The District 233 school board approved Round 2 of You Matter 2’s Discover U program for Homewood-Flossmoor High School students.

The board initiated the program in the fall semester as a college and career readiness program. The school board renewed the program at the Jan. 20 meeting awarding You Matter 2 a $9,000 contract.

You Matter 2 CEO Destiny Watson gave a review of the program to the board’s Planning Committee Jan. 16.

She said 15 junior and senior students took part in the sessions and were able to earn credentials that will help future employers recognize skills the students got through Discover U.

Students met in 90-minute sessions once a week for three months. Sessions focused on language and public speaking, working collaboratively, resume writing and interview skills. The sessions are designed to help students discover their own personal traits and how best to develop them. 

For this spring semester, Watson expects to have 30 students in Discover U. They were being referred to the program by H-F’s guidance counselors. 

Watson is restructuring the program to be available five days a week. This change should better accommodate students who were limited by the fall semester schedule because of work obligations and athletics.

As the program continues, she will be collecting data on students’ success and interests to help her improve on the outline for Discover U.

Watson said she could structure a program to start reaching students in their freshman/sophomore years.