FL DOE: Florida earns nation’s highest overall grade in 2011

Posted on January 26th, 2012 by

“Below is a wonderful announcement about Florida’s Educational System” ~Thomas

 

Florida Department of Education Press Release

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Florida Named National Leader in Educator Quality

– Sunshine State earns nation’s highest overall grade in 2011 –

TALLAHASSEE – The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) 2011 State Teacher Policy Yearbook released yesterday awarded Florida an overall grade of “B,” highest in the nation, in its biennial report. This was up from a grade of “C” in 2009. The state also received high marks for making progress in policies and practices that govern the teaching profession.

“Ranking first in the nation is a tribute to our teachers and clear evidence of their commitment to continuous improvement when it comes to providing opportunities for high-quality education for our students,” said Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson. “School districts from Miami-Dade to Hillsborough to the panhandle are truly leading the nation. I congratulate Florida’s teachers and commend the successful leadership practices that are a catalyst for local change. I am confident we will continue to improve because of the courage and dedication of our educators to their students and their profession.”

Commissioner Robinson added that this significant recognition demonstrates statewide collaboration with teachers, superintendents, and education stakeholders as they work together to assure the best education for students.

The 2011 State Teacher Policy Yearbook includes NCTQ’s biennial, full review of Florida’s laws, rules and regulations that govern the teaching profession. This year’s report measures Florida’s progress against a set of 36 policy goals focused on helping states put in place a comprehensive framework in support of preparing, retaining and rewarding effective teachers. For the first time, the Yearbook includes a progress rating on goals that have been measured over time.

The 2011 State Teacher Policy Yearbook awards state grades in five individual categories. Florida boosted its grade in four out of five categories since 2009.

  • Delivering Well Prepared Teachers – “B-” (up from “C” in 2009)
  • Expanding the Teaching Pool – “B-“
  • Identifying Effective Teachers – “B” (up from “C-” in 2009)
  • Retaining Effective Teachers – “B-” (up from “C” in 2009)
  • Exiting Ineffective Teachers – “B+” (up from “C” in 2009)

To view Florida’s 2011 State Teacher Policy Yearbook, visit http://www.nctq.org/stpy11/reports/stpy11_florida_report.pdf (PDF)

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Who Packed Your Parachute?

Posted on January 23rd, 2012 by

Who Packed Your Parachute?

Last week, while on my school visits, I visited CREST School.  CREST provides a learning environment for both intellectually challenged and emotionally challenged students.  Before bringing me around the school, Principal Rich Hilgert and I met in his office where he looked at my identification badge and my lanyard which has a number of pins on it which represent school programs, memberships and our U.S. Flag at the top.  Mr. Hilgert looked at the pins and told me that I needed another. He then handed me a “parachute pin” and began telling me the story of former U.S. Navy Captain and P.O.W. Charles Plumb.

Capt. Plumb was a Navy Aviator jet pilot in Vietnam and after 75 combat missions his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison in Hanoi. One day after Plumb was released and returned to the U S, he and his wife were sitting in a restaurant when a man at another table came up to him and said, “You’re Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!”

“How in the world did you know that?” asked Plumb.

“I packed your parachute,” the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, “I guess it worked!” Plumb assured him, “It sure did. If your chute hadn’t worked, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Plumb couldn’t sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, “I kept wondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform: a white hat, a bib in the back, and bell-bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said Good Morning, how are you or anything, because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was “just a sailor”.

Plumb thought of the man hours the sailor had spent on a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn’t know.

Mr. Hilgert shared that each CREST staff member was given the same pin he handed me.  Mr. Hilgert said,  “at CREST we work hard to honor all our “parachute packers” every day.

Mr. Hilgert’s story of Capt. Plumb really got me reflecting more than ever about how critical each and every person in our districts plays a vital role in educating our students.  Our school district is filled with so many “parachute packers”, from our teacher aides, to our bus drivers, food service staff, maintenance staff, custodial staff, secretaries, district staff and many more.

Every student and teacher has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. Mr. Hilgert told me how Capt. Plumb also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory. He needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety.

At times in the daily challenges of life, we fail to realize what is really important. We may sometimes forget to say “hello”, “please”, or “thank you”, congratulate someone about something wonderful that has happened to them, give a deserved compliment, or just do something nice for no reason.

As you go through your day, your week, this month, this year, recognize people who pack your parachute.

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Leading International Educator Gives Lessons with Citrus County Teachers

Posted on January 18th, 2012 by

Leading International Educator Gives Lessons with Citrus County Teachers

Central Ridge Elementary Teachers Giving Presentation at Max Thompson Seminar in Levy County

Throughout the educational world and most certainly in Citrus County the name “Max Thompson” is well respected.  Dr. Max Thompson is the Project Director of the Learning-Focused Schools Model. His specialty is connecting exemplary practice in curriculum, instruction, assessment and school organization to increase learning and achievement in schools. He has authored numerous articles, chapters, teachers’ handbooks and guides. In addition, he has delivered a number of presentations and workshops across the United States, Canada, and in Europe.

Levy County School District is hosting Dr. Max Thompson and Levy Schools asked Citrus County’s own Central Ridge Elementary School Teachers and Principal Nancy Simon to join Dr. Thompson and share how the Learning-Focused Schools model works at their school to raise student achievement.

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Educators Making a difference: Citrus Teachers of the Year

Posted on January 18th, 2012 by

Making a difference

Three Cheers for our “Teachers of the Year”!!!

It’s time for Teacher of the Year and Support Staff Person of the Year in the Citrus County School District. Each year, schools select their own teacher/support person of the year. A panel of judges comprised of members of the Citrus County Education Foundation board, past winners and members of the school district decide the district-wide winners.  Here are current teacher-of-the-year winners.

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Art Teacher Art

Posted on January 18th, 2012 by

Art Teacher Art

Teachers Do Practice What They Teach!

Citrus County Schools Art Teachers often are displaying and showing off their students works.  They don’t often have an opportunity to show their own artistic talents.  The “Art Teacher Art” exhibit at the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum will be on display from January 17th, 2012 until February 17th, 2012.

The Feature Artists include: Diane Baize, Jinny Brew, David Brown, Cecily Buck, Jack Calbeck, Laurie Canfield, Cory Collins, CJ Collins, Brenda Dalton, Sheri Decesare, Jennifer Faust, Keith Gum, Holly Herndon, Polly Hilgert, Bonnie Ignico, Karol Kusmaul, Debbie Ledsome, Jack Lester, Joy Livingston, Lee Partin, Connie Philips, Candacie Schrader, Michelle Wirt, and Jinnie Zuniga

Exhibit hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00p.m. Monday through Friday, with a special evening exhibition from 5:00p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 26th, 2012.

The exhibit is free; however, donations are welcome and appreciated.

Some of the art work is for sale as well. For more information call 352-341-6436

 

 

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The New CRHS Health Academy

Posted on January 16th, 2012 by

The New CRHS Health Academy

Throughout Citrus County High Schools we have several “Schools within a School”.  The Citrus County High Schools programs include:  Business Academies at Citrus High School (CHS) and Crystal River High School (CRHS), Drafting Academies at CHS, CRHS & Lecanto High School (LHS), Web Design Academies at CHS, CRHS & LHS,  Art Academy at LHS, International Baccalaureate at LHS,  Environmental Science Academy and the CRHS Health Academy.

At the CRHS Health Academy the objective of the Academy of Health Careers is to encourage students to become health care workers and to assist students into post-secondary education in the pursuit of the health care career of their choice.

CRHS Students successfully completing Health Science 1, Health Science 2 and Nursing Assisting 3 with a grade of C or higher are eligible to take the Florida State Nursing Assisting Certification Test to become Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA). In addition, the Academy also has a Dental Assistant Program.

The CRHS Health Academy success continues to grow each year and, as a result, has outgrown the old CRHS buildings.  During the CRHS campus Phase II construction and renovation the old administration building has been completely remodeled into the new CRHS Health Academy.  This new facility has state of the art classrooms, examination and treatment rooms, dental labs and so much more.  Below is a sneak peak of the new facility that is not yet open.

 

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