CELEBRATING AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK

CELEBRATING AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK (November 14-20)

A MESSAGE FROM NANCY S. GRASMICK, STATE SUPERINTENDENT

MARYLAND’S EDUCATION:

PREPARING ALL STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE, CAREER, AND LIFE

Maryland’s education is on the cusp of metamorphosing once again into yet an even stronger system; giving every public school student an opportunity to realize academic success that will better prepare them for college, career, and life.As we celebrate the 89th annual American Education Week (November 14-20), we highlight the importance of providing every child in America with a quality public education.

In Maryland, we have achieved success on the national level – a feat that makes us tremendously proud. It was the hard work of our students, educators, and leadership that saw Maryland achieve a number one national ranking two years straight for our overall education system, for our Advanced Placement performance, and for having the most rigorous high schools. Now, as we take a glimpse into the future, we know we have to offer an education system that raises the education floor and provides every student with a world class education.

In August, Maryland was one of nine states and the District of Columbia to receive a Race to the Top (RTTT) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. We are thrilled that Maryland received $250 million to continue building upon its already solid record of school reform. So, what exactly does that mean?

It means Maryland will adopt new Common Core State Standards, Curriculum, and Assessments to ensure students – kindergarten through grade 12 – have the knowledge and skills for global competition and success in college and the world of work.Our new reform efforts also mean that Maryland will build a statewide student information system providing parents, teachers, and administrators with better data about their students, schools, and school systems. We will provide additional resources and support to ensure that every classroom and school is led by highly-effective teachers and leaders. We will be working hard to improve low-achieving schools, and we will increase Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) resources starting at the elementary level through high school.

This is a tremendous task, but our new reform efforts will lift our students well beyond the basics – with the expectation that all students and educators will have the tools to be successful for life.During American Education week, our schools invite everyone to visit during their open houses to observe first-hand the high-quality learning that already takes place and to observe the commitment and dedication of our students, teachers, and leaders.

I am confident that, working together, we will move Maryland’s education from national leader to world class leader.

There Is No Letter “I” In The Word Success

I recently had the opportunity to view a re-broadcast of the November 11, 2010 Board of Education meeting. It was interesting to hear the farewell comments from Board members. I was disappointed that none of the current Board members thanked former employees who have lost their jobs or those remaining employees who were furloughed over the past two years for their hard work and dedication. According to a member of the BOE, PGCPS has become a leader in education reform. Such a lofty accomplishment did not come without the sacrifices of former and current employees and their families.

It is because of the work of many of those who are no longer in the system that the reforms have moved forward. The work of those men and women were ignored by members of the Board. I am ashamed that the amazing work of hundreds of people who were forced to leave their jobs due to reasons out of their control were not acknowledged by one single Board member. The failure of the BOE to recognize these individuals may not symbolize a sense of superiority on behalf of the BOE or the current school administration, but supposes a sense of aloofness or worst a disdain for those who do not have a voice.

Whatever successes this administration or BOE champions it did not come without the support and hard work of parents and families. Parents in this system have lost avenues to become engaged. Parents have seen doors closed in their faces. Attempts to silence their voices have reached epic proportions ranging from the lost of Parent Liaisons to the elimination of parental engagement programs and services. However, parents continued to push for an active role in the educational process. Parents and members of the community have respectfully demanded their concerns are addressed. As payment for their support parents only expect a high performing school district with academic rigor and sustainable student achievement through all grade levels.

Finally, parents want a responsive BOE and not one that practices what I call "The Tin Ear Approach". During what I can best describe as an “I” party, the BOE and this current administration failed to acknowledge any role in the successes of Prince George's County Public Schools other than their own.

Please consider joining me and my guest panel on a special Parent Talk, as we examine some of the challenges confronting our school system and how the new BOE will tackle these issues.

Parental Engagement and Prince George's County Public Schools?

“While schools are striving to prepare our students for the 21st century, many are doing so without aligned parent and community engagement practices”

(Arne Duncan, 2010).

Just two short years ago Prince George's County Public Schools was on the cusp of becoming a national model in the area of parental engagement. PGCPS was recognized by the Harvard Family Research Project for its innovative approaches to parental engagement. The efforts of Prince George's County Public Schools according to the Harvard Family Research Project identified the school system as an exemplar in family involvement and community outreach.

The parental engagement programs and services implemented in the system by the defunct Department of Family and Community Outreach ushered some amazing levels of parent and community engagement. In a two year span parents and community members supported the schools with nearly three million dollars in volunteer hours. This number far exceeds any similar data reported by other school districts in Maryland. One would be hard press to find any data on the number of volunteers in the schools.

In the year 2008, the Department of Family and Community Outreach created Men Make A Difference Day. This remarkable one day invitation to men and significant male role models resulted in over 10,000 fathers and other male role models visiting schools. The successful first year of the program was followed by another successful outpouring of dads and male role models visiting our schools and meeting teachers. The significance of this event cannot be measured simply by the numbers on that day, but by the continued involvement of these men throughout the school year and beyond. Fathers and overall male engagement increased significantly. In many cases their involvement increased by as much as an 80%. The example of increased male engagement represents a desire of parents in Prince George's County to be actively involved in the academic lives of their children.

However, over the past year and half we have witness a systematic dismantling of the core of parental engagement in Prince George's County Public Schools. The system has moved away from a more centralized approach to parental engagement to one that is de-centralized. This approach has resulted in a haphazard method of parental involvement. Parents no longer have a central office to contact as it relates to parental engagement, instead parents are expected to contact their neighborhood school’s principal, who have now been charged with the overall aspects of parental engagement. While this appears like a wonderful concept, it only served to add an additional expectation onto a workforce that is already in the opinion of many over tasked. Traditionally, principals have served as the parental involvement gatekeeper for their schools, however, they were not charged with the expectations of managing systemic goals and objectives for parental engagement that exist in all other schools districts in Maryland.

When one examines the efforts of Prince George's County Public Schools to have a real partnership with parents, one only need to look at the organizational structure of the system. There is no centralized office were parents can seek support for issues or concerns. There is no designated parent and community web page designed to support their inquiries. Recently, the Department of Student Services has been re-named the Department of Student Engagement and Parent Support. What does this mean? How was the public notified of this change? Does this now mean there are those within the department specifically assigned to support parents? Has a unit within the department been created with an objective to increase parent involvement?

As an individual who has studied and been involved in parental engagement and student services for over 25 years, I concur with research that suggest when parents are informed they have a higher level of engagement.

Currently, in the Prince George's County Public Schools there is little evidence of a willingness to keep parents informed beyond the superficial. Given what appears to be a reluctance of Prince George's County Public Schools to offer authentic opportunities for parents to engage and become informed, beyond a few community sessions with the superintendent what are parents to do? Perhaps the answer lies in the questions proposed to a panel of experts and the United States Secretary of Education Mr. Arne Duncan at a recent National Policy Forum for Family, School, and Community Engagement, held in Washington, DC.

These questions represent an excellent starting point for the newly elected Board of Education to begin its work on establishing a better working relationship with parents and members of the community.

• What does the future of family and community engagement look like in Prince George's County Public Schools?
• How will you incorporate federal, state, and local policies to create systemic family engagement Prince George's County Public Schools?
• How can student performance data be used to connect families and schools in a significant way?
• What roles can families play in transforming low-performing schools?

This is my opinion....what is yours?

http://hfrp.org/family-involvement/publications-resources/seeing-is-believing-promising-practices-for-how-school-districts-promote-family-engagement

National Anti-Bullying Week

Anti-Bullying Week sends a clear and positive message that bullying is neither acceptable or inevitable in our schools and communities. Anti-Bullying Week 2010 will take place from 15-19 November. This year we are looking at the importance of Taking action together.

Taking action to stop bullying

Bullying will only stop if we take action together but we know that significant numbers of children and young people who witness bulling still don’t tell anyone or take action to stop it. It might also be parents and carers, other adults and schools and communities who turn a blind eye or don’t take action to stop bullying.

What really works?

We think the majority of children, adults, schools and communities do want to do something to tackle bullying. The problem is that sometimes it can be hard to know who to tell, who can help and what strategies really work.

This year’s Anti-Bullying Week resources pack is packed with information and advice about who to approach and what works in different situations. The pack is free to download and includes guidance for parents, teachers, school leaders, youth workers and those working with children and young people in a range of settings.

Get your school ready for Anti-Bullying Week

Anti-Bullying Alliance supports schools and other settings to plan and deliver their Anti-Bullying Week in the following ways:

• A free resource pack for schools and other settings
• Anti-Bullying Week stationery available from our shop
• Screensavers and desktop wallpapers designed by our competition winners
• Lesson plans and assemblies from ABA members and others
• Information on local and national events
• ABA resources from previous years

For the latest news about Anti-Bullying Week and tips on how you can help tackle bullying keep checking our website. To receive email updates send an email with the subject 'ABW updates' to aba@ncb.org.uk

Parent Talks Discusses Financial Literacy and Fatherhood

Parent Talk is a weekly radio show for families and members of the community who aspire to become an integral part of their children’s academic success. Parent Talk is hosted by Michael A. Robinson. Parent Talk is a live interactive broadcast, were listeners have the opportunity to call in and ask questions of the host, guest or to simply comment on the topic of the day. Parent Talk can be heard every other Sunday evening from 8:30pm to 9:30pm (EST).

Our first guest Carmen Johnson Katie Founder/CEO will discuss Financial Literacy Over a decade ago Carmen R. Johnson, President and CEO of the Katie Able Foundation, wrote these famous words: "Do something to justify your existence. Together we can create the future.” With these words in mind, Ms. Johnson decided to pursue her mission of empowerment through financial freedom by first creating her for-profit business Able Estate & Co., and now with the establishment of Katie Able Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to commemorate her grandmother, for whom the Foundation is named. With her experience working in Corporate America and armed with her background in accounting, Ms. Johnson has a wealth of experience in credit counseling, debt elimination and debt relief, and thus has become an expert in debt negotiation and creating wealth.

Our second guest is Dr. Jeffery M. Johnson President and CEO of the National Partnership for Community Leadership(NPCL). Dr. Johnson and host Michael Robinson will discuss Effective Ways To Engage Fathers

Jeffery M. Johnson is President and CEO of the National Partnership for Community Leadership (NPCL). As a national nonprofit intermediary organization, the mission of NPCL is to strengthen the service capacity of nonprofit and community-based agencies to empower youth and families. Prior to his work at NPCL, Dr. Johnson spent nearly two decades as a senior manager and management consultant in the private and public sector. Dr. Johnson is a nationally recognized authority in the areas of leadership, employment and training, urban poverty and youth employment. A particular focus of Dr. Johnson’s work has been on the plight of African-American men and families. He is regularly invited to testify before the United States Congress on matters pertaining to low-income fathers and strengthening families.

Kimberly K. Parker: Process vs. Product: The Joys of the Means to an End

Process vs. Product: The Joys of the Means to an End

Parents are the most goal-minded individuals I have ever encountered. But, of course! We must ensure schedules and plans are in place to help us effectively govern our day-to-day activities. I dare not exhaust the “things-to-do list” filled with household management items, J-O-B deadlines, and children activities. It seems to never cease! Typically, moms and dads wake up with a clear picture of how the day will end…before it begins!

Spontaneity, which is not my “friend”, backed me into a corner one evening as I extended the invitation to play Scrabble® with my son…on a school night! Merely seconds away from hyperventilating after coming to my senses (a school night?), I grabbed the game with haste, removed it from the box, and positioned myself comfortably on my living room floor. My son was thrilled, to say the least. Guardedly he stated, “Momma, but it’s a school night. This is cool!”

Our game commenced and for the next fifteen minutes the flow was quite nice. Suddenly, in the midst thereof, I felt an overwhelming urge to read the rules. I just had to be certain that we were honoring the intentions of its creator precisely. While my objective was to win, attaining victory properly was my true purpose! My son, who was waiting patiently to resume playing, turned to me and said, “Momma, can we please just have fun?”

It does not take much for me to pump my breaks! Such a simple request from one who was in this Scrabble® competition for the sheer love of playing with his Momma! Then, it dawned on me: I was operating with a perfectionist mentality and was missing out on the joys of spending time with him in this manner. I was focused on the product (playing and winning the game as designed) and not the process (the loads of fun I could have with my son).

Once I dropped the paper and pushed it to the side, I was able to relax and have a ball! Now, some of the words we created surely did not exist, but who cared? Sore stomachs, tussling over a letter or two, and praying for a chance to use the letter “Q” filled the remainder of our evening. LOL! What a great, spontaneous, non-hyperventilating moment from that point forward! And, I totally became “one cool Momma!”

I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to share your comments with me. Thank you.

Kimberly K. Parker is an author and blogger living in Maryland with her husband and three children. Visit her website at www.writingmomma.com to read more about her and the work she is doing in her community.

Special Educational Journal

Greetings Engaged Parents and Dedicated Educators,


This is an Educational Journal discussion you do not want to miss. Mothers and daughters are encouraged to participate in this incredible night of conversation.

Parents and PGCPS is proud to announce a special edition of Educational Journal this Wednesday, October 27, 2010 from 7:00pm-8:00pm. This special edition of Educational Journal will focus on African American women.

Our first guest is Shirley Henderson, Associate Editor of Ebony Magazine. In its September edition, Ebony saluted the amazing royalty of African American women with its annual feature of the Campus Queens of HBCUs. Ebony showcased 35 Queens of HBCUs in its Campus Queens Online poll. Ebony wanted to make this a very unique and memorable salute to the Majesties of HBCUs and thus allowed its readers to vote on their favorite queens. In a close, but exciting race, the top ten vote getters were profiled in style with photos taken by celebrity photographer Derek Blanks. What we saw and read was a mosaic of beauty, brains, charisma and hopefulness for the future. Ms. Henderson will share the vision behind her amazing article and the photos of the remarkable Campus Queens of HBCUs with host Michel Davis-Robinson.

In part two of this special educational Journal, we have invited Judge Mary Terrell to discuss the importance of engaging young African American women early with regards to education, life goals and career aspirations. Judge Terrell is an educator and youth advocate. She has spent over 20 years training teachers, administrators and developing educational programs for inner city youth to deter them from the criminal justice system. Her experiences and deep concern for our youth led her to create The High Tea Society, Inc., a non-profit organization for inner city girls ages 9-18 who attend the District of Columbia Public Schools and live in economically challenged communities. The goal of the High Tea Society is to increase the economic and social mobility of inner-city girls from economically disadvantaged areas through exposure to music, literature, poetry, history, career planning, self-esteem workshops, etiquette, and alternative lifestyles. Through various programs, the HTS promotes civility and the development of the social skills needed to be successful in a civil society and in the global community.


Be sure to join us for a remarkable night as we discuss the uniqueness of African American women.

When: October 27, 2010
Time: 8:00pm-9:00pm (EST)
Call in number: 1 (914) 803-4591
Website: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/educationaljournal

Parent Talk

Sunday, October 31, 2010

PARENT TALK

Parent Talk is a weekly radio show for families and members of the community who aspire to become an integral part of their children’s academic success. Parent Talk is hosted by Michael A. Robinson. Parent Talk is a live interactive broadcast, were listeners have the opportunity to call in and ask questions of the host, guest or to simply comment on the topic of the day. Parent Talk can be heard every other Sunday evening from 8:30pm to 9:30pm (EST).

Our guest Ms. Kim Armstrong will talk with us regarding gang violence and education. She will share how a personal tradgey has impacted her life and how she is now empowering other parents to confront violence.

Show Date: October 21, 2010

Show Time: 7:30pm-8:30pm

Call In Number: 1 (914) 803-4591

Website: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/educationaljournal

Kimberly K. Parker Talks About The Chore Challenges

Chore Challenges

Instilling a true sense of responsibility within our children is a goal my husband and I embrace. Initially, I assigned my children the task of cleaning their respective bedrooms. From there, I moved onto other household chores like assistance with the dishes, laundry, lawn, and the bathrooms. Considering the extent of my “to-do” list, I never reject helping hands...no matter how small.

On occasion, my beckoning for assistance was met with resistance. The children quickly asked to be pardoned because, “There’s only five minutes left of the show, Momma!” Then there were times when they reluctantly obliged the request. The deep sighing, overdramatized body language, and slight mumbling clearly indicated that the interruption was inopportune.

Eventually, their frustration was beginning to be met with ours! The lectures (“How many times have we…?”), warnings (“OK! I’m going to conduct a spot check!”), and even idle threats (“You won’t see an after-school dance if...!) were beginning to take its toll. Frankly, I had gotten tired of hearing myself fuss!

Instituting change in my children’s behavior started with changing my behavior. The old adage “If it is to be, it’s up to me!” addresses an often dismissed truth. While it is very easy to point a finger at them, the three fingers pointing back at me reveals who is the most responsible party. So I pondered a way to achieve the results I desired while annihilating the aggravation.

As is my custom, I awaken my family daily. One particular morning, I added a twist: I announced that I had an important announcement to make in thirty minutes. Rapidly, all three children were out of the bed and making their way to the bathroom. Twenty minutes later they were dressed and sitting in their seats asking, “What’s the news, Momma? Tell us!”

I took my time and chose my words carefully in an attempt to build the excitement...and it worked! After side-barring a time or two, I finally said:

Ladies and Gentlemen, the winner of the Cleanest Bedroom Award is…

With dropping draws and widened eyes, my children looked as if they had seen their favorite TV star! As the winner claimed his token of appreciation, my other two children were positioning themselves to win the next time. But, there was a twist: the next announcement would not be about bedrooms, but another category just as important. This way, they will focus their attention completely on the tasks assigned and work hard to complete them all!

Since that day, I’ve given out the “Initiates Homework” award to the child that does her homework without being asked, “Do you have homework?” and the “Yes, Ma’am” award to the child who responds to my requests without debate. I love the change I see in myself and my children! I have minimized my frustration and they have maximized their accountability.

If you find your situation mirrors mine, consider using this “system”. I sure hope it works for you, too.

Kimberly K. Parker is an author and blogger living in Maryland with her husband and three children. Visit her website at www.writingmomma.com to read more about her and the work she is doing in her community.

Parental Engagement with PGCPS Welcomes Mrs. Kimberly K. Parker as it's First Guest Blogger

Hello Engaged Parents and Dedicated Educators,

Parents and PGCPS is proud to announce the addition of our first guest Blogger, Mrs. Kimberly Kay Parker. Mrs. Parker will share her views on subjects germane to family, community and education. Her blog postings will appear monthly initially, but will soon become a bi-weekly staple for all engaged parents and dedicated educators to read and enjoy. To read Kimberly's work visit Parental Engagement with PGCPS.

BIO

Kimberly is a published author and the owner of Writing Momma Publishing (http://www.writingmomma.com/). She embraces the notion that “writing renews the mind and liberates the soul!” Before Kimberly became an author, she worked as a manager for a very reputable Washington, DC based non-profit organization. With the birth of her first child, she resigned to become a Stay-at-Home Mother and for over nine years she basked in the joy of raising four beautiful children. In 2007, Kimberly returned to the workforce in the field of education. Kimberly is dedicated to a life of service! She understands the importance of charity and models her life accordingly. In 2006, she established the DeBraux Parker Foundation, a non-profit organization on a mission to stimulate, build, and sustain a diverse community of young writers who find commonalities in a shared passion for ideas. Kimberly is married to Reverend Kenneth Anthony Parker who, she attests, "...is the epitome of beauty and compliments my life beautifully." Together, they lovingly nurture and train their four children: Bricen Anthony, Khalil DeBraux, Kalonji Ameer, and Kalani Kay, who are all gifts from God!