I wanted to share with you a new show television show I recently had the opportunity of watching called “School Pride” on Friday’s 8:00pm on NBC or available free on demand at Hulu.com.
We have so much to be proud of in our Citrus County Schools. While we all know of the struggles we face in educating our students, we are blessed that our Citrus County Schools are not like those in “School Pride”.
“School Pride” is from executive producers Cheryl Hines (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) and Denise Cramsey (“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and “True Beauty”), “School Pride” is a proactive, alternative series that tells the stories of communities coming together to renovate their aging and broken public schools. While transforming the school, the community also restores its sense of value and school pride.
The cameras follow students, teachers and parents as they roll up their sleeves and rebuild their own schools, concluding with the unveiling of a brand new, completely transformed school. They are motivated by a quartet of community organizers and personalities – SWAT Commander Tom Stroup; interior designer Susie Castillo (“House of Payne”); comedian and former substitute teacher Kym Whitley (“‘Til Death”); and journalist Jacob Soboroff (“AMC News”). Together, the team of experts will lead the community through the makeover process.
The schools and communities highlighted in the series include Enterprise Middle School in Compton, California; Lanier Elementary School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Kingston Springs Elementary in Nashville, Tennessee; Communication and Media Arts School in Detroit, Michigan; Needles High School in Needles, California; Hollenbeck Middle School in Los Angeles, California; and Los Angeles Center for Enrichment Studies in Los Angeles, California.
“School Pride” is produced by Horizon Alternative Television.
At the 2010 General election November 2nd, voters in Florida will be voting on Amendment 8, “Revision of the class size requirements for public schools”. The ballot will officially say:
Revision of the class size requirements for public schools
The Florida Constitution currently limits the maximum number of students assigned to each teacher in public school classrooms in the following grade groupings: for prekindergarten through grade 3, 18 students; for grades 4 through 8, 22 students; and for grades 9 through 12, 25 students. Under this amendment, the current limits on the maximum number of students assigned to each teacher in public school classrooms would become limits on the average number of students assigned per class to each teacher, by specified grade grouping, in each public school. This amendment also adopts new limits on the maximum number of students assigned to each teacher in an individual classroom as follows: for prekindergarten through grade 3, 21 students; for grades 4 through 8, 27 students; and for grades 9 through 12, 30 students. This amendment specifies that class size limits do not apply to virtual classes, requires the Legislature to provide sufficient funds to maintain the average number of students required by this amendment, and schedules these revisions to take effect upon approval by the electors of this state and to operate retroactively to the beginning of the 2010- 2011 school year. YES [ ] or NO [ ]
Personally I will be voting ‘YES’ on Amendment 8. In 2002 I agreed when the Voters of Florida voted for the Classroom Size Amendment because we needed to reduce the number of students in a classroom and bring it to a more manageable number. We have greatly reduced the number of students in a classroom but now , in order to meet the classroom level , a district must open a new classroom once one new student enrolls in school. As an example, if the cap is 22 students for third grade and you get a 23rd student , you must hire another teacher AND provide a new classroom space — all at the taxpayer ‘s expense. In order to meet this requirement, a school might have to add another teacher to the classroom making one classroom with as many as 44 or more students and two teachers. That is not a positive learning environment for our students. The Amendment would give schools and districts more flexibility at the school level to meet the cap on a school average rather then a hard cap.
Research for yourself but consider voting, YES on amendment 8. If you have any questions feel free to contact me.
Tuesday October 19th, 2010 , I attended the Citrus County International Baccalaureate Parent Organization (CCIBPO). The organization is like a PTA and advisory group for parents and students of the Citrus County Schools International Baccalaureate Program (IB) located at Lecanto High School. The IB and Pre-IB (PIBS) coordinator is Mr. Darrick Buettner. The International Baccalaureate program is a demanding pre-university program that students can complete to earn college credit. IB emphasizes critical thinking and understanding of other cultures or points of view. Upon successfully completing the program , a diploma is awarded which allows graduates access to universities worldwide. Currently the Citrus IB and PIBS program has approximately 200 students enrolled for the 2010-2011 school year.
I had an opportunity to observe Ms. Melissa Hardy’s 3rd grade classroom at Central Ridge Elementary School on Thursday morning. Ms. Hardy is using an exciting and fast pasted learning strategy called “Power Teaching” (a.k.a. Brain Teaching). I was first made aware of it from our Assistant Superintendent Mary Curry at a recent School Board meeting. Power Teaching is a technique from Power Teachers of America. Power Teaching/Whole Brain teaching is an instructional approach derived from neurolinguistic descriptions of the functions of the brain’s left and right hemispheres. Neurolinguistic findings about the brain’s language functions show that in the integrated brain, the functions of one hemisphere are immediately available to the other, producing a more balanced use of language. Whole-brain teaching emphasizes active learning, in which the learner makes connections that tap both hemispheres.
Silvia Flores / The Press-Enterprise Fourth-grader Aranza Quito , 10, left, gets a “ten-finger whoo” from classmate Jamie Meneses, 10, right, as positive reinforcement for getting a correct answer during class Wednesday at Urbita Elementary School in San Bernardino.
I was so impressed with the students’ high level of participation, energy, and engagement during the lesson. I loved how Ms. Hardy would switch from asking students to turn to a partner and “teach” a vocabulary word to, “learn”. The students would mimic a clap, or voice level or hand motion which Ms. Hardy would use to give her next instruction. This further kept the students engaged and attentive as they wanted to know what direction to do next. It was exciting to watch and it was hard not to want to participate as well. As I observed with 4th grade teacher Ms. Christina Touchton, we both were impressed with the lesson. Ms. Hardy further used a Power Point presentation projected o to the video screen in her classroom to provide additional visuals for the students.
I visited Crystal River High School and spent time with Principal Mark McCoy. We talked about some of the new challenges facing high schools due to recent legislation passed this spring in Florida Senate know as ‘Senate Bill 4’. SB4 now requires that all Florida high school students MUST pass algebra I, geometry, algebra II, biology I, chemistry or physics. I have grave concerns that public school education is not a “one size fits all” and I worry at a time when we should be expanding our vocational options to high schools that we are having to instead focus on the expectation that our Legislators believe that all students MUST go on to college. While that is a wonderful desire, it is just not a realistic option for some of our students. CRHS is currently in the middle of phase one of a large three phase multi year renovation project. During phase two the center section of the campus will be demolished. Mr. McCoy spoke about some of the planning and challenges the renovation will bring but safety and security of students and staff was of foremost concern. When completed, CRHS will be a near fully remodeled more state of the art high school with a an increase of approximately 200+ more students which will greatly help the overcrowding we have at both Lecanto and Inverness High Schools.
Photo by Dave Sigler Crystal River High School has a long history of having African-American administrators. Denita Eatman, left, is an assistant principal, while William L. Robinson, center, was the principal of George Washington Carver Jr. High School and administrator with the Citrus County School System. Charles Brooks, right, is also an assistant principal at CRHS.
The opportunities for blacks during segregation were limited, but William Robinson Jr. worked toward having a career in agriculture.
However, his life took a different path that led him to being an educator, an inspiration and a local pioneer for blacks in education.
“These ladies and gentlemen paid a price for us,” said Charles Brooks Jr., an assistant principal at Crystal River High School. “Every time we get in trouble or go to jail, we should be ashamed.”
Robinson’s career in Citrus County began when he became principal of George Washington Carver Junior High School, the only school for blacks in Crystal River. Robinson was a teaching principal, meaning he not only had to plan the curriculum and discipline students, but he also was a teacher.
“Separate, but equal” was the belief at the time, but he said it was far from the truth. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE…
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Coach Dabney Day, November 13th, 1200-5:00ish @ Heritage House in Heritage Village in CR.
Tickets will go on sale this weekend (10/23/2010) at Heritage House. $10 gets you a fish dinner with all the fixins!
Would you like to be a sponsor? $100 gets your business name on the back of the t-shirt. Or maybe you would like to donate a gift certificate to be raffled.
Contact Diane (FLkrakr@yahoo.com) with your donations.
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I wanted to share with you a new show television show I recently had the opportunity of watching called “School Pride” on Friday’s 8:00pm on NBC or available free on demand at Hulu.com.
