Spotlight on the Community.....

Meet Lisa Calicchia.... A Mother Standing On More Than One Foundation

Tell me a little about who you are?
I’m a single mom of three girls who loves God and is so grateful to Him for saving me from my childhood. Above and beyond my credentials, I am most proud of being a great mom who isn’t abusive to her children. I’m proud of myself for breaking a generational curse of abuse and poverty. I’m a person who wants to see everyone free from hurt harm and danger. I have a passion and a love for wanting people to see better, know better and do better. Outside of all of the hats that I wear, I am a typical mom with lots of responsibilities to take care of like loads of laundry and grocery shopping. When I have free time I like to read, travel and work out as much as possible.

How did your Foundation get started?
After I wrote my book, No Parent Left Behind, the idea of my 501c3 foundation got started from the combination of the events documented in my book and from parents in desperate need for advice. The need was that parents wanted and needed more from me than just academic and behavior feedback for how their child was progressing in my classroom. I noticed a few years ago that parents, guardians and family members would just openly talk to me about the things going in their own lives. While they were dropping off or picking up students they stayed to talk. Then I would start getting phone calls or text messages because they weren’t quite sure what to do or how to handle a situation with themselves or their child. I didn’t pry at all and they would honestly and openly tell me all of their business. They needed someone to talk to because they felt isolated and alone with no one to help them figure out what to do. The situations and circumstances that the parents and families were going through 100% affected the children. As parents began to talk to me more and more, I wanted to help more than just praying for and encouraging them. The idea birthed out wanting to provided laptops and scholarships to parent who wanted to go back to school to get their GED or higher education. The idea came from parents who were grown adults, but never had anyone to teach them how to be a lady or gentleman. The foundation birthed from just wanting to give parents an opportunity that society wasn’t and isn’t willing to do. My concern wasn’t just for the children not to be left behind. I didn’t and still don’t want any adult to be left behind either.

What is the mission of this foundation?
The Know 1 Left Behind Foundation’s primary mission is to save the lives of children by saving their parents. I do that by developing strong parental relationships, providing practical/realistic resources and educating families on childhood education. Families from various social and economical backgrounds will also become responsible and productive adults, then better parents/guardians and care takers of their children. At the same time, obtaining current related information and abilities necessary to enhance their decision making while raising their children and/or their overall success in their personal lives.

Do you have a staff that works with you?
Right now I have one phenomenal person who has recently stepped up to do everything I’m unable to do because I’m still a full time classroom teacher with 28 students. One day he called just to say that he wanted to work full time instead of volunteering, simply because he believes in my vision of helping parents which saves the lives of our children. He secures interviews for me to talk about my book and non-profit, makes phone calls and connections to take all that I’m trying to with the foundation. There are so many things that he does, I can’t thank him or pay him enough for the multitasking he gets done.

I do have volunteers who help me with whatever needs to be done, but I need many more. I also have a diverse board that I work with behind the scenes getting everything in order and taking care of other areas of expertise. As far as the mentoring the parents, no I do not have a staff yet. I wish I could clone myself so everyone could feel the love I have for them. I am currently the only mentor of the parents. I get phone calls, text messages; emails and facebooked (is that even a word?) all the time. For their issues and concerns, one may need a listening ear, guidance or sometimes even just encouragement or prayer. I have people who want to mentor parents and I am currently in the process of organizing the structure for a staff as the foundation grows and becomes international. I do have family and friends who help me in the background with moral support to not give up on such a great but massive task. My family and friends also help with my girls when I have to do an event, speaking engagement or travel. I even have parents who volunteer in my classroom every day since I don’t have a classroom assistant.

As far as the work that I have to do producing the creative projects needed for my future books and foundation expansion, I’m a one woman army right now. By being a full time teacher, I’m limited to working on the logistics and building of the foundation to after school. When my school day ends, I spend about another 2-3 hours working in the classroom for the next class day’s preparation and foundation work. After finally getting off, I transition into being full time mommy. The good thing is that my two youngest girls attend the same school where I teach. My oldest is in high school and has after school activities that keep her occupied till I’m finally finished. As a result, we all leave our respective schools usually at the same time around 5-6 in the evening. Once I cook dinner and get the girls to bed then I’m back to working again at home.


Name the activities/programs that you offer?
Currently I offer more personalized services for the major component which is mentoring for adults. Those services include parenting skills, family life skill, problem solving and relationship strategies and weekly group discussions on particular topics. I also research information and make copies for parent who need access to information but don’t have a computer, Internet or who aren’t near a library. Even with access to those things, some parent still don’t know where to turn for issues relating their child age so I provide it to them.

As the foundation grows and expands, the remaining components will gradually be implemented. Programs will include parenting classes, transportation for job interviews and doctors appointments, scholarships and laptops for parents going back to school, health awareness and exercise programs and so more. I don’t want to give all the secrets away but it’s something never done before.

What is the age group for the Know 1 Left Behind Foundation?
The way I structured the foundation is that we services all ages in a tiered effect. For example, one of my parents has four children. After working with her, her self esteem has increased, she has gone back to school, she no longer accepts that where she is, is where she has to stay and all of those changes have cause her to be a better leader and mother of her children. As a result the children get a better future because their mom is making better choices and the whole family has a brighter future. What I want people to understand is that when we change the mentality of the head of the household, then the entire household will change for the better. Most programs around the world service the children in after school programs and other alternative programs for children, but they send them back home to the chaos and confusion. I deal with getting to the root of the problem so the entire family can flourish from the inside out and not the other way around. As far as mentoring, the mentoring is specifically going to be for those 16 and over.

How can one join the foundation?
To receive services or to volunteer you can call Know 1 Left Behind toll free at 1-888-546-K1LB(5152) or visit our website at www.know1leftbehind.org
There are many opportunities to be a part of Know 1 Left Behind. We need people to make donations in whatever capacity they have to give. We need monetary funds, vehicles, laptops and more. Volunteers can become older brothers and sisters to parents, pass out literature, attend and support events for a cause in full force, make phone calls, and volunteer in a variety of many other capacities. Anyone who wants to start and lead a Know 1 Left Behind chapter in their city can do so as well.

Have you seen any changes in the students since they have participated in the programs with your foundation?
The parents are the ones who actually participate in the programs and show the initial change and growth from working with me. I do have teenage parents I work with who are still in school. The positive changes come with time. As explained earlier, the students benefit when the parents and guardians get themselves together. The students have better relationships with their parents. The parents do more effective communicating instead of yelling, fussing and cussing. The children develop more love and respect for the parents as the parents grow and learn more about themselves and learn more about the many dynamics of children.

What inspired you to write your book “I Want to Teach…Not Raise Your Kids?
I was frustrated with what I saw as children first entered school. Before going to kindergarten, the level I was teaching when I wrote this, I was teaching third grade. I saw a lot of injustices and crazy behaviors with parents of the upper grades as well. However, in kindergarten these children were totally unprepared for school. They were already five years behind so I couldn’t even teach the basics because they had no foundation to work with. I think that’s when the reality of how terrible the future was for our children if things didn’t change. The kindergartens didn’t know their real names, colors, shapes, letters or numbers. They didn’t even know how to draw. The children had very little vocabulary and background experiences to assist them in the various lessons I as teaching. Once meeting some of the parents, I understood what was going on. Most of the parents had no clue of how important an education really was. Most parents never even came in the building after the first week of school. I felt like an overpaid babysitter. I knew people wouldn’t believe me so I dropped in my spirit to start documenting what was really going on in our schools and communities.

How was the feedback from your student’s parents?
I have many letters that parents have written to me sharing how working with them has changed their lives dramatically for the best. One parent came to me with great joy and said that her seven year old son noticed that she wasn’t using profanity like she used to. Another student noticed that their mom was eating healthier and exercising. The list goes on and on. Children are very much underestimated in our society. They may not be able to articulate how they feel all of the time, but they definitely see everything that we do.

Correct me if I’m wrong but you just released a second addition to “I Want To Teach…Not Raise Your Kids?
Yes I did release the original title to the book and l I have to tell you the story of why my first book has two titles. The only true difference is that the second released cover has discussion questions at the end. I still have the very original copy I printed out for myself as “No Parent Left Behind”. Anyway, in the following school year while I was editing the manuscript when I was teaching 2nd grade is when the title changed. Three months after the beginning of that school year, I was called into a meeting with my principal, assistant principal, school social worker the parent and aunt of a 2nd grade male student. This particular 9 year old student was very troubled due to his situation at home and was display disruptive behaviors in class. His aunt was the one who primarily took care of him but couldn’t longer do so because she became ill.

The mother had to step up and be a mom but she had to learn how to deal with her son on her own. He was intentionally placed in my class by his mother because she knew my reputation of being a strong teacher and a disciplinarian. Several times I had spoken with the aunt, mother and administration about his behavior whenever he had tantrums. Three months into the school year the mother came to me and basically gave me the information of what her family counselor to do. For example, the mother wanted me to rub her son’s back to calm him down and other strategies for the mother to work with her son. Well I refused to do it. Her family counselor told her to do that not the school staff and definitely not the classroom teacher. I have my own methods and strategies for working with at risk youth and challenging students. While sitting in the meeting I was so angry that this foolishness with the mother was even being entertained. After I left the meeting I went back to my desk and changed the title to I Want To…Teach Not Raise Your Kids. I’m still trying to figure out which one people like best.

What was the focal point of the second book?
Since I addressed the concerns of the parental and community aspect in the first book, the focal point of my second book is now on the staff, administrators and other hot topics of conversations relating to education and current issues that plague our country. I wouldn’t say I’m attacking our educational system as it stands now but analyzing it to make it better. I still document what goes on in classrooms across the country, but now I’m addressing the professional side of education. I also get more into the policies that doesn’t make any sense.

What are the future plans of your foundation?
Wow, the future plans for the foundation are so original and monumental I don’t know where to begin to tell the entire vision. Some plans for the foundation are to have at least one chapter in every major city nationally and around the world. We plan to employ thousands of employees and have even more volunteers. My ultimate goal is that 20 million lives will be saved in 10 years or less. Know 1 Left Behind is going to set the new standard of what service in this new time really is.

Visit her website:Know1leftbehind