we'd be able to go further and faster with them in the driver's seat.' Not surprisingly, the students' efforts also appear to be having a positive impact on achievement. After just one term, nearly half of mentees have improved their GPA, recovered credits required for graduation, or both. Several mentees also saw a decrease in the number of failed courses. While Woodson isn't declaring victory by any stretch, its early success suggests an alternative to conventional approaches, which often focus on imposing stiffer penalties on students who miss too much school. But these approaches don't address root problems — and they can backfire if they erode positive relationships, alienate students, and put counterproductive burdens on school staff. In contrast, when students are afforded leadership opportunities that give them agency and voice, they feel like they belong and are eager to step up. 'It all coalesces into this magic alchemy,' Curry-Neal said. That alchemy is backed by a growing body of data. Research shows that students who feel a strong sense of belonging not only have better attendance but also higher grades and fewer disciplinary problems than their disconnected peers. They also graduate at higher rates and are more likely to enroll in college. In their recent book The Disengaged Teen, authors Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop note that when students see school as boring, stressful, or pointless, their desire to show up evaporates. Attendance alone doesn't guarantee learning, but consistent presence is a crucial first step. 'There's a limit to how much we can learn if we're not in the building,' Judon says. Woodson has been intentional about building a community that students want to be part of. Panorama data show that the student experience has improved every year since Woodson began their redesign journey in the 2022-2023 school year. Today, Woodson ranks in the 90th percentile among urban districts for student sense of belonging. Curry-Neal traces this back to XQ's Design Principles and its network of schools across the country, which enabled them to learn from earlier redesign efforts at Iowa BIG, Crosstown, and PSI High. Woodson isn't the only school whose redesign efforts are paying off. At PSI High in Florida, just 1 percent of students were chronically absent in 2023-24, compared to 25 percent for the broader district. At Design Works High School in New York, 10 percent of students were chronically absent in 2023-24, compared to 47 percent for NYC high schools on average. There are no silver bullets when it comes to the very complex problem of chronic absenteeism, but it's increasingly clear that making students feel like they are part of the solution is a step in the right direction. 'It's complicated,' Curry-Neal admits. 'A pep squad, text messages, walking kids to school—that only works if the rest of the school environment supports it. But right now, we're seeing that when students feel they belong here, they want to come back. And that's half the battle.' Want to learn more about how to create innovative teaching and learning in high schools? Subscribe to the XQ Xtra, a newsletter that comes out twice a month for high school teachers. Disclosure: The XQ Institute is a financial supporter of The 74.
The Journal
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Journal
Former Swim Ireland performance director accused of 'toxic' practices during UK role
FORMER SWIM IRELAND national performance director Jon Rudd has been accused of 'bullying, a toxic training environment and controlling food culture' by 12 swimmers during a previous role he held in England. The allegations against Rudd were detailed in a BBC Panorama programme on Monday night. Rudd spent eight years with Swim Ireland but left his role last week to join the Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee as performance director. The Panorama investigation focuses on Rudd's time with Plymouth Leander, where he was head coach between 1989 and 2017. Lithuanian Rūta Meilutyte, who at the age of 15 became the youngest person to win the Olympic 100m breaststroke at the 2012 London Games, told Panorama that Rudd's training environment 'made me for a while and then it broke me'. Meilutyte said she once told Rudd she would make herself sick after meals, and he replied: 'Well, at least you get the calories out.' Panorama's investigation also revealed 17 witnesses gave evidence as part of a 2012 investigation which determined Rudd should be suspended, but Swim England did not take any action. Advertisement Swim Ireland say they were made aware of the 2012 investigation in 2023, but state there was 'no suggestion or indication of welfare issues' during his eight years at Swim Ireland. A Swim Ireland statement read: 'In September 2023, Swim England advised Swim Ireland of an independent review of a 2012 report concerning Plymouth Leander Swimming Club where Jon Rudd was Head Coach. 'Upon Swim Ireland requesting further details, Swim England issued the following correspondence: 'that specific case was more for information and records only, rather than any need for specific action on your [Swim Ireland's] end.' And further; 'case files don't get shared unless there is specific/threat which justifies it.' Swim Ireland never received the independent review or the original report from Swim England and have heard nothing further from them on the matter. 'Despite Swim England indicating that no action was required by Swim Ireland, Swim Ireland conducted its own internal assessment led by our Head of Safeguarding. Jon fully cooperated with this process. There has been no suggestion or indication of welfare issues during Jon's tenure with Swim Ireland. Furthermore, towards the end of 2022, a thorough independent Sport Ireland Culture Review was completed with our Performance Department that involved staff, coaches and included meetings with athletes. This Culture Review raised no concerns. 'Jon resigned his role with Swim Ireland to take up a position of Performance Director at Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee. 'The welfare and support of swimmers is a primary focus for Swim Ireland. The 'Here to Listen' section of our website details who to speak to and supports available to anyone with a concern relating to welfare of any swimmer.' Written by Ciarán Kennedy and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
The 42
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Former Swim Ireland performance director accused of 'toxic' practices
FORMER SWIM IRELAND national performance director Jon Rudd has been accused of 'bullying, a toxic training environment and controlling food culture' by 12 swimmers during a previous role he held in England. The allegations against Rudd were detailed in a BBC Panorama programme on Monday night. Rudd spent eight years with Swim Ireland but left his role last week to join the Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee as performance director. Advertisement The Panorama investigation focuses on Rudd's time with Plymouth Leander, where he was head coach between 1989 and 2017. Lithuanian Rūta Meilutyte, who at the age of 15 became the youngest person to win the Olympic 100m breaststroke at the 2012 London Games, told Panorama that Rudd's training environment 'made me for a while and then it broke me'. Meilutyte said she once told Rudd she would make herself sick after meals, and he replied: 'Well, at least you get the calories out.' Panorama's investigation also revealed 17 witnesses gave evidence as part of a 2012 investigation which determined Rudd should be suspended, but Swim England did not take any action. Swim Ireland say they were made aware of the 2012 investigation in 2023, but state there was 'no suggestion or indication of welfare issues' during his eight years at Swim Ireland. A Swim Ireland statement read: 'In September 2023, Swim England advised Swim Ireland of an independent review of a 2012 report concerning Plymouth Leander Swimming Club where Jon Rudd was Head Coach. 'Upon Swim Ireland requesting further details, Swim England issued the following correspondence: 'that specific case was more for information and records only, rather than any need for specific action on your [Swim Ireland's] end.' And further; 'case files don't get shared unless there is specific/threat which justifies it.' Swim Ireland never received the independent review or the original report from Swim England and have heard nothing further from them on the matter. 'Despite Swim England indicating that no action was required by Swim Ireland, Swim Ireland conducted its own internal assessment led by our Head of Safeguarding. Jon fully cooperated with this process. There has been no suggestion or indication of welfare issues during Jon's tenure with Swim Ireland. Furthermore, towards the end of 2022, a thorough independent Sport Ireland Culture Review was completed with our Performance Department that involved staff, coaches and included meetings with athletes. This Culture Review raised no concerns. 'Jon resigned his role with Swim Ireland to take up a position of Performance Director at Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee. 'The welfare and support of swimmers is a primary focus for Swim Ireland. The 'Here to Listen' section of our website details who to speak to and supports available to anyone with a concern relating to welfare of any swimmer.'
Irish Independent
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Former Swim Ireland national performance director accused of ‘bullying' and ‘weight-shaming' during previous role
BBC 'Panorama' show features allegations from several swimmers who claim Rudd pressured them over their diets and weightSwim Ireland said there is no suggestion that Rudd acted inappropriately during his eight-year spell with the organisation Today at 15:09 Swim Ireland has said there has been 'no suggestion or indication of welfare issues' during Jon Rudd's eight-year term as national performance director in the wake of a BBC documentary in which multiple swimmers accused Rudd of bullying and weight-shaming during his previous role in England. Rudd, a native of Hull, joined Swim Ireland in 2017 and had previously spent 28 years as head coach at Plymouth Leander Swimming Club. The allegations outlined in the BBC Panorama show, which airs tonight, date from that time.
Irish Examiner
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Swim Ireland review found no welfare issues associated with Jon Rudd
Swim Ireland's longtime national performance director Jon Rudd has been accused of bullying and weight shaming multiple swimmers during his time in a previous role in England. Earlier this month, Rudd stepped down from his role with Swim Ireland after eight years to take up a position in Saudi Arabia. Before joining Swim Ireland, he spent 28 years as head coach at Plymouth Leander Swimming Club in England, guiding the careers of many internationals. In a BBC Panorama show that aired on Monday night, 12 ex-swimmers at the club said they experienced bullying, a toxic training environment and controlling food culture while Rudd was head coach there. Ruta Meilutyte, a Lithuanian who won 100m breaststroke gold at the London 2012 Olympics, said Rudd's focus on weight and diet contributed to her struggle with an eating disorder and depression. 'Jon said my ass is fat in one competition when I was 16. I broke a world record that day, I think that was because I was angry.' Meilutyte said that the first time she told Rudd she was vomiting after meals, he laughed and said: 'Well, at least you get the calories out.' She added: 'He saw that I wasn't very keen on what he said, so he sort of got all serious and he realised how it was affecting me. We did seek help after that.' Panorama spoke to eight swimmers trained by Rudd who described pressures over diet or weight. One of those was Phoebe Lenderyou, who had an eating disorder before joining the club which she said worsened in her time there. She said Rudd had pulled her aside at a competition in 2013 and told her she had gained weight, pointing to different parts of her body and saying, 'you need to sort it out.' Another swimmer, Cassie Patten, claimed Rudd was a 'bully', saying: 'Jon's main go-to was to berate, to make people feel scared of him, and that's how he got that respect.' She said Rudd pressured her to train through injuries which she believes contributed to her early retirement. In 2012, Swim England commissioned a confidential independent investigation in which 17 witnesses gave evidence about Rudd's behaviour. According to Panorama, it found that under Rudd's leadership, 'swimmers were, as Swim England described it, publicly fat shamed, verbally abused, made to train while injured, inappropriately disciplined, and that there was a bullying culture. It recommended he be suspended for four months. He never was.' Andy Salmon, the current CEO of Swim England, said he was 'deeply, deeply, sorry' to those harmed by the governing body's failings: 'Clearly the organisation failed to act.' Swim Ireland said that in September 2023, Swim England advised it of an independent review of the 2012 report: 'Upon Swim Ireland requesting further details, Swim England issued the following correspondence: 'That specific case was more for information and records only, rather than any need for specific action on your [Swim Ireland's] end.' And further; 'case files don't get shared unless there is specific/threat which justifies it.' Swim Ireland stated it 'never received the independent review or the original report' from Swim England and heard 'nothing further from them' on the matter since. It said it conducted its own internal assessment, led by its Head of Safeguarding, adding that Rudd had fully cooperated with the process. It said there was 'no suggestion or indication of welfare issues such as those mentioned in the report'. 'Furthermore, towards the end of 2022, a thorough independent Sport Ireland Culture Review was completed with our Performance Department that involved staff, coaches and included meetings with athletes. This Culture Review raised no concerns.' Sport Ireland said it 'only became aware of the allegations' when the story was published on the BBC website on Monday and was unaware of the Swim England investigation in 2012. 'We have consulted with Swim Ireland, and they informed us that no formal complaints have been made to them.' Panorama made 'numerous attempts' to contact Rudd about the investigation, but he did not respond. Rudd oversaw Ireland's most successful period in swimming during his eight-year term, with three medals won at the Paris Olympics last year by Daniel Wiffen and Mona McSharry – who are both based abroad. When announcing news of his departure from Swim Ireland a fortnight ago, Rudd said: 'I have very much enjoyed my time in Ireland, and it quickly became home, providing me with an opportunity to work with a wonderful group of staff, athletes, and coaches throughout this time. I will certainly miss the people and the role, but it is time for something fresh, and the role in Saudi Arabia very much presents this.'
