March 2009 Update
Mar. 6, 2009
On Feb. 11, the Council participated in the Helios Foundation’s Community Engagement Reception. The event informed the community about the Foundation’s work in the Tampa Bay area. The Council received a grant from the Helios Foundation to develop and retain new Science and Math teachers at secondary schools in the area. The program is based on the Council’s Teachers and Teaching Initiative (TTI), which mentored novice teachers. Lynneice Bowen, a former TTI mentee and now Secondary Science Coach in Hillsborough, spoke at the event. Council Educational Advancement VP, Dawn Wilson, attended.
On February 11th Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi hosted a meeting to kick-off the Executive PASS program. In attendance were Principals, business leaders, Miami Lakes Chamber leaders, and Miami-Dade College – North Campus administrators. The Mayor announced his partnership with Miami Lakes Middle School and Principal Joaquin Hernandez. The Mayor stressed the need for business leaders to not only raise funds, but also mentor students in these challenging times. Executive PASS Coordinator Boots Richards and Consultant Maria Kramer, who spearheads the efforts in Miami Lakes, attended.
Congratulations to… Council Board Member and Florida Board of Education Chair, T. Willard Fair, who was appointed to a national task force for dropout prevention…Council Board Member Phil Blumberg, who was on the CNBC Squawk on the Street, “The Next Crisis,” sharing his expertise on commercial real estate. He is the Chairman and CEO of Blumberg Capital Partners.
The Council thanks Executive PASS© business leader Art Noriega for participating in a panel at the Leadership Miami’s Education Fair on Feb. 7, sharing program information with 100 participants. Executive PASS Coordinator Boots Richards also attended.
The Council’s Historian Project studied select Florida Leadership Academy© teams—Principal, AP and teacher—who applied the learning and leadership plan developed at the event, back at their school. On Feb. 28, Project participants shared the Academy’s positive impact on student achievement and school culture. The Academy was sponsored by the FLDOE. The meeting was held at the Orlando Rosen Centre Hotel and sponsored by the Harris Rosen Foundation--special thanks to CFO Frank Santos.
Council President and Executive Director, Dr. Elaine Liftin, presented information on PASS before the Senate and House Appropriations Committees as part of the their budget decision-making process. PASS addresses the state goal to improve student achievement, bringing added resources through effective public-private partnership, with maximum accountability.
The PASS© model at North Dade Middle School was kicked off at a special event on Feb. 19th. This PASS is sponsored by Chuck Ridley, Executive Director of the Community Crusade Against Drugs, who will work with Principal Lowell Crawford. Among the special guests was Miami Gardens Mayor Shirley Gibson who is working with the Council to bring Executive PASS to schools in her area. Dr. Pat Dixon, Council PASS Coordinator and the school’s PASS Coach Willa Young attended the event.
Rutherford High in Panama City, a PASS school, held assemblies on Feb. 18 to recognize improvement in student achievement, attendance and behavior. PASS CEO Brian Heinfeld, Gulf Power Plant Manager and PASS CEO joined Principal Mike Kennedy in rewarding the students. PASS Coordinator Sherry Clarke attended the event. This PASS is sponsored by Gulf Power Company.
At the Feb. 11th meeting of the Miami Lakes Chamber of Commerce, Executive PASS business leader Eddy Barea presented Barbara Goleman Principal, Carlos Artime, with a check for $6,000. The money was raised by the Goleman students through their participation in a project designed by Mr. Barea, the President of Ibiley Uniforms. The students marketed and sold school uniforms at the store, and studied business best practices in class. The students raised $36,000 to date for student scholarships.
Meeting Dates: Miami-Dade Executive PASS partners will participate in a special networking meeting on April 1, in Miami, hosted by Council Board Member Charles Porter. The Annual PASS Meeting is slated for April 15 in Tampa, and is hosted by WEDU President and CEO and PASS CEO Dick Lobo at his station. Raymond James Financial is the statewide PASS sponsor and the Wachovia Foundation also supports PASS. The Semi-Annual Council Board Meeting will follow, same location, at 1:15 p.m.
A complete, printable version of the Update is available for download below.
