Valerie Goldstein of ‘Skills Win!’ takes problem solving into local schools

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Valerie Goldstein spent her free time freshman year attending every single session of Professor William Coplin’s Community Problem Solving class, PST 416, despite not being enrolled in the class or receiving credit. Eventually, the following semester, she attended the class again — officially.

“The class was unlike any other I had witnessed,” Goldstein said. “I was able to have an academic experience that not only helped me grow as a student but set me up for success in my future educational and professional endeavors.”

Students in PST 416 work with the Skills Win! Program, an organization that ventures to local middle and high schools, helping kids learn overlooked skills for their future careers. Goldstein, a senior, was the chief operating officer for Skills Win! in the spring and fall of 2023.

“Skills are useful in both professional and educational settings, so they allow students to have flexibility in the path they take and will help them achieve success wherever they go,” Goldstein said.

Because of her previous work with Coplin through Skills Win!, Goldstein worked as a research assistant while he wrote his book, “The Path to Equity: Inclusion in the Kingdom of Liberal Arts.” Goldstein’s experience inspired her to become an expert in the field one day like Coplin, and maybe even publish her own book on education policy.

PST 416 students take on the roles of “Skill Coaches,” facilitating activities at various sites like the Institute of Technology at Syracuse Central and the Police Athletic/Activities League (PAL). As COO, Goldstein worked alongside the CEO and Skill Coaches to come up with lesson ideas, including topics like time management and data entry.

High schoolers participate in either a five or six-week interactive program to cultivate their skills such as typing and conversing one-on-one. At PAL, middle school students were incentivized to construct strong business pitches and maintain perfect attendance through prizes like basketball tickets and a raffle for a computer.

While creating a nonprofit course was gratifying, connecting with local students is one of the most rewarding parts of the program, Goldstein said.

“Being a first-gen student and seeing firsthand how much an education can change someone’s life made me feel like I could be the type of support for students that I wish I had when I was growing up,” said Valerye Hidalgo Garcia, who works alongside Goldstein as the program’s Publication and Website Manager.

This spring, Goldstein passed the COO torch to Abigail Jones. Jones feels lucky to be given the opportunity, especially as it has shaped her college career and prepared her for the future.

“The transition to becoming COO has been smooth,” Jones said. “There is no one who can replace Valerie, but it is an honor to step into a role that she performed so well.”

So far, Skills Win! has made a lasting impact on both SU students and the Syracuse community. Jones said it’s a “two-way development experience,” where older students find opportunities to learn from younger ones.

Since the program’s establishment in 2000 and throughout Goldstein’s career as COO, Skills Win! has created visible change. Syracuse high schoolers’ typing scores climb higher and higher while they use newfound skills like budgeting and public presentation.

“I’m excited to continue to help out the program during my last semester here, and I hope it continues long after I graduate so it can keep helping to set students up for success,” Goldstein said.