Who We Are
Your Advance, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in June 2020. We strive to lower K-12 achievement gaps with trusted peer programs and a student-led focus.
We serve families in Manatee and Sarasota counties.
The Champion for Student Achievement!
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The Executive Leadership
Our Executive Leadership team consists of experienced leaders who have come together to share their passion for inspiring the students in our community to achieve beyond the classroom.
Denny Lu
Founder, Executive Director
Harvard University
Mackenzie Cokenour
Instructional Management Director
University of Florida
Joshua Segebre
Strategic Initiatives Director
Macalester College
Maria Alonzo
Operations Director
Santa Fe College
Jordan Rydzinski
Communications Director
Florida State Univeristy
Morgan West
Administration Director
Wichita State University
Focusing on the Future
In the Suncoast region, the population experiences many financial challenges, with 11% of residents below the poverty line.* Families who cannot access essential and necessary tutoring services cannot be offered these opportunities for their child to enrich their learning. Locally, these students in Manatee and Sarasota witness districtwide achievement gaps that pose a barrier to successful learning. A recent report conducted by the School District of Manatee County, more than a quarter of all district students, 27% of total students, are failing one or more coursing as of the end of the fall semester of 2020.**
With this need, Your Advance's programs and community-orientated tutoring efforts will help engage students to continually learn and reinforces academic content outside of the classroom setting. Through its launch in the summer of 2020, Your Advance will close gaps in learning for all students regardless of financial hardships. We will meet or exceed the goals of successfully preparing and addressing summer learning loss to inspire students to dream big. Our organization will drive students who are willing to commit and challenge themselves in their academia to achieve excellence beyond the classroom and school year for society's benefit.
*U.S. Census Bureau Data from 2019
*U.S. Census Breau
**School District of Manatee County/Florida Department of Education Spring 2021 Educational Plan and Assurance
Mission
Your Advance will provide an opportunity for students to continue and advance their learning beyond the classroom today for their future tomorrow.
Purpose
Your Advance will aim to reduce the achievement gap amongst disadvantaged students through competitive and accessible opportunities to constantly advance their knowledge, reduce the loss of learning material, and better prepare for the challenges of classes for the upcoming school year.
Values
Your Advance emphasizes inclusivity with access to educational opportunities regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, or disabilities. We believe that every student who is willing to continue their learning beyond the bounds of the academic school year deserves the chance to succeed. At Your Advance, we believe every student has the opportunity to be SMART: Skillful, Masterly, Able, Ready, and Talented.
