What we do

Because the two main factors in school success for children are the quality of the teacher and the leadership of the principal, KAF works only with teachers and principals to upgrade their skills. We do not work directly with children.

For teachers, we offer a proven solution to one of their biggest problems -- the ENVoY system of classroom management.

What is ENVoY? Our most popular program is ENVoY, a simple, proven system of non-verbal classroom management that preserves relationships while creating productive, peaceful environments for learning.

The main idea. With ENVoY's "Seven Gems of Classroom Mangement," teachers learn to talk (or yell) less when managing behavior; instead, they use clear, firm non-verbal signals to get and maintain attention of the children and to keep them on task.

The process. In year one, Knowledge Arts trainers present the Seven Gems during in-service workshops, then an ENVoY Coach visits each teacher in his or her classroom up to ten times during the year to reinforce what they have learned, to acknowledge progress, and to give practical tips for handling especially difficult students. In year two, Knowledge Arts trains outstanding faculty members to act as on-site coaches for their schools and supports them as they coach fellow teachers, especially new teachers. In year three, Knowledge Arts works with schools to transfer the non-verbal, peaceful system to common areas such as the cafeteria, library, and school bus area.

The results. In the Texas and Louisiana schools where ENVoY has been implemented, discipline referrals have gone down, test scores have gone up, and there has been more time for learning the curriculum--a minimum of one extra hour a week. A 2007 study by the University of Houston validated the effectivenss of ENVoY and recommended that ENVoY should be offered to all teachers, that teachers be supported during the implementation phase, and that the program continue for three years at each school to make sure this "influence approach" is embedded in the culture of the school.

The seven skills. The Seven Gems include two skills for getting the attention of the class in seconds, one skill for use during a lesson, two skills for the transition from a lesson to a group activity or individual seatwork, and two strategies for keeping students on task during seatwork.

Origin of the system. ENVoY was developed by Michael Grinder, who modeled the successful management patterns of over 6000 teachers. The non-verbal skills that were common to the most effective of these 6000 teachers became known as The Seven Gems.

What else do we do?

For principals, we help prevent burnout by offering business-based leadership training so the principals can be more effective at running schools that serve children in high-poverty areas.