Who We Are (Download BAAWG Brochure Here)

The Bolingbrook Academic Achievement Working Group (BAAWG) is a grassroots organization that has assembled to promote and facilitate  community involvement centered on issues of academic achievement. Community action teams will be launched for the purpose of conducting activities to enrich the education experience for all Bolingbrook students.

Research has shown that students are most successful in places where the“community is in the schools” rather than just where the “school is in the community.” This means that citizens willing to become involved can make a significant impact on improving our children’s educational experience.

Vision

Community and schools working together to assure an equitable learning experience in a worldclass school for every student in Bolingbrook public schools.

Mission

The mission of the Bolingbrook Academic Achievement Working Group (BAAWG) is to enhance and improve the educational experiences provided to students in Bolingbrook public schools and to eliminate the academic achievement gap.

We accomplish this mission through

• Community engagement designed to create community ownership of  public education

• Parent/guardian education designed to focus on parental ownership of  children’s educational experience

• Collaboration with the schools and other organizational, business and  individual stakeholders

• Programming for students and families

• Promoting volunteerism, among students and adults,  for educational  purposes 

• Research and the public sharing of research finding regarding the educational environment of our children

• Promoting a public awareness of and involvement in current issues  facing school district policymakers

We have a commitment to

• Developing a climate where community deliberation on issues of education can flourish 

• Recognizing and promoting students as essential stakeholders in their  own academic success

• Embracing the cultural/ethnic diversity of the Bolingbrook community

Board of Directors

Leroy Brown Jr. - Executive Director (leroy.brown@baawg.org)

Patti Chow - First Vice Chair (patti.chow@baawg.org)

Dorletta Payton - Second Vice Chair (dorletta.payton@baawg.org)

Chrystal Hansen - Secretary (chrystal.hansen@baawg.org)

Darnell Betts - Treasurer (darnell.betts@baawg.org)

Cedra Crenshaw - Publicity Chair cedra.crenshaw@baawg.org

Gwendolyn White - (gwendolyn.white@baawg.org)

Gaby Wojciechowski (gaby.wojciechowski@baawg.org)

Sadie Flucas - Life Member (sadie.flucas@baawg.org)

Major Partners

College of DuPage
Joliet Junior College
Valley View School District 365U

We Need You

The Bolingbrook Academic Achievement Working Group welcomes all Bolingbrook public education stakeholders (individuals, businesses and organizations) who want to participate.

We especially want to involve a representative group that closely reflects the economic, ethnic, religious, age and other diversity characteristics of the Bolingbrook community, since it is this diversity that will assure that we address the needs of all our students. 

Whether volunteering, joining an action team, making a donation, or joining our Facebook Group... your support is greatly appreciated.

How You Can Help

Individuals can help by volunteering to:

• Convene or moderate a forum, or serve as a forum note taker or recorder.
• Recruit individuals (youth and adults), businesses or organizations.
• Assist with communications/media support.
• Assist with special events planning.
• Provide administrative support.
• Join our Facebook Group.
• Join an action team.

• Community Supported Recognition Action Team - Team leader needed to explore formation of a business and community-supported system of increased recognition for students with high academic achievement and/or significant academic improvement.
• Community Volunteers Action Team - Leroy Brown Jr. & Chrystal Hansen lead a team to identify how community volunteers are (or could be) used during school hours, and will work with schools to recruit additional volunteers.
• Parent Education Action Team - Dorletta Payton and Darnell Betts lead a team to provide parents/guardians with tools to enable them to more effectively help their children stay on track for graduation. 
• School Board Action Team - Cedra Crenshaw leads a team to attend school board meetings, stay on top of issues at those meetings, and analyze the district finances.
• Summer Academic Options Action Team - Dorletta Payton & Patti Chow lead a team to explore expanding academic options during the summer.

Business, church or other organizations can participate by:

• Promoting our work among its membership or clientele.
• Providing space and registration support for working group activities.
• Designing and/or printing material prepared by the working group.
• Providing refreshments for forums or meetings.
• Listing a link to our website on its website.

Contact Us