November 10, 2011 |
Vol. 5, Issue 23 |
News Slices
Florida Continues Upward Trend on Nation's Report Card
The 2011 results on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Reading and Mathematics assessments shows that Florida fourth grade students continue to outpace the nation in reading, and fourth and eighth grade Hispanic students earned higher average scale scores in both reading and math than their national counterparts. Additionally, fourth grade Hispanic students, students with disabilities, and students eligible for free or reduced price lunch scored higher than the national average in mathematics, and eighth grade Hispanic students scored higher than the nationwide average in mathematics. These scores continue Florida's steady upward progress in both reading and mathematics since 1998. For more information about Florida's 2011 NAEP scores, visit http://www.fldoe.org/news/2011/2011_11_01.asp and http://www.fldoe.org/asp/naep/.
Orange County Teacher Wins Milken Educator Award
Lamar Fowler, a math teacher at Maynard Evans High School in Orange County was honored with the Milken Educator Award last week in Orlando. Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson was on hand, along with Milken Family Foundation Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley, to present the award to the stunned educator during a school assembly. The award comes with a $25,000 cash award and the recipient is invited to join the Milken Educator Network, a group of distinguished educators whose expertise serves as a valuable resource to fellow educators, legislators, school boards, and others invested in shaping the future of education. For more information about the Milken Educator Award and the Milken Family Foundation, visit http://www.mff.org.
Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind Names New President
The Board of Trustees for the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind has appointed Dr. Jeanne Glidden Prickett as the school's next president. She succeeds L. Daniel Hutto, who will retire in April 2012. Dr. Prickett currently serves as the Superintendent of the Iowa School for the Deaf and brings nearly 40 years of experience in deaf/hard of hearing and blind/visually impaired education. She earned her bachelor's degree in education for the visually handicapped and elementary education from Illinois State University, and holds a master's degree in education for the hearing impaired and a doctorate degree in special education from Illinois State University.
Florida Virtual School Invites You to WorldFest
The Florida Virtual School (FLVS) is hosting a unique interactive virtual event that treks across the globe in an international showcase of art, music history, holidays fashion and more. In collaboration with Ayusa Global Youth Exchange, FLVS Global School students and FLVS student clubs will showcase how virtual learning eliminates boundaries in ways never before imagined. Join in anytime on Dec. 6 - 7, 2011, between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. to hear inspiring speakers, meet your peers and find out about virtual learning around the globe. The event is free. To find out more or to register, visit http://www.flvs.net/areas/studentservices/worldfest/worldfest_2011.html.
Applications Sought for the Florida Student Education Policy Conference
Florida C.A.N. (College Access Network) is now accepting applications for college and university students interested in participating in the 4th Annual Florida Student Education Policy Conference Feb. 23-26, 2011, at the University of South Florida in Tampa. The conference provides Florida students with an opportunity to research, debate and develop ideas for improving the education system in Florida. All interested students currently attending a state college or university are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is Dec. 2, 2011. More information and the application are available at http://www.floridaeducationnetwork.org.
KidCare Act Out for Health Contest Accepting Entries
The annual KidCare Act-Out for Health Contest is still accepting student entries for television public service announcements, billboards and essays. Students in grades 4-12 are eligible to design a billboard, write an essay or create a 30-second commercial that promotes a healthy lifestyle. Lesson plans for teachers are also available. The deadline to submit an entry is Jan. 6, 2012. For more information, visit http://www.actoutforhealth.org.
"Teens Only" Town Hall Meeting Seeking Nominations
The "Teens Only" Town Hall Meeting and Youth Commission is seeking nominations for students to participate in the "Teens Only" Town Hall Meeting next January in conjunction with Children's Week. Middle or high school students interested in participating should submit an application by Nov. 18, 2011, to be considered. Selected students will attend the meeting and serve a one-year term as members of the Youth Commission to address issues related to children's services. For more information about the "Teens Only" Town Hall Meeting and Youth Commission, including the student nomination form, visit http://www.childrensweek.org/index.php?page=events&menu=kidsonlytownhallmeeting or contact Jason Zaborske at (850) 251-7274 or by email at info@childrensweek.org.
Hillsborough County School Board Member Receives National Honor Hillsborough County School Board member Candy Olson was awarded the 2011 Richard R. Green Award at the Council of Great City Schools' 55th Annual Fall Conference in Boston on Oct. 27, 2011. The award is the nation's highest honor for urban education leadership and is named in honor of the first African-American chancellor of the New York City school system. Olson was first elected to the Hillsborough County School Board in 1994 and currently serves as the vice-chair. Leon County Student Chosen as Top Young Marine in Florida First Sergeant Kaytron T. Coker, a junior at Amos P. Godby High School in Tallahassee, was chosen to be the Young Marine of the Year by the First Florida Regimental Selection Board. She competed against two other highly qualified candidates and was judged on her academic standing, the amount of community service time provided to her hometown, and on her Young Marine career. OOrrraaahhhh!! Brevard Principal Presented with Award of Excellence Dr. Pamella O'Kell, principal of Apollo Elementary School in Brevard County, was presented with the 2011 Award of Excellence in the Administrator category from the Florida After School Alliance. The award is given annually to an administrator who has embraced and supported the after school program at his or her school. Hillsborough County Teacher Earns Gold Medal at the Pan Am Games B.T. Washington Elementary School physical education teacher Emil Milev recently won a gold medal in the 25 meter Men's Rapid Fire Pistol at the 2011 Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. The Hillsborough County teacher scored a record-setting 24 hits and earned a spot to compete for the 2012 U.S. Olympic team. If successful, he will head to London to compete in the Olympic Games next year. Milev also earned a bronze medal at the World Cup in Munich, Germany and is this year's National Champion. He is a former Olympic silver medal-winner for Bulgaria in 1996 and competed in the Olympic Games in 2000, 2002 and 2004. Seminole County School Earns Top Spot in National Technology Ranking Crooms Academy of Information Technology in Seminole County was named number one in the U.S. News and World Report's "Most Connected Classrooms" ranking. The school scored 88 out of 100 points on the magazine's "connectivity index" designed to gauge available student to computer ratios, Internet speed, technical support staff and digital learning labs. Crooms Academy of Information Technology is a magnet school focused on teaching and learning in a technology-enriched environment. Polk County Student Performs in Concert Lyudmilla Fuentes, a student in the Central Florida Aerospace Academy at Kathleen High School in Polk County, recently performed a lyric soprano pre-concert before the Florida Orchestra took the stage for its "Concert in the Park." Fuentes is the VSA (formerly known as Very Special Arts-Florida) co-winner of the 5th Annual 2011 VSA Florida Young Soloist Competition. She will represent Florida in an international competition in Washington, D.C., later this year. For more information about VSA Florida and how they provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities, visit http://www.vsafl.org. Miami Dade College President Receives Carnegie Award Miami Dade College (MDC) President Eduardo J. Padrón has been awarded the prestigious Centennial Academic Leadership Award by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Padrón was selected for innovations that contributed to a culture of success that produced impressive results in student access, retention and graduation rates, and overall achievement. The award includes a $500,000 prize that can be used at the winner's discretion to support academic initiatives. For more information about the award from the Carnegie Corporation, visit http://carnegie.org/news/press-releases/story/news-action/single/view/carnegie-corporation-honors-freeman-a-hrabowski-iii-and-eduardo-j-padron/. Daytona State College Awarded Grant from Mexican Government The Mexican government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has awarded $16,600 to Daytona State College to provide scholarships and financial assistance to Mexican-American and international students from Mexico who are enrolled in the college's credit and adult education programs. The scholarship, sponsored by the Institute for Mexicans Abroad, will help up to 150 students enrolled in GED (General Educational Development), ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), and other adult education programs pay for classes and expenses such as testing fees, educational supplies and textbooks. The program also allows as many as eight low-income students enrolled in college level courses to receive a scholarship up to $1,000 each. Pensacola State College Alumni Honored with State Recognition David Andrews, a 1976 Pensacola State College graduate, was recently honored with the LeRoy Collins Lifetime Achievement Award by the Association of Florida Colleges (AFC) during the AFC Convention in Naples. Andrews is now a dean and professor with the School of Education at Johns Hopkins University. The award is presented annually to the community college graduate who embodies the spirit of former Florida governor LeRoy Collins. Chipola Graduates Named Phi Theta Kappa Hites Scholars Chipola College graduates Mary Beth Alderman and Caitlyn Prichard are among 10 community college students from six states named recipients of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Hites Transfer Scholarship. Alderman and Prichard are the only Florida students to receive the scholarships worth $7,500. The award assists community college transfer students in their attainment of baccalaureate degrees. For more information about the PTK Hites Scholarship, visit http://www.ptk.org/?q=become-a-member/scholarships/hites&destination=node/28591. Applications are being accepted for the 2012 awards until Dec. 1, 2011. To learn about other scholarships available from PTK, visit http://www.ptk.org/become-a-member/scholarships. |
| Branching Out |
|
15th Annual Florida Charter School Conference Nov. 14 - 16, 2011 DoubleTree Hotel at the Entrance to Universal Orlando Orlando, Fla. Anyone interested in the success of charter schools and the choice they give students in Florida should plan to attend the Florida Charter School Conference Nov. 14 - 16, 2011, in Orlando. Explore more than 100 exhibitors and attend 48 breakout sessions to discover what works for high-quality charter schools. For more information about the conference, visit http://www.charterschoolconference.com/. School Choice Expo Nov. 16, 2011 2:00 - 7:00 p.m. DoubleTree Hotel at the Entrance to Universal Orlando Orlando, Fla. The Florida School Choice Expo offers families an interactive "Carousel of Choice" by creating an informal atmosphere where parents can ask questions and communicate directly with state and district education leaders. Breakout sessions will highlight the wide array of school choice options available, such as career academies, charter schools, home education, magnet schools, scholarship programs, military family choice and virtual education. For more information, including how to participate or register as an exhibitor, visit www.floridaschoolchoiceexpo.com or contact Laurie Levine at lauriewlevine@gmail.com. Florida Rehabilitation Council Quarterly Meeting Nov. 16-18, 2011 Embassy Suites Tampa, Fla. The Florida Rehabilitation Council will host its Quarterly Meeting Nov. 16-18, 2011, in Tampa. On Nov. 18, there will be a public forum for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) customers, staff, vendors and interested individuals to share their VR experiences, success stories, and ask questions related to working in partnership with VR. For more information, contact the Florida Rehabilitation Council at (850) 245-3397 or FRCcustomers@vr.fldoe.org. For accommodations at the meeting, please contact the Florida Rehabilitation Council three to five days before the meeting. Please check the website at www.rehabworks.org for updates including possible location changes. FCR-STEM Conference Dec. 2 - 4, 2011 Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa Destin, Fla. The Florida Center for Research in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (FCR-STEM) is hosting its second FCR-STEM Conference Dec. 2 - 4, 2011, in Destin, Fla. The conference is specially designed for K-12 educators who teach Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) subjects, and will feature dozens of speakers and more than 75 workshop sessions focusing on STEM and lesson study. Also scheduled are keynote addresses from prominent experts in education, including higher education and faculty researchers, practicing educators, working scientists and lesson study professionals. For more information on speakers, registration, accommodations and other details, visit http://www.lsi.fsu.edu/centers/fcrstem/conference/index.html. Technical Assistance Meeting to Become a Supplemental Educational Services Provider Dec. 9, 2011 Hilton Orlando Orlando, Fla. The Florida Department of Education's Bureau of Federal Educational Programs will host the 2012-13 Request for Applications Technical Assistance Meeting Dec. 9, 2011, in Orlando. The meeting has been designed for potential applicants and current providers interested in becoming state-approved Supplemental Educational Services providers for the 2012-13 school year. For more information about the meeting or hotel accommodations, visit http://www.fldoe.org/flbpso/. If you have questions or need additional information, contact Samantha Love at (850) 245-9947 or via email at samantha.love@fldoe.org. Transitions 2012: High School to Higher Education January 27, 2012 Lynn University Boca Raton, Fla. Join national experts to discuss tactics for helping students with learning differences transition from high school to higher education at the Transitions 2012 conference on Jan. 27, 2012. Renowned learning differences expert Rick Lavoie, Debbie Phelps, mother of Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps, and Ellen Goosenberg Kent, producer of an HBO documentary on learning differences headline the day-long conference along with breakout sessions that include adaptive technology demonstrations and discussions about students with autism and other learning differences. For more information, visit http://www.lynn.edu. The conference is designed for guidance counselors, principals and administrators, special education teachers, parents and students. |
For more information on this electronic newsletter, please e-mail thecore@fldoe.org.