April 2009 Update
Apr. 3, 2009
On April 1, the Council held an Executive PASS© Networking Meeting for Miami-Dade business leaders and their Principal partners. More than 50 participated including from the Council: Board Member and Executive PASS partner Keith Ward, Board Member Roger Slade, President Dr. Elaine Liftin, Executive PASS Coordinator Boots Richards and other team members. The group shared effective partnership strategies and ways that Executive PASS can help schools during these challenging times. Charles Porter, BNY Mellon Wealth Management, and a Council Board Member, hosted the meeting. In Miami-Dade, Executive PASS is sponsored by the John S. and James L. Knight, South Florida Youth and SWS Charitable, Foundations.
Two more Executive PASS Networking Meetings are planned. The first will be held on May 1, for Orange County partners. It is sponsored by the Rosen Hotels and Resorts and Rosen CFO Frank Santos. The Harris Rosen and Nemours Foundations sponsor Executive PASS in the Orlando area. The Hillsborough Networking Meeting will be held on May 4 at JPMorgan Chase. Mary Ann Fullerton, VP of JPMorgan Chase Treasuries is hosting the event. JPMorgan Chase is a Council partner.
The Annual PASS© Meeting is slated for April 15 in Tampa. It will be hosted by WEDU President and CEO Dick Lobo, who is also a PASS CEO, at the WEDU station. At the meeting, PASS CEO’s, Principals and Coaches will share best practices for implementing and sustaining a successful model. There will also be a PASS CEO panel discussion, led by Council Board Co-Chair and PASS CEO Jeffrey Miller, on ways that PASS strategies and funding can most effectively support school improvement during the budget crisis. Invited guests should RSVP to the Council at 954.727.9909, if they haven’t done so already. Raymond James Financial is the statewide PASS sponsor. The Florida Legislature and the Wachovia Foundation also support PASS. The Semi-Annual Council Board Meeting, led by Council Chair Steve Saiontz, will follow, same location, at 1:15 p.m.
The Helios Education Foundation and the Council will launch a new grant program, partnered with the Hillsborough District, at Sligh Middle School, on May 6 at 1:00 p.m. The grant will develop and retain new/beginning Science and Math teachers at the secondary level. Helios, Council and District leadership will attend the program launch. The Helios Education Foundation is the largest philanthropic organization serving Arizona and Florida focused solely on education. It is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals in Arizona and Florida by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education and its community investments are made across three impact areas: Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years (grades 5-12) and Postsecondary Education. Since 2004, Helios Education Foundation has invested over $62 million into education-related programs and initiatives.
On March 24th, the Council conducted the Master Scheduling Forum attended by some 56 school-based participants from 16 schools from around the state. The Council’s Forum was partnered by the FLDOE. In addition to Dr. Elaine Liftin and FLDOE Chancellor Dr. Frances Haithcock, there were special guests from district and FLDOE leadership ranks. Schools attending were chosen by the FLDOE through the Differentiated Accountability system. The Forum offered presentations and interactive sessions on using scheduling as a tool to improve student achievement and deliver tailored instruction. National experts and mentors helped guide the learning. The event was sponsored by Carnival Cruise Lines, Lennar and Publix Super Markets Charities.
S. A. Hull Elementary and Reynolds Lane Elementary in Duval held PASS Staff Appreciation events on March 27. Russell Newton, Jr., the PASS CEO for both schools, attended each event. As a guest speaker, he provided background and insight into the current economic situation. He also stressed the importance of educational leadership to help schools, students and staff during these difficult times. PASS Coordinator Sherry Clarke, PASS Coach Frances Gupton and Duval Executive Director for Turnaround Schools Jackie Byrd, attended both events where the staffs were recognized for their efforts and achievements. Ms. Byrd is the former Principal of Reynolds Lane and the winner of the Council’s 2005 Leonard Miller Principal Leadership Award.The Council has partnered with Etraffic Press to make online educational resources available to educators at no cost. The resources available at SchoolWAX.com, the homework directory, and SchoolWAXTV.com, a school-safe video sharing site, provide free quick online references approved by teachers for students. It offers help with lesson plans, incorporating multimedia into the classroom, professional development, and networking with other educators. Etraffic is a longtime Council partner.
PASS funding and targeted activities boost achievement
The crack was getting wider and deeper.
If Kevin fell through, he might never make it out. A third grader at Gulfside Elementary, Kevin was reading two years behind grade level. As a lagging and also a special needs student, it was imperative to jumpstart his academic progress and give him the support he needed to achieve.
Principal Christopher Clayton and the Gulfside staff at the Pasco County school in Holiday, particularly the third grade team, were committed to give Kevin (not his real name) all the help they could muster.
ACADEMIC CLUB
Through hard work, and a PASS funded Academic Club, after twenty weeks, Kevin’s Reading jumped more than one grade level. His teachers report he is thriving—academically, socially and at home.
“There’s not a lot of available funding right now for special programs. It’s a struggle,” said Mr. Clayton. “The PASS funding is an unbelievable benefit. It also comes with flexibility to design and fund programs that meet the needs of our school, staff, students and community. I can’t say thank you enough.”
It was important to use the PASS funds wisely, he explained, matching dollars and effort to the needs of struggling students in specific areas—Reading in 3rd grade, Writing in 4th and Math and Science in 5th. The unique five student-to-one teacher ratio was critical to its success. Similar district funded programs have a ratio of 12-15 students-to-one teacher.
PASS CEO INFLUENCE
It is not only the funding that Mr. Clayton appreciates, but the active role and input from his CEO Mentor Lew Friedland, CEO of Jireh, Inc. The Gulfside PASS is funded by the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay.Together, Principal Clayton and Lew Friedland planned the PASS activities and goals. They monitor progress regularly, meeting once a month and communicating often. “We have a great relationship,” explains Mr. Clayton. “Lew is a role model, especially in the area of community outreach. I have learned a lot from observing his involvement in causes and campaigns and I have really stepped up my involvement. It pays off in enlisting external help, support and good will for the school.”
Mr. Clayton credits his staff when he talks about accomplishments or future plans. Teachers meet frequently in groups and by grade levels to plan and monitor student performance data. “What impresses me most about a teacher is the one who ponders after hours about what went well that day and what they can do differently to improve the lives of their students. This has become a focus for the work my PASS Coach Max Ramos has been doing with teacher leaders,” says Mr. Clayton.
Parental involvement, although hard to achieve, is worth the effort, according to Clayton. As an example, he shared that Kevin’s parents were encouraged to become more involved in his academic success. As Kevin’s skills grew, he blossomed and developed more confidence, both socially and academically. His parents responded with more interest in his school work. They are now regular fixtures at the school, learning how to better support Kevin’s progress.
Mr. Clayton plans to use PASS funding next year to continue the Club. He also wants to use the funding for professional development for the teaching staff, aligned to subject content and best practices. This is the second year of his PASS model.
A complete, printable version of the Update is available for download below.
