Speaking to Teens at “Teen Court”

I had the honor of being asked to speak to the teens at Teen Court last Tuesday.  For those that are not aware Teen Court allows first-time offenders between the ages of 12 and 17 who have committed misdemeanor or felony offenses the opportunity to take responsibility for their actions.  Sanctions are imposed by “teen juries”, former offenders, who are in the program.  The sanctions imposed include community services and jury duty, remedial classes, and essays. Additional sanctions may also include restitution, apology, curfew, anger management classes, no association with codefendants, random drug/alcohol screenings and random substance abuse evaluations. Teens must also attend school regularly and obey rules both in school and at home. All sanctions given must be completed within 3 months.  Some of the types of cases heard in Teen Court include vandalism; drug or alcohol possession, trespassing, interfering with school functions, driving with no or suspended license, burglary, and battery.

Since many of the teens are students with learning challenges, I wanted to share with them my own learning challenges and some of the strategies I have used to help me along life’s path.  I began by telling about my work experience in both real estate and construction prior to becoming a School Board Member.  I wanted to share with them some of the details regarding my career path, so they could then understand some of the challenges that had to be dealt with during that time.   I then shared with them what was required while serving as a School Board Member and what School Boards actually do in support of the Educational Systems in Citrus County.  Next on my agenda, I took a sharp turn to explain that none of that might be greatly impressive to them, but might be more interesting if they knew I did it while being a severe dyslexic.  (Click here to read “Talk to Teen Court” – October 4^th, 2011)

I was given the opportunity to stay afterwards for the court proceedings.  The Teen Court Judge that evening was a very impressive current State’s Attorney Prosecutor.  The “Prosecuting Attorney” and the “Defendant’s Attorney” are Student Volunteers.  While I would love to be able to share with you the details of the cases and the opportunity I was given to go back and be a standby while the jury deliberated, legally I can’t.  The reason is because we all took an important “Confidentiality Oath‎”.

I was captivated with the Teen Court system, Court Officers, Volunteers, and the Teen Court Coordinator – Anita Morris.   Most especially I was impressed by the “Teens”, themselves.

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Recent happenings in Citrus Schools for Sept. 30th, 2011

Crystal River Primary School Renovation Open House

Crystal River Primary got a new school!  Well, not really, but it sure looks like it.  Tuesday evening Superintendent Sam Himmel, Board Members, parents, students, Cub Scouts and the community came out to celebrate the official completion of construction and renovation at the “new” school.  Principal Edith Speight began the event by welcoming everyone followed by Cub Scout Troop 415 having the raising of the Flags and the Pledge of Allegiance.  The CRP Elementary Choral, directed by Music Education teacher Mark Garlock, provided several patriotic selections including a wonder rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner.  The event ended with the unveiling of the building plaque by Superintendent Himmel, Board Member Ginger Bryant, and several CRP students.

Technology Committee Meeting

Okay, it is no secret that I love technology, the use of technology in learning, and love hanging around other “geeks”.  So what better than to spend the morning at the Citrus Schools Technology Committee (TC) meeting!  This was the first meeting of the 2011-2012 school year.  Over thirty-six members gathered representing Technology Specialists, Technology Aides, Media Specialists and Administrators.

Citrus County School Educational Technology Director, Dr. Mike Geddes, half joking shared his feelings in the meeting regarding educational technology by saying, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” and this does reflect new and very fast changes in the educational technology landscape.  That said, I am still most excited about the educational technology tools and opportunities that our students and educators will have.

BYOT (“Bring Your Own Technology”) was a big topic of the meeting.  This is a new reference to the use of student devices in school such as netbooks, laptops, iPads, etc.  In our district in Citrus County, this year, we are     providing our students with the ability to use their BYOT tools to school where they can access a new student wireless wall to wall network.  This will occur in our middle and high schools which are funded by last budget year through the use of the Race to the Top grant funds.

Citrus Schools, through a grant, are also providing ESE technology support from the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System.  FDLRS provides statewide diagnostic and instructional support services to the district exceptional student education programs. Karen Hancock is Citrus Schools FDLRS support person and attended the TC.  Ms. Hancock provided many resource materials and shared several smart board activities with the TC.

I am most encouraged and excited about the future of educational technology in our classrooms and for the commitment that the Citrus School District has made towards improving the use of educational technology.

Smart boards and Mobies at work in the classroom

Thursday morning I toured Central Ridge Elementary School with Karen Hancock the district consultant for the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System.  Ms. Hancock was at CRE to visit the classrooms that are using smart boards and Mobi and are providing support and resources to integrate them more into student learning.  As we walked around the school it was clear that smart boards and Mobies are an integral part of learning at CRE.  In Ms. Williams Pre-Kindergarten classroom the students, in the morning, would walk over to the smart board and, using their finger, drag their name from the “Not Here” to the “Here Today” column. That was just the beginning of how it is used!  Ms. Williams uses her smart board to have students do kinesthetic learning. In Ms. Knox third grade classroom I saw how her students would use the Mobi to answer math questions from their desk while it is being displayed on the overhead screen.  These are such exciting times in educational technology and I appreciate seeing how it is being used in the classrooms today!

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“Please ‘feed your face’ so we can ‘feed theirs’!”

Inverness Kiwanis Club’s

2nd Annual Chicken Box Lunch

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7th, 2011

• ½ Grilled Chicken, Baked beans, Cole slaw & Bread.

• $8 per lunch

• Large lunch orders delivered! (10 or more)

To Purchase Tickets call 352-220-1818.
10 of these lunches raises enough money to feed one child in the program, every weekend, through the entire school year!
All proceeds benefit Blessings in a Backpack of Citrus County! For more information go to www.citruscountyblessings.com

Call to order tickets and to inquire about lunch delivery for large groups.
Contact: 352-302-0109
Email: info@citruscountyblessings.com

Blessings in a Backpack was started in July, 2005 in Louisville, KY, with the singular purpose of helping feed these children of less fortunate families on the weekends, when they don’t have access to government subsidized meals. Working in close cooperation with guidance counselors from enrolled schools to choose the poorest of the poor from these schools, Blessings volunteers supply needed nutrition through the Blessings in a Backpack program. Nationally, Blessings in a Backpack is in 155 schools in 19 states, and has served over 23,000 children. Surprisingly, it only takes $80 to feed one child on the weekends through the entire school year!

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