Former Director of PGCPS Parent Liaison Program to Head Up Department of Communications for Alexandria City Public Schools

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) Superintendent Morton Sherman is pleased to announce the appointment of Kelly L. Alexander to the position of director of community/school partnerships and communications.

"Ms. Alexander has a unique combination of community relations and communications experience that will be essential to successfully engaging the public in the transformation taking place in Alexandria City Public Schools," Dr. Sherman said.

She will assist the superintendent in the development, integration and implementation of the division's public/media relations, business partnerships and community outreach programs as a member of the Office of Strategic Initiatives and Community Outreach team. Ms. Alexander has nearly 20 years of communications experience, with expertise in media relations and public relations. She has led communications efforts for both nonprofit and corporate communications teams.

Ms. Alexander most recently served as the community outreach officer for Prince George's County Public Schools, where she initially began as the public information officer. During her six-year tenure, she developed and implemented strategies for internal and external communications between all stakeholders regarding parental engagement in schools. She created award-winning public awareness and marketing campaigns for this large urban school district, including The Communicator Award of Distinction for Media Placement (2005), The Communicator Award Honorable Mention (2005) for the 2004 PGCPS Annual Report and The MarComm Creative Award (2006) for the YES-Be cool, go to school! Public Awareness Campaign. Ms. Alexander created the district's successful "Everything You Need to Succeed" marketing campaign to highlight educational opportunities and student successes. She supervised more than 100 Parent Liaisons helping to engage thousands of parents each year in educational workshops, school events and classroom observations.

Prior to working in education, Ms. Alexander supported the corporate communications efforts of the National American Red Cross as a media relations manager and associate. She oversaw the national media launch of several life-saving programs and a myriad of national media tours and interviews at the American Red Cross. She also worked in community affairs for Prudential HealthCare of the Mid-Atlantic and in media relations for The George Washington University Medical Center.

Ms. Alexander earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism at The George Washington University.

STATEMENT FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT REGARDING THE GOVERNOR’S PROPOSED FY2012 BUDGET

The Governor’s proposed budget could leave Prince George’s County Public Schools with an additional 2.4% deficit of $20.8 million for FY2012. A cut of this magnitude would leave us with a total projected deficit of $85 million, which would have a devastating impact on our students, our staff, and our schools.

We understand that tough economic times force us to seek additional ways to trim the budget, and appreciate all that our state and county leaders have done to soften the blow to public education. Over the past two years, we have closely examined the way we do business, streamlined processes, and made painful cuts to staffing and non-instructional programs throughout the district. In developing our budget for the upcoming school year, we are continuing to look for additional opportunities to reduce operating costs and work more efficiently.

My priority and responsibility to this community is to request a budget that provides our students with the support and resources they need to succeed so that we can continue the academic gains of the past several years. While our goal is to “hold the classroom harmless,” additional cuts to the budget may impact successful academic programs and resources.We are grateful for County Executive Rushern Baker’s strong support of education, and will continue to work with our county leaders, parents, staff, and community members to ensure that our students get what they need to succeed as 21st century citizens.

"Your Money,Your Future" with Financial Educator Carmen Johnson

Cutting Back

As we settle into January and we start reflecting on our past 12 months, some of us may be thinking “I believe I may have spent too much.” This is the time to do an assessment on what are some things you can cut back on: Are you eating out too much? Are you spending too much money on unnecessary things? Just think what can you cut back on. How can you make this adjustment? These are things we should consider as we live through this recession. The reality is, it probably won’t get any better. I know you hear the housing market is going to get better or the dollar will regain its value, but the fact of the matter is you need to be prepared if it does not. So let’s take the time this year to cut back on all unnecessary things. You will be surprised how much you can save.

Carmen Johnson is the Founder and CEO of the Katie Able Foundation.

To find out more about Carmen Johnson visit http://www.katieablefoundation.org/

Parent Talk Discusses Foster Care Students and Education with Dr. Anita Reed

Parent Talk will discuss the challenges facing foster care students and their care givers with Dr. Anita Reed, Mental Health Therapist with Arlington County Public Schools.

Topic: How Can Public Schools Support The Academic Achievement of Foster Care Students

Date: MONDAY, January 24, 2011

Show Time: 8:30pm-9:00pm

Call In: 914.803.4591

Anita H. Reed, Ph.D, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and therapist who specialize in the treatment of adolescents, adults, and families. She has more than 23 years of experience serving at-risk youth and families as a direct service provider and also as a developer and analyst of programs and policy. She worked for Arlington County Department of Human Services for 14 years as a program manager and supervisor of child welfare staff. Her experiences with the Department spanned the continuum of services from prevention to foster care. For the past 9 years, she has worked as a mental health therapist for Arlington County Public Schools. She has also been an adjunct professor at Catholic University’s National School of Social Services (NCSSS) for 5 years, with a specific focus on child welfare policy. Dr. Reed graduated from Vassar College with a B.A in Sociology, received her Masters in Social Work from Columbia University, and completed her doctoral studies in Social Work at the National Catholic School of Social Services at Catholic University.

A conversation with Mrs. Irene Clements, President, National Foster Parent Association

Join Educational Gateway on January 10th for a conversation with Mrs. Irene Clements, President, National Foster Parent Association.

Mrs. Clements will outline the challengs facing foster care parents in their efforts to ensure a quality education for foster care children living in their home.

BIO

Irene and her husband, Billy, fostered for 27 years and adopted four children. Irene has 34 years experience working within the child protection system, both as a foster parent and as an advocate for foster families and the children they serve. Irene is also the President of the Texas Foster Family Association and is Vice President for Advocacy for Lutheran Social Service of the South, Inc.

Forest Of The Rain Productions has an exclusive interview with Dr. Charlene Dukes, President of Prince George's Community College

Forest Of The Rain Productions has an exclusive interview with Dr. Charlene Dukes, President of Prince George's Community College can be heard on The Journey Begins Internet Radio for the engaged parent and dedicated educator.


BIO

Dr. Charlene M. Dukes is the eighth and first female president of Prince George’s Community College and has twenty-eight years of progressive leadership experience and administrative responsibility in higher education. With more than 40,000 students, Prince George’s Community College offers more than 200 credit and workforce development programs. She holds membership in a variety of professional organizations, including serving as a founder and lead faculty member for the Community College Student Development Leadership Institute under the auspices of the National Council on Student Development, an affiliate of the American Association of Community Colleges; the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators through which she served on the National Academy Board; the Council of Law in Higher Education; and the Maryland Network, an affiliate of the Office of Women in Higher Education/American Council on Education. Additionally she serves on the Diversity and Inclusion Council of the American Association of Community Colleges, the Lifelong Learning Commission of the American Council on Education, and the Presidents’ Round Table, an affiliate of the National Council on Black American Affairs.

From 2002 through 2006, she served on the Appointed Board of Education of Prince George’s County and chaired the Student Support, Student Appeals, and Personnel Committees. In May 2007, she accepted an appointment from Governor Martin O’Malley to serve a three-year term on the Maryland State Board of Education and was elected in July 2009 as vice-president of the Board. In October 2007, the African-American Alumni Council of the University of Pittsburgh recognized Dr. Dukes as an Outstanding Alumnus, and in 2008, she received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In 2009, she received the “1St Ladies Award” given by Radio One and My Sister’s Keeper Organization and the “Luminary Award” from the Prince George’s County Black Chamber of Commerce.

She has participated in the Executive Leadership Institute sponsored by the League for Innovation, Women in Leadership sponsored by the Office of Women in Higher Education/American Council on Education, and the National Leadership Academy sponsored the Association of Community College Trustees. She has also served as adjunct faculty at the Community College of Allegheny County in the English Department, at Prince George's Community College in Developmental Studies, and at Morgan State University in the Community College Leadership Doctoral Program.

She is a member of the board of directors of the Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce, the Business Round Table, the Harlem Renaissance Foundation, College Summit, and a lifetime member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Dr. Dukes has a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with an English concentration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s and Doctorate in Administrative and Policy Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. She resides in Glenn Dale, Maryland with her son, Maurice Dukes, a student at Howard University.

Martin Luther King Day an Inspirational Moment: By Dr. Stephen Jones

The celebration of Martin Luther King Day is a reminder of what it takes to change the world. One person invested in a deeply inspiring vision of a new way of life prevailed in the midst of adversity. Dr. King envisioned a time when everyone would be judged by the content of their character not the color of their skin. It’s ironic that more than 40 years later America still struggles with issue of race.

American’s elected President Barak Obama but this country still struggles with what his election represents. Some say we’ve made progress and others remain resistant. Even members of his own democratic party have not consistently supported President Obama. Every move that he makes is placed under a microscope. For example, his attempt to comfort Americans after the attack on Senator Gifford and others who lost their lives was twisted. It was a passionate speech which caused the audience to cheer and feel comforted. The President remained somber throughout the celebration of life. Dr. Martin Luther king would have approved. Sometimes it appears that America is a country that is looking for a way to remain divided. There is a great need to forge past political agendas and focus on decisions that are in the best interest of the country.

It is evident that Dr. Martin Luther King had many challenges during the time that he was alive. There were often competing interests that affect how fast America would change. Dr. King spent time preaching how people need to treat each other because of personal events he witnessed while living in the south. There were separate bath room facilities for people of color and they could not eat at the diner counter. Dr. King felt that these prejudices must change. In his day social action involved boycotting buses. It’s time for American’s to slow down to respond to social injustices that still occur every day.

Martin Luther King was a scholar and an educator. He taught thousands in the community to pursue more education. His leadership led to a whole generation of teachers and scientists who broke color barriers in companies all over the country. Today we can find these individuals in the executive suites of corporations all across America. There are black and Hispanic professionals who’ve started businesses and witnessed changes in society as their companies have grown.

Dr. King would be amazed at the progress that’s occurred during the 21st century. If he were alive today he would be amazed at the internet. The internet changes the speed at which people respond to an event or crisis. There are millions of responses to social issues. The ability to create a blog or tweet information has changed the way that thousands are communicating their opinion. The current technology allows millions to read about Dr. Martin Luther King’s life. The internet is accompanied by its own challenges. Last year, Ms. Shirley Sharrod was removed from the Department of Agriculture when her comment s where posted on the internet. They were deemed discriminatory. After a careful review she was cleared by hear office.

No one can deny that Dr. Martin Luther King was a man with a mission. It was a mission that was powerful that it touched the nation’s heart. When several children were killed during bombing it made it clear that the mission would not be complete without a fight. No mission that is worth fighting for is won easily. Today we must move forward with determination to make things better for everyone.

It’s important to continue to celebrate Martin Luther King Day and to acknowledge his contribution to society. Dr. King was a trailblazer in terms of demonstrating the leadership characteristics that we should all adapt. America’s cities are in desperate need of leaders who can transform they way that we communicate and live.

"Your Money,Your Future" with Financial Educator Carmen Johnson

The After the Holiday Blues

The tree has come down, the lights outside are dim and all of your relatives have gone home. However you hear a constant whining, a whimpering if you will but you can’t identify the source.

You scramble and run all around the house frantically as the soft cry turns into a loud wail. Finally! You stop and realize that the noise is coming from your wallet. That’s right, YOUR wallet. It’s been abused and misused this past holiday season.

You’ve taken it through some un-expected changes; over-spending on holiday items, using your credit card way too much and now your wallet has nothing left to give. What do you do? How can you mend your broken relationship?

Start by giving your wallet a break… Let you wallet fall in love with having money inside of it at least for a little while…

The extra money that you spent, pay it back to yourself. Subtract the amount of what you actually spent from your original budget. Whatever the difference is, that’s the amount that you should save.

Make A Vow to Your Wallet… that this will never happen again. That you won’t leave it empty or forget the loud cry it makes when it’s neglected.

Carmen Johnson is the Founder and CEO of the Katie Able Foundation.
To find out more about Carmen Johnson visit http://www.katieablefoundation.org/

The White House

President and First Lady, Vice President and Dr. Biden, Cabinet Secretaries, Senior Administration Officials to Honor Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

WASHINGTON, DC – In celebration of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and in honor of Dr. King’s life and legacy, the President and the First Lady, the Vice President and Dr. Biden, Cabinet Secretaries, and senior Administration officials will participate in memorial events and community service projects in the Washington, D.C. area, Atlanta, Georgia and elsewhere.

Led by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the King Center, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is an opportunity for all Americans to come together to help meet the needs of their communities and make an ongoing commitment to service throughout the year. This year’s Day of Service will include thousands of projects in all corners of the country.

“Martin Luther King, Jr. lived his life for others, dedicating his work to ensuring equal opportunity, freedom, and justice for all,” said President Obama. “I encourage every American to observe this holiday in honor of Dr. King’s selfless legacy by volunteering in their own communities and by dedicating time each day to bettering the lives of those around us.”

For more on the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service, please visit the Corporation for National and Community Service at www.mlkday.gov .

Please see below for a list of Cabinet Secretaries and Administration officials who will be participating in memorial and community service events in the Washington, D.C., area, Atlanta, Georgia and elsewhere. Any inquiries on the below events should be directed to the corresponding agency or office.

• The President and First Lady will participate in a service project in Washington, D.C. Further details are forthcoming.
• The Vice President and Dr. Biden will participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service in Wilmington, DE. Further details are forthcoming.
• On January 13, Secretary Robert Gates attended the Department of Defense’s National Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Observance Program in the Pentagon Auditorium in Arlington, Virginia.
• On January 15, Attorney General Eric Holder will deliver remarks at the Shiloh Baptist Church annual Martin Luther King Jr. prayer breakfast in Washington, D.C. On January 16, he will deliver remarks at the Ebenezer Baptist Church worship service in Atlanta, Georgia.
• On January 13, Secretary Ken Salazar, District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton visited the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial to view progress underway at the worksite. The memorial, which is currently under construction, is expected to be completed in 2011. Secretary Salazar was joined by Harry E. Johnson Sr., President of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation on the walking tour.
• On January 13, Secretary Tom Vilsack will attend a celebration in the Jefferson Auditorium located at the Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. from 10 to 11 a.m. The ceremony will feature Reverend Leroy Gilbert of Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, located in Washington D.C., as the keynote speaker.
• On January 18, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will speak at the opening convocation of the Howard School of Divinity. Her remarks will focus on the Affordable Care Act as a victory for civil rights.
• On January 17, Secretary Arne Duncan will keynote at a breakfast with Reverend Al Sharpton and the National Action Network in the morning and will participate in a service project with City Year at Kramer Middle School, 1700 Q Street, SE, DC in the afternoon.
• On January 17, Secretary Ray LaHood and White House Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes will join Department of Transportation employees and other volunteers for Martin Luther King Day of Service events at Ballou Senior High School. As part of President and First Lady’s continued call to engage in community service, Secretary LaHood, Director Barnes and students from Ballou Senior High School and George Washington University will paint murals, cover up graffiti, clean up around the school and assist in other projects that will enhance the learning environment for students.
• On January 18, Secretary Steven Chu will host a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration in the auditorium at the Department of Energy. Dr. Clayborne Carson, a professor at Stanford University who has devoted his life to the study of Dr. King and his teachings, will be the keynote speaker. Students from McKinley Technology High school will be in attendance.
• On January 17, Secretary Eric Shinseki will serve meals at So Others Might Eat (S.O.M.E.) in Washington, D.C.
• On January 17, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson will attend a breakfast with Reverend Al Sharpton, followed by a Kid Power Inc. Citizen Farm Community Service Event at Tubman Elementary School in Washington, D.C.
• On January 18, Ambassador Ron Kirk will deliver remarks at a Martin Luther King Jr. reception at the World Bank.
• On January 17, Office of Management and Budget Director Jack Lew will participate in a City Year New York service event at Intermediate School 292 and join over 1,700 volunteers taking part in City Year New York/AmeriCorps activities in Brooklyn and across New York City.
• On January 9, Surgeon General Regina Benjamin delivered the keynote address at the 29th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration at the Johns-Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.
• On January 17, Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams and Deputy Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet will prepare and serve dinners at Miriam’s Kitchen in Washington, D.C.
• On January 14, at 10am, the Peace Corps will host the Duke Ellington High School Show Choir to honor the memory and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• On January 14, GSA Administrator Martha Johnson will participate in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building Rededication in Atlanta, Georgia. GSA Rep. John Lewis will keynote the event.
• On January 12, the CIA held a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration where Director Leon Panetta made an address. The event also featured poet and activist Nikki Giovanni and a performance by the US Air Force Band Brass Quintet.
• On January 17, USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah will prepare, serve, and share in a community meal with over 60 guests who are experiencing homelessness and hunger with the Youth Service Opportunities Project at the Church of Epiphany, 1317 G St NW, Washington, DC.
• On January 17, Corporation for National and Community Service CEO Patrick Corvington will speak at the 18th Annual Hands On Atlanta Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Service Summit, an event which will include a service project to package up to 10,000 food boxes for hungry Georgians as well as learning sessions on important community issues.
• On January 14, CEO Corvington headlined a national conference call and roundtable with African American media hosted by White House Media Affairs. The Corporation for National and Community Service will also promote many MLK Day initiatives including Drum Majors for Service, the “MLK Day 25 Challenge: What are You Doing for Others in 2011” initiative, and MLK Day Ambassadors.
• On January 17, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) will perform a home maintenance project for a “Gold Star” family – those who have lost a loved one in Iraq or Afghanistan. Director Gil Kerlikowkse and other ONDCP staff will do a variety of projects, including painting, light plumbing work and light carpentry, at the homes of several Maryland Gold Star families. ONDCP is also conducting a staff diaper drive and will deliver all contributions to a diaper bank to be distributed to needy families.
• On January 17, White House Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes will join hundreds of George Washington University Students to participate in school beautification projects at five D.C. public schools. Barnes will deliver remarks on Dr. King’s legacy and the importance of service as a solution to our nation’s toughest challenges.

In St. Louis, Group Tries To Help Poor Students