Cincinnati Youth Collaborative
Lester Waller serves as a 5th/6th Grade Teacher at King Academy since August 2019, while also working as a Career Specialist with Cincinnati Youth Collaborative and a Paraprofessional at Cincinnati Public Schools since August 2018 and August 2017, respectively. Waller holds additional responsibilities as a Junior High Football Coach at CPS since July 2017, focusing on teaching discipline and leadership through sports. Waller's diverse experience includes working as a Package Handler at FedEx Ground since April 2017 and serving as a Personal Health Coach at Humana since July 2016. Prior military service includes roles in the United States Army National Guard/Reserve as a Combat Engineer, Supply Specialist, and Communications Specialist from September 2006 to December 2016, along with experience as a Homeless Veteran Specialist at Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services from March 2015 to July 2016. Waller holds a Master's degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University Irvine and a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Central State University.
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Cincinnati Youth Collaborative
Cincinnati Youth Collaborative (CYC) makes its mission to increase high school graduation rates by empowering vulnerable students to overcome obstacles and succeed in school and in life. It is a 501(c)3 nonprofit established by community leaders within schools, businesses, and local government. Think of how you made it to where you are today. Was it thanks to resources you may have taken for granted like food, shelter, and reliable transportation? Or was it thanks to the positive influence of the people in your life? Your parents, family friends, business internships? Now imagine where you would be if you hadn't had such resources or mentors to guide you. Countless Cincinnati youth are living exactly that reality, facing extreme obstacles such as homelessness, incarcerated parents, teen pregnancy and a lack of positive adult advocates. That's why CYC is here. CYC is unique because it works directly with local school districts to identify the students who can most benefit from CYC's services, in addition to facilitating strong relationships between teachers, families, mentors and students. The breadth of services offered by CYC ensure that each student finds the support he or she needs. Mentoring is available in the traditional one-to-one model or through group mentoring arranged through a business or volunteer community. College and career preparation is comprehensive, with CYC providing a credited course that teaches 37 core professional job skills, and college readiness advisors who offer in-depth college and career preparation. Through these various platforms, CYC connects vulnerable students with a positive adult advocate who can show them how to reach their potential. Our game-changing model has proven results: CYC’s five-year graduation rate for senior students is 96 percent.