September 2008 Update

Sept. 5, 2008

You could be a WINNER of this year’s Leonard Miller Principal Leadership Award! If you are a Principal who has, or is, participating in a Council program/activity and you have raised student achievement, empowered your staff and developed meaningful business and community partnerships, you are eligible. Last year’s Grand Winner won $10,000 and the Gold Medallion Winners won $5,000 each (more information on the Award and past winners follows). All award monies are for personal use. Access the Award application and find out more information about the Award here on the website.  The application  takes only an hour to complete. Award program and recognition event is sponsored by Baptist Health South Florida, Carnival Cruise Lines, Cobb Family Foundation, Edward W. Easton, Lennar Foundation,  Richard and Susan Finkelstein, and Akerman Senterfitt.

The Council’s Executive PASS© in Orange County had its  kick-off breakfast on Sept. 2 at the Hyatt Grand  Cypress. It was sponsored by the hotel’s General Manager and Executive PASS business leader, Paul Tang. There will be 9 Orange County partnerships this year. Pam Woulard, Senior Manager - Human Resources, Orange County Public Schools, was the speaker.

Several PASS© schools recently held special events to start off the new school year …
…Jeffrey Miller, Council Co-Chair, sponsored a joint PASS kick-off event on Aug. 15 for Holmes Elementary, Principal Dahlia Gonzalez, and for Hialeah Elementary, Principal Carolina Naveiras. Mr. Miller sponsors both PASS models. The event also celebrated Hialeah’s A grade. It was a C school when Mr. Miller’s PASS partnership started there. Among the special guests were Council President and Executive Director, Dr. Elaine Liftin, Miami-Dade Region Superintendent, Dr. Essie Pace, and leaders from Mr. Miller’s Weeks Gas Company. As is his generous tradition, Mr. Miller provided the students with supplies and backpacks.

… PASS partner Publix Super Markets Charities, Inc. hosted a PASS Celebration Luncheon for Winston Elementary on Aug. 14 to celebrate the school’s A grade. The Polk County school was a C when PASS started. Among the special guests were Publix Super Markets Charities Executive Director Sharon Miller, CEO mentor Hunt Berryman, Superintendent Dr. Gail McKinzie, PASS Coordinator Sherry Clarke, PASS Coaches Susan Turner and Vivian Underwood (retired), and Principal Terry Strong. Publix also generously sponsors the Council’s annual Florida Leadership Academies and Assistant Principal Leadership Forums.

…Gibsonton Elementary in Hillsborough had a PASS Kick-Off and Open House event on Aug. 14, attended by Principal Donna Marra, parents, students, staff and district leaders. PASS CEO Charles Blumenkamp was a special guest at the event, sharing information about the partnership plans for this year. PASS Coordinator Sherry Clarke represented the Council with Gibsonton PASS Coach Irene Betancourt. The students were treated to a special musical presentation performed by their parents.

…Gulfside Elementary in Pasco had their PASS kick-off at a two day open house on Aug. 26-27. PASS CEO Lew Friedland of Jireh, Inc., Principal Christopher Clayton, PASS Coordinator Sherry Clark and PASS Coach Joyce Haines all participated.

Council President and Executive Director, Dr. Elaine Liftin was invited by Florida Department of Education Commissioner, Dr. Eric Smith, to join his new education policy advisory group which will give the Commissioner input on topics facing the state in the upcoming year. The Advisory is comprised of educational leaders around the state and will have its first meeting on Sept. 22.

The Council thanks the Hillsborough School Board Members and Superintendent Mary Ellen Elia for their special PASS recognition at a School Board meeting on Aug.  5. At the meeting, new PASS partnerships and participating PASS CEO’s  were recognized and featured, including: Leto High School, Dick Lobo, CEO of WEDU; Gibsonton Elementary, Chuck Blumenkamp; and Palm River Elementary, Richard Waino, Port Director of the Tampa Port Authority. Mr. Lobo, Mr. Blumenkamp, Sherry Clarke and PASS principals and coaches all attended. The Council has implemented 11 PASS models in Hillsborough. The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay and Council Vice Chair and Foundation member Gene Marshall were instrumental in forming the PASS partnerships.

A complete, printable version of the Update is available for download below.