The Together for Tomorrow Challenge

The superintendent of Mount Clemens Community School District in Michigan, Deborah Wahlstrom focuses on improving school performance via data analysis and targeted assistance for failing schools. In 2012, Superintendent Deborah Wahlstrom accepted the Together for Tomorrow Challenge award on behalf of Mount Clemens Community Schools.

A federal program initiated by the U.S. Department of Education, the Together for Tomorrow School Improvement Challenge brought together schools, community organizations, universities, and national service programs to improve low-performing schools. The challenge encouraged participants to build schools’ capacities for teamwork and incorporate support from a variety of public and private sources. In addition to building a culture of success in education, participants attempted to boost key measurable student outcomes, such as attendance, behavior, and course performance.

To enter the Together for Tomorrow Challenge, applicants were asked to fill out a questionnaire, describe how they strengthened their schools’ capacity, and explain how their initiatives addressed student needs. In October 2012, the Together for Tomorrow Challenge named 31 winners from across the United States.