>>Richard: You're mom's outside, your mom's right there, Madison.
>>Narrator: The CARE for Kids initiative aims
to create supportive relationships
between Jefferson County students, teachers and staff.
>>Principal: Hello, sweet girl, you have a good day, okay?
>>Narrator: So everyone at Breckenridge Franklin Elementary,
from the principal to the janitorial staff, receives training
to become part of the CARE for Kids team.
>>What's wrong?
>>Narrator: Security monitor, Richard Little, shared his perspective
on the success of the initiative.
>>Richard: When I was going to school, it was old school.
Boys and girls, all right, they'd get paddlings.
That's when you come out in the hallway and you turn
and face the hallway, everything else is behind.
They got the paddle, and they coming from here, swinging,
you know, maybe two or three.
It all depends on the severity of what you done.
>>Yeah, I don't see him yet, wait just a minute.
>>Education was real great because you had people that cared, all right,
and nurtured you in school.
I loved it because the simple fact is, you live right
in your own community, you know.
And so if I did anything that you felt that I didn't need to do walking
down the street, you could get me, and then my mom
and my grandma would get a telephone call, then they could get me.
And the teachers could get you, you know.
So it was always somebody that were with you that nurtured you.
>>Stay together, see you all tomorrow.
Have a good day.
>>And today we have a cell phone, seven year olds
and eight year olds are getting, and they're texting.
You know, they're on the computers all day and all night, you know,
and so they really don't get what they really need at home
because simple fact is, they've got all this technology, all right?
Well, when they're in the elementary school right here
in Breckenridge Franklin, they get everything they need.
Everything they need, because you have a staff here that's a family,
all right, and it's not about a friendship,
it's about a relationship.
>>Stay over there with Page.
>>I was invited to a faculty meeting, and on that particular day,
that's when they introduced the CARE for Kids program.
And what overwhelmed me was, they were talking
about children being left behind, and I know how I grew up,
and how people cared for us, you know.
I mean, anybody in the neighborhood, it was like,
one child, one village, you know.
So I told them, I said, "You know what, I like this program"
and I see this program that's being implemented and it works,
because I was here and I seen it for myself.
I seen things other parents wouldn't be able to see.
>>My teacher teaches terrifically.
>>I like that alliteration too.
>>Richard: I know for a fact
that these teachers here are doing everything they can
to keep these children from being left behind, and they do it
because it's a mission for them.
And every child that walks through that door, I guarantee them,
they're not gonna be left behind.
So whoever started this program, I take my hat off
to 'em, because it works.
>>Richard: CARE for Kids works.
CARE for Kids will work at any school,
as long as you got a great staff and a great leader.
At the end of the day, those kids getting on those buses with a smile
on their face, my job is done.
I can safely go home and say, "You know what,
when they came this morning, they had smiles,
and when they left they had smiles.
Our job is done, because we care."
>>Katrina, see you tomorrow, okay buddy?
>>Narrator: For more information about what works
in public education, go to Edutopia.org