114 Miami Edison Students to Attend Opera

Contact: Sisty Walsh, VP, Administration & Communications
sistywalsh@aol.com  954.727.9909 or cell: 754.214.4568

MEDIA ADVISORY — April 22, 2008

Council for Educational Change Executive PASS© Business Leader Arranges Cultural Activity for Students and Their Families

Miami—Keith Ward made a very special delivery to Miami Edison High School on April 15th.
He brought tickets for 114 fortunate students and 10 chaperones to attend a special performance of the Florida Grand Opera’s Julius Caesar. For many of the students, they are much more than opera tickets.  They are also a passport to a new cultural and educational experience. In preparation, the students have been studying opera, history, and Shakespeare to fully appreciate the performance. He saved one ticket for himself to go with the students to the performance.

Where: Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
               1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
When:   April 24, 7:30 p.m. (groups arrive at 7:00 p.m.)

As an alum and special supporter of Edison, Mr. Ward (box right) works with Principal Jean Teal in the Council for Educational Change’s Executive PASS model and program.  Executive PASS pairs prominent business leaders with principals to work on school improvement and leadership, infusing business strategies into their work.  There are currently 29 partnerships in Miami-Dade and another 12 in Hillsborough.

Mr. Ward graduated from Edison High in 1976. Since October of 2007, he has been working with Dr. Teal to help empower her educational leadership, raise student achievement and also to offer students opportunities to expand their horizons through cultural events and activities. He is a committed partner and communicates frequently with Dr. Teal. Mr. Ward is particularly adept at working with, and uniting the faculty, staff and parents to support increased student achievement and success.  He believes in tangible goals and measuring outcomes.  He also believes in the students.

“The students are amazing.  This is an inner city school and the students face a lot of challenges, but they share the same dreams and aspirations of all our youth. They want to learn and to succeed. They just need someone to care and to support them,” said Mr. Ward.  “My goal is to connect the students to new experiences and a wider world.”

The outreach programs of the Florida Grand Opera, Arsht Center, New World Symphony and Miami-Dade Public Schools Parent Academy have enabled Edison students to broaden their learning environment.  Mr. Ward made it possible for students to attend the Russian National Orchestra and an upcoming London Philharmonic concert.  He brought the band director and seven band members to a New World Symphony performance featuring Itzhak Perlman.  (Mr. Ward is a former Edison band Drum Major.)  He insists on high expectations for students and staff, and supports these expectations through his Executive PASS work.

His work with Dr. Teal focuses on leadership.  “Leadership is where it all starts and ends,” says Mr. Ward.  “That’s why Executive PASS has a special appeal for me.  It is a leader-to-leader program—a true partnership.” 

The Council for Educational Change is a statewide non-profit educational improvement organization, successor to the Annenberg Challenge, focused on school-based leadership.  It develops and implements business education—partnerships.  It has garnered nearly $4 million from partners and donors for programs benefiting Miami-Dade schools.

Please visit the Council website for more information about our work:  www.changeeducation.org.