The Core

Outstanding Students Recognized by Florida College System
Florida College System Month (formerly Florida Community College Month) kicked off with a bang on April 8, 2010, as the 2010 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-Florida Academic Team was honored during an awards ceremony at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando. Florida College System Chancellor Dr. Willis N. Holcombe recognized the team members for their exceptional academic achievement, leadership and community service. The All-Florida Academic Team is comprised of students nominated by their respective colleges to the All-USA Academic Team competition sponsored by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, the Florida Association of Community Colleges, the Florida College System Foundation, PTK, the International Honor Society for two-year colleges, and USA Today. This year's team consists of 103 outstanding students representing Florida's 28 state, community and junior colleges, one independent college and one independent university. For a complete list of the 2010 Phi Theta Kappa All-Florida Academic Team, visit http://www.fldoe.org/CC/Students/PTK_team/Newsletter/voltwo.asp. Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, visit http://www.ptk.org/.

Save the Date! Virtual STEM Career Fair Approaching
Join science, technology, engineering and mathematics experts as they talk about their profession during the first-ever Department of Education/Florida Virtual School STEM Career Fair on April 28, 2010. Middle and high school students can hear first-hand from scientists and biologists, video game experts and engineers on what it takes to be successful in their careers. Using Elluminate Technology, each speaker will have a block of time, ranging from 30 minutes to one hour, to share personal stories and answer questions from students curious about what it takes to enter that specific profession. Contact Kelsey Lehtomaa with the Florida Department of Education at Kelsey.lehtomaa@fldoe.org or (850) 245-9645 if you have questions or would like more information.

New Literacy League Book Club Selection Announced
The first Literacy League book club podcast is now available on iTunesU for downloading. In the podcast, author Julianna Baggott, writing under the pen name N.E. Bode, answers questions from middle school students about her book, The Anybodies, and details her background as an author. Each quarter, the Department's Literacy League book club will connect prominent authors with students through a question-and-answer session about a featured book. To view the first-ever Literacy League program, visit http://www.floridaitunesu.com.

The second book in the Literacy League book club is "Any Which Wall" by Laurel Snyder. In addition, the author has donated a limited number of the book that will be distributed to schools. To request a copy of the book, schools can send an e-mail to LiteracyLeague@fldoe.org; books will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

To participate in the Literacy League, students are encouraged to read the featured book and then submit their questions in text or video form to LiteracyLeague@fldoe.org. Students may also send questions by mail to the Department of Education's Communications Office at 325 W. Gaines Street, Suite 1524, Tallahassee FL, 32399-0400. Videos can be accepted in WMV, MPEG or Quick Time formats. The deadline to submit questions is May 13. For more information about the Department of Education's Literacy League, visit http://www.fldoe.org/literacyleague.

MAST Academy Selected As Commencement Challenge Finalist
The White House and the U.S. Department of Education have announced that MAST Academy in Miami-Dade County is one of six finalists in the Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge. The Commencement Challenge was issued in late February and invited public high schools across the country to submit applications showing their dedication to preparing students to graduate ready for college and career choices. Applications were judged based on the school's performance, four essay questions and supplemental data.

Over the next few weeks, each school's students will work with the Get Schooled Foundation to create a short video highlighting how the school best fulfills the Challenge's criteria. The video, along with the school's application, will be featured on the White House Web site and the public is invited to vote for the three schools they think best meet the President's goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020. The President will select a national winner from among the three finalists and will visit the winning high school to deliver the commencement address later this spring.

To watch a video of the schools being notified of their selection, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/notifying-commencement-challenge-finalists. For more information about the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/commencement.

Floridians Urged To Return Census Forms
With less than a week before the 2010 Census mail back phase ends, the Florida House of Representative's Office of Reapportionment is urging all citizens to return the 2010 Census forms as quickly as possible. To aid in identifying people missed by the census, a new Web site has been established at http://www.MyFloridaCensus.gov that allows anyone in Florida to enter their home address and zip code and indicate whether or not they have returned their 2010 Census forms. Legislative leaders can then work with their census partners to ensure that every citizen is counted.

Each Floridian not counted means between $900 and $3,000 in lost Federal funds, so it is extremely important everyone fill out and return the 2010 Census forms. If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to feedback@myfloridacensus.gov.

Mathematics Professional Development Opportunities Available
To support the new internationally-benchmarked Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for K-12 Mathematics, quality teacher professional development opportunities are available this summer. Below is a list of just a few of the opportunities already scheduled for summer 2010:

PROMiSE Summer Institutes for teachers and administrators - Already launched is its third year of professional development for teachers. Visit http://www.flpromise.org for more information.
Response to Intervention Teaching and Learning Connections - Multiple sessions for teachers and coaches featuring Algebra Success Keys (ASK) and Keys of Problem Solving (KoPS) that focus on research-based strategies and resources that address algebraic thinking and problem solving to support students who struggle with learning higher order mathematics content and skills. Visit http://www.RtITLC.ucf.edu.
Just Read, Florida! Summer Institutes - Discipline-specific summer institutes that will help identify literacy needs and strategies to enhance teaching and learning. Visit http://www.justreadflorida.com/spdi.asp for more information.
Career and Technical Programs Summer Academy - Professional development for career and technical mathematics education teachers to integrate Algebra I and STEM-related industry programs. Visit http://www.fldoe.org/workforce for more information.
Northeast Florida Educational Consortium Summer Academies - The Students Understanding Math and Science (SUMS) project hosts multiple training opportunities for teachers and administrators. Visit http://www.nefec.org/services/service.asp?id=17 for more information.

In addition to the professional development opportunities listed above, the following tools are or soon will be available:

PROMiSE professional development modules for mathematics and science. Visit http://www.flpromise.org for more information.
Standards Database for the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards - Provides access to K-12 mathematics standards, the Course Code Directory and the Resource Repository. Teachers can also access Test Item Specifications for grades 3-8. Visit http://www.floridastandards.org/index.aspx for more information.
Mathematics and Science Model Lessons - The first two modules in a series of six provide models of standards-based teaching and learning in mathematics and science, and illustrate the effects of applying the problem-solving process within a Response to Instruction/Intervention framework. Model lessons for the first two modules will be posted prior to May 1, 2010, and modules for middle grades and high school will be posted later this summer. Visit http://www.fldoe.org/ese for more information.
Resources from the Office of Mathematics and Science - The Department of Education's Office of Math and Science supports students, teachers, schools and districts with resources for mathematics and science instruction. Visit http://www.fldoestem.org/center13.aspx for more information.

Seeds of Success

Developmental Education Initiative Grants Announced
The Division of Florida Colleges has awarded six $30,000 grants as part of the Developmental Education Initiative, a three-year program designed to improve outcomes for students in developmental education programs. The grant is funded by MDC, Inc., a North Carolina-based research and development company working to strengthen the workforce, foster economic development and remove barriers between people and jobs. The six colleges will use the funds to diagnose specific academic needs and provide customized courses that allow students to progress at their own pace in college credit coursework. In addition, five colleges submitting a grant proposal will receive $5,000 from the Division's Achieving the Dream program to assist student groups that traditionally face significant barriers to postsecondary success.

The six colleges receiving Developmental Education Initiative grants are:

Florida State College at Jacksonville
Miami Dade College
North Florida Community College
St. Johns River Community College
St. Petersburg College
Santa Fe College

The five colleges receiving Achieving the Dream grants are:

Central Florida Community College
Chipola College
Edison State College
Indian River State College
South Florida Community College

For more information about the Developmental Education Initiative Grants and the Achieving the Dream program, contact John Hughes, Associate Vice Chancellor for Evaluation, at john.hughes@fldoe.org.

Chipola Brain Bowlers Win Third State Title
The Brain Bowl Team from Chipola College claimed its third straight state title in the Florida Community College Activities Association (FCCAA) State Tournament last month at Brevard Community College. The Chipola team finished the initial round robin with a perfect 9-0 record and won the championship in the second round against Valencia Community College. Three team members - Dallin Kelson, Cody Pickens and Ethan Hewett - also scored among the top 10 individuals in the tournament. For more information about the FCCAA Brain Bowl, visit http://flccaa.org/.

Polk County Student Overcomes Disability To Win National Award
Lyudmilla Fuentes, an eighth grade student at Rochelle School of the Arts in Polk County, is one of 27 students in the nation to win a 2010 "Yes I Can" award from the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). Lyudmilla is an accomplished musician, despite being born with only a thumb on her left hand. She plays the cello with the strings reversed using her right hand and moves the bow with the help of a prosthesis on her left arm. She will be honored at the 2010 CEC convention on April 23 in Nashville, Tenn. Lyudmilla is also an accomplished soprano, earning state and county honors in chorus, is a member of the National Junior Honor Society, was selected to participate in a space education program at NASA and is a member of the school's robotics team. She plans to pursue higher education in music, engineering and architecture. To learn more about the CEC and the "Yes I Can" award that recognizes individuals for overcoming disabilities to accomplish remarkable things, visit http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home.

Branching Out

Online Suicide Prevention Training
www.bakeracttraining.org

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), in partnership with the Florida Mental Health Institute at the University of South Florida, has developed an online training course to help reduce incidents of suicide in the state. The course is based on research and best practice recommendations that are widely accepted among mental health professionals. The training is available to anyone at no charge and is offered alongside several training modules on Florida's Baker Act. The courses and more information can be found at http://www.bakeracttraining.org. If you have questions about the training course, contact Jackie Beck with the DCF Bureau of Adult Mental Health at (850) 921-5699.

2010 Connections Conference
April 21 - 22, 2010
EpiCenter
St. Petersburg College
St. Petersburg, Fla.

The fifth annual Connections Conference will be held April 21 - 22, 2010, at St. Petersburg College with the theme, "Developmental Education and Beyond." The conference is sponsored by a Developmental Education Initiative grant from MDC, Inc. and provides an opportunity for college faculty and staff to network, share and learn from their colleagues in the fields of developmental education and student support. For more information about the conference, visit http://www.fldoe.org/cc/connections/ or contact John Hughes, the Florida College System Associate Vice Chancellor for Evaluation, at john.hughes@fldoe.org.

School Choice Regional Parent Town Hall Meetings
April 27, 2010 - Parental Involvement
May 25, 2010 - Stop the Summer Slide

A series of town hall meetings will provide parents with information about the variety of public school choices available for their child's education and ways they can partner with schools to support academic success. The meetings, sponsored by the School Choice Parent Advisory Council in coordination with school district representatives and staff from School Choice Parent Resource Centers, will be held regionally in Quincy, Jacksonville, Orlando, Miami and Tampa. For further information about the town hall meetings, including locations, visit http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/Information/vpsc/.

VISIONS XVII Conference
April 28 - 30, 2010
Westin Hotel
Lake Mary, Fla.

The Florida Special Needs Association and the Florida Federation Division on Career Development and Transition announce their annual VISIONS XVII Conference, "A Life of Possibilities." Sessions include middle, high and postsecondary school initiatives, career and technical education, business and employment, interagency collaboration and more. For more information about the conference, visit http://coe.fau.edu/fldcdt/. Conference questions can be directed to Gerald Frisby with the Florida Special Needs Association at frisbyg@daytonastate.edu. For questions about registration, contact Patrick Mulvilhill, Registration Chair, at (352) 262-2502 or PatMFL@aol.com.

2010 Florida Literacy Conference
May 5 - 7, 2010
South Seas Island Resort
Captiva, Fla.

The Florida Literacy Coalition will hold its 2010 Conference in Captiva on May 5 - 7, 2010, with the theme of Open Books Open Minds. Concurrent sessions will provide practitioners and volunteers with tools and resources that enhance literacy programs throughout the state. Dr. Brenda Dann-Messier, Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education for the U.S. Department of Education, will deliver the keynote address at the opening general session. For further information about the conference, visit http://www.floridaliteracy.org/floridaliteracyconference.html.

Florida School Counselor Association Summer Academy
June 25 - 27, 2010
The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village
St. Augustine, Fla.

"School Counselors: Preparing for a New Decade" is the theme for this year's Florida School Counselor Association Summer Academy. The Academy will provide relevant and quality professional development for school counselors on topics that include data, accountability, the electronic Personal Education Planner (e-PEP) and more. For more information about the conference, visit http://www.fla-schoolcounselor.org/2010Academy/.

Interdisciplinary Center for Ongoing Research/Education (ICORE) Summer Institute
July 11 - 23, 2010
University of Florida
Gainesville, Fla.

The University of Florida Center for Precollegiate Education and Training is now accepting applications for an exciting new professional development opportunity for Florida high school teachers. The Interdisciplinary Center for Ongoing Research/Education (ICORE) partnership aims to engage teachers in hands-on research with scientists to identify, understand and manage emerging pathogens, incorporate the ideas into classroom-ready modules, and present the results of their experiences to colleagues at professional meetings. There is no registration fee, however seats are limited. For further information, visit http://www.cpet.ufl.edu/ICORE/default.html or contact Julie Bokor at julie@cpet.ufl.edu or (352) 392-2310.

2010 Florida Literacy Conference
May 5 – 7, 2010
South Seas Island Resort
Captiva, Fla.

The Florida Literacy Coalition will hold its 2010 Conference in Captiva on May 5 – 7, 2010, with the theme of Open Books Open Minds. Concurrent sessions will provide practitioners and volunteers with tools and resources that enhance literacy programs throughout the state. Dr. Brenda Dann-Messier, Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education for the U.S. Department of Education, will deliver the keynote address at the opening general session. For further information about the conference, visit www.floridaliteracy.org/floridaliteracyconference.html.

Florida School Counselor Association Summer Academy
June 25 – 27, 2010
The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village
St. Augustine, Fla.

“School Counselors: Preparing for a New Decade” is the theme for this year’s Florida School Counselor Association Summer Academy. The Academy will provide relevant and quality professional development for school counselors on topics that include data, accountability, the electronic Personal Education Planner (e-PEP) and more. For more information about the conference, visit www.fla-schoolcounselor.org/2010Academy/.

Interdisciplinary Center for Ongoing Research/Education (ICORE) Summer Institute
July 11 – 23, 2010
University of Florida
Gainesville, Fla.

The University of Florida Center for Precollegiate Education and Training is now accepting applications for an exciting new professional development opportunity for Florida high school teachers. The Interdisciplinary Center for Ongoing Research/Education (ICORE) partnership aims to engage teachers in hands-on research with scientists to identify, understand and manage emerging pathogens, incorporate the ideas into classroom-ready modules, and present the results of their experiences to colleagues at professional meetings. There is no registration fee, however seats are limited. For further information, visit www.cpet.ufl.edu/ICORE/default.html or contact Julie Bokor at julie@cpet.ufl.edu or (352) 392-2310.

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