Student Transition and Resource Team & Citrus Interagency Council

I am never disappointed at being impressed by something I learn or someone I met during the Student Transition and Resource Team & Citrus Interagency Council meetings. Today was no exception.

START Facilitator and ESE alternative testing specialist Karl Amundson enthusiastically opened the meeting and introduced the opening speaker Federico Valadez, the West Central Florida Representative of Project 10: Transition Education Network. Mr. Valadezin in Citrus County is also thought of as the ‘God-Father’ of the Circles of Success program. This is a program our schools and ESE departments use for teaching students to be self-advocates.

Today in addition to the other presentations was a panel of former and current Transition Academy students. Today’s student’s resumes work and/or studies include: WTC Culinary Arts Program, Publix Supermarket, Citrus Memorial Hospital, WTC Automotive Technologies, Citrus Chronicle, and McDonalds.

I am always captivated at both the honesty and determination of these extraordinary individuals who have overcome much. While each of these young people were so very memorable, two of them I would like to share alittle more about. The first is Maggie who works for Publix Supermarket. Maggie is a most determined person who cares greatly for the work she does. I first had the pleasure of seeing Maggie at work about a year ago at Publix and she was as impressive then as she is today. She takes great pride in her job and employers. She also cares greatly about her fellow employees and others with learning challenges and shared her strategies she learned with us. Another young person we met today was Jeremy who is working at the Chronicle Newspaper gaining experience he hopes to one day use to become a Sports Journalist. His equally impressive Job Coach, Angela Vincent shared a limited edition newspaper that Jeremy created for his presentation today to demonstrate the skills and work Jeremey is learning on the job. Jeremey is an impressively articulate young man who has already interviewed former NFL Tampa Bay football players. A special thanks to the Chronicle for sponsoring the printing of Jeremey’s Journal. A few minutes of listening to these young people talk about the challenges they overcome each day is inspiring.

One of the questions asked to each of these young panelists was, “who are your ‘go to’ people”? These are the people they feel the most comfortable and safe going to for help and knowing that these people only are interested in their success. They ranged from counselors, job coaches, parents, siblings, bosses, co-workers and others. The question stuck with me long after I had left the meeting and had me thinking, “who are my ‘go to’ people”? For me, my wife, my mother, Capt. Tangeman & Capt. Holme, Arnie, Scott are part of my list. What was clear was how essential having “go to people” is to our success in life. Who are your “go to people”?

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Three Year Delay on Assessment Punitiveness

Thank you to the Chronicle and Eryn Worthington for reporting on this important issue.

To read the story visit: http://www.chronicleonline.com/content/school-board-wants-three-year-pause-implementing-testing

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Resolution on School Grades Accountability in a Transition Year for Standards & Assessments

At the October 14^th, 2014, school board meeting I put on the agenda a time for discussion of recent resolutions on School Grades Accountability during a transition year for the new Florida educational standards and assessments.  These results are directly connected to students’ final grades and grade advancement as well as teacher and administrative evaluations.

These resolutions speak of Florida’s over-reliance and lack of consistent data on high-stakes standardized testing in state and federal accountability systems is undermining educational quality and equity in public schools by limiting educators’ ability to focus on the broad range of learning experiences that promote creativity, problem solving, collaboration, critical thinking, and deep subject-matter knowledge that will allow students to thrive in a democracy and an increasingly global Society and economy. Further they are asking that the Florida Department of Education, and the state legislature to provide a three-year transition to July 1, 2017 for full Implementation of Florida standards and accountability, with no impact on students, teachers, school administrators, and school district assessment and evaluation changes. Further, the Legislature should delay the use of Florida State Assessment results in determining school grades, student promotion, graduation or for teacher evaluation until July 1, 2017.

Each time I visit schools and talk with teachers, educational administrators and leaders I hear about the daily challenges that are strangling public education. Regardless of whether educators are in favor of these changes or not, what you will always hear them saying is that the State’s required time frame and implementation is moving at  an unacceptably fast speed that it is harmful and irresponsible to our students and the teachers whose evaluations will be based on the students’ assessment scores.

At this time many schools boards around the state have or are getting ready to pass resolutions.  These include Sumter, Seminole, Palm Beach, Duval and Lee Counties  who have passed resolutions against the time line and are asking for a delay of the implementation with  this 2014-2015 school year.  Other school boards, whether individually or as a whole, are also looking to adopt similar resolutions.

A resolution does not suspend or stop any state required implementations or mandates but it is a way to state publicly that as an entity we are opposed to the manner of the of the implementations and its potential harmful effects on our students, teachers and schools.  In addition it

In 2012 I was proud to be a part of the Citrus County School Board that unanimously passed a resolution opposing to the overemphasis of high-stakes testing. (Follow this link to see that resolution: https://thomastalks.org/ccsb-on-high-stakes-testing/) After Citrus School Board passed its resolution other counties around the state followed suit and thus continued a formal stand against the overemphasis of high-stakes testing. This action in part lead to changes at the Florida Department of Education, including the then Florida Commissioner of Education, resigning from office.

It is my hope that our school board will seriously consider passing a similar resolution.

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