AT-BEST STUDENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Empowering Students to Succeed

Getting students from At-Risk to being at their best.

At-Best Program Overview

The At-Best Program is designed to help struggling students excel in their academics, attendance, and behavior. Created by Dee Hankins, who went from being "at-risk" to "honor roll," the program offers a tangible vision of what students can achieve despite life's challenges. It's especially designed for students facing difficulties such as homelessness, foster care, chronic absenteeism, and hopelessness.

We challenge students to eradicate their D’s and F’s in just six weeks! Dee then returns to celebrate with the students that met the challenge!

Win Your Challenges" process

How It Works

  • Recognizing the internal battle between who you are and who you want to be.

  • Identifying and eliminating preventable or controllable barriers to success.

  • Finding what you need, asking for help, and then teaching others, which reinforces your own learning.

  • : Understanding the importance of delayed gratification and accepting that some things can't be done right now

  • Making a lifestyle change that transforms your life as you work toward your goals

  • Cultivating self-belief to overcome obstacles and achieve success

The program guides students through the "Win Your Challenges" process, a 6-step framework that helps them achieve their goals. This process teaches students how to overcome challenges by:

Guiding Every Student to Their Best.

Why is “At-Best” so effective?

Relatability

Dee's personal story creates an immediate connection, offering a beacon of hope and a tangible vision of what students can achieve despite their challenges.

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Understanding

The program is founded on the belief that academic struggles often stem from external circumstances. It fosters empathy and self-compassion, helping students and staff alike see them at their best.

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Follow Up

The program's impact is sustained through consistent, ongoing support. It builds a network that includes teachers, administrators, student leaders, parents, and mentors to ensure continuous encouragement and progress.

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Program Tiers

Program Tiers and What's Included

  • 1-day program aimed at motivating low-performing students and improving behavior. It teaches students the "Win Your Challenges" process to help boost their grades.

    Includes: One school assembly (up to 1.5 hours) and one breakout session for up to 150 students (up to 1 hour).

  • This 3-consecutive-day program is designed to support students with significant emotional, social, and academic blockages while engaging parents. It includes everything in the Foundations tier, plus:

    One staff development session (up to 1.5 hours).

    Up to three mini-breakout sessions (up to 1 hour each).

    One parent engagement night (up to 1 hour).

    Four digital check-in videos from Dee Hankins.

    A Commitment Celebration Day where Dee Hankins returns to the school to celebrate students who met the challenge.

  • This is a 4-consecutive-day program that focuses on building lasting connections between the school, students, and parents. It includes everything in the Growth tier, plus:

    A deeper-dive parent engagement night and a parent support group.

    One student leader support breakout session (up to 2 hours).

    Six digital check-in videos from Dee Hankins.

  • West Coast Exclusive Program (4-Day Program + Disneyland Celebration)

    For West Coast administrators seeking the ultimate incentive to motivate students, offering an unparalleled reward for achieving their goals.

    Goal:

    Provide an aspirational, once-in-a-lifetime experience to recognize student achievement and celebrate their triumph in meeting challenges.

    Includes All of At-Best Resilience +:

    Default Celebration Day at Disneyland Anaheim:

    This tier includes all logistics for the Disneyland trip for

    up to 35 students and accompanying chaperones. This covers:

    Transportation (charter bus or flights, as applicable)

    Accommodation (if a multi-day trip is required)

    Disneyland park tickets

    Pre-determined meal plan or stipends for the trip

    For every student exceeding the initial 35, an additional per-student fee will apply to cover their travel, accommodation, and park entry costs.

The At-Best Program offers three tiers to meet the diverse needs of schools and students, with each tier building upon the previous one.

AT-BEST VIDEO TESTIMONIALS

Ready to Transform Your School?

If you're ready to see a real transformation in your school and help your most vulnerable students, the At-Best Program is for you. Dee Hankins’s relatable journey from "at-risk" to "honor roll" helps students see their own potential.