Celebrating a decade of partnership: A 'Thank You' to the East community
This video highlights the powerful and transformative journey of the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ-East Educational Partnership Organization (EPO) and expresses deep gratitude for a decade of collaboration and shared success. As the formal East EPO concludes in June 2025, members of the East community reflect on a decade of growth, personal transformation, and enduring relationships built on trust, care, and shared commitment.
When the partnership began in 2015, East High School was on the brink of state-sanctioned closure, having been identified as a persistently failing school for ten consecutive years. Student outcomes were low, suspensions were high, and daily attendance lagged.
In collaboration with the East community and several other University units, the Warner School of Education and Human Development assumed a leadership role in driving meaningful change and fostering a healthier, more effective learning environment. Together, they began to reimagine what’s possible for students, families, and educators—laying the groundwork for long-term success.
Working together, East educators, students, families, and Warner faculty developed a comprehensive plan. Today, the school has made measurable progress, with significantly higher graduation rates, improved student academic outcomes, increased attendance, and expanded university partnerships.
These gains reflect a deeply held, shared belief—that every student deserves the opportunity to thrive, and that meaningful change is possible when communities unite around a common purpose.
While the EPO chapter is closing, the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ’s Warner School remains dedicated to East and Rochester’s broader educational community. Through new and ongoing initiatives, the Warner School will continue to support the academic success and well-being of students. The , housed at Warner, will also continue to serve as a hub for research, resources, and tools to help urban schools thrive.
The East and University communities will be forever strengthened by this partnership—and by the belief that together, we can build an ever better future.