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Genesis School is a nationally recognized (five times)
alternative, middle school for inner-city youth in Kansas City, Missouri.
Since 1975, Genesis has been more than an academic setting preparing
students for success. It has been a second home, providing a caring
atmosphere structured on the African proverb “it takes a village to
raise a child.” For Genesis students, the proverb is more
than just a catchy statement, it is a functional reality.
Genesis understands what it means to look at students as
individuals. After 30 years, staff has learned how a caring
learning environment actually removes barriers. Motivated by our
students’ courage, care teams meet weekly in strategy sessions that
support each student’s development with data collected daily with
our own Genkofa Learning Profile.
Moving beyond academic development in core subject areas,
teachers conduct men’s and women’s groups weekly. These
groups allow students to focus on their personal needs and concerns in
the presence of caring adults. Additionally, the counseling
department offers each student access to licensed individual, family and
group counseling. The counseling department is licensed to provide
health services under the state’s Medicaid and MC+ Health Plans,
and is medication aide certified.
For students who have not experienced success in
traditional schools, caring neighborhood mentors and learning to read
truly offer a “new beginning”. Striving to promote
critical thinking and effective problem solving, teachers challenge
students to utilize knowledge gained in a process that promotes
self-understanding.
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