Keeping Children at the Center
articles from the PARTNERS IN EDUCATION monthly newsletter:

June 2001

New Partnership Survey Results Indicate Increase in Partnerships
Utterly Impressed With Anchorage
National Symposium Coordinator Update
Symposium Keynote Speaker Announced
International Roundtable at Alaska Symposium
Alaska Youth Prepare for Symposium
Legal Team Works to Help Students
Reading Initiative Unites Two Cities
Membership Value: Publication Discounts
2001 Virginia Conference — Partnerships for Student Success
Tennessee Conference Offers Workshops and Site Visits
IPE and MOBILIZAÇÃO EDUCACIONAL Host First International Conference in Brazil
Youth Venture Supports The Dream
Wolf Trap Opens Its Doors To The First High School Intern
Earth Force After-School
Donated Supplies Program Helps Schools and Non-profits
MOST: A community guide for making the most of out-of-school time
Leadership for Student Learning: Redefining the Teacher as Leader

May 2001

April 2001
Value Creating Alliance State Hosts Conference
Florida 2001 Conference
Membership Value: Volunteer Liability Insurance Program
Upcoming State Conferences
Nnenna Freelon in Concert
National Mentoring Conference
Fulbright Scholar Program
The Keys to Literacy
VERIZON Funds Math/Science Literacy
AWS School Weather Net Named Laureate by Computer World
Partnership Focuses on Mentoring
Partnering On Job Shadow Day
The Birth of Intergenerational Week
9th International Intergenerational Training Institute
Space Day Encourages Science, Math, and Technology Education
International Literacy in Mexico
OneBook Provides Comprehensive Technology Resources

Partnerships 2000: A Decade of Growth and Change examines school partnerships in a decade during which education topped America’s national agenda. This survey of school partnerships provides a "next chapter" to the baseline data collected in the 1990 National School District Partnership Survey. The 1990 survey formed an extensive knowledge base of school partnerships.

Partnerships 2000 was designed to:

 Describe the current national status of partnerships in schools, as defined by Partners in Education;

 Measure the growth of partnerships through the 1990s;

 Provide data on the trends in partnership objectives and activities over the last ten years; and

 Relate the changes in partnerships to major education reform issues.

The Partnerships 2000 survey shows that schools in 69% of districts nationwide engaged in partnership activities compared with 51% in 1990. If Partnerships 2000 and the ongoing efforts of Partners in Education teach us anything, it is that schools still have human, financial, and material needs far greater than the resources federal, state, and local governments allocate to meet those needs. Children need more individual care and attention than is now available. Educators need to overcome challenging obstacles to help all students succeed academically and personally, and communities need more guidance and support as they struggle to keep their children safe and healthy.

In the face of these growing needs, schools, parents, local businesses, community groups, and others are coming together to form school partnerships.

Jim Utter of the Anchorage School Business Partnership (ASBP) is Anchorage Convention and Visitor Bureau’s (ACVB) Meeting Champion of the Month for May. Utter started working with ACVB in 1992 in hopes of bringing the national Symposium of the National Association of Partners in education to Anchorage. Anchorage came into the running after Jim served as the Regional Vice President for Partners in Education.

Anchorage was selected based on the success of its local School Business Partnerships; its ability (infrastructure) to hold the national Symposium, and the support of its community. Utter says, "It was the community support that truly gave Anchorage the extra edge."

The combined efforts of Convention Sales Manager Julie Dodds, Hilton Anchorage’s Helen Buxton, Hotel Captain Cook’s Mike Flanigan, Apple Computer’s Mark Standley and the ASBPs own Sharon Sellens guarantee a great Symposium for the entire membership.

Donald O. Clifton is past chairman of The Gallup Organization. He currently serves as chairman of the Gallup International Research and Education Center (GIREC), and as senior archivist of GIREC’s World Leader Study. In 1969, he founded Selection Research, Inc., which became a nationally recognized company in the fields of personnel selection, management research and survey research. In 1988, Selection Research, Inc. acquired The Gallup Organization.

Although The Gallup Organization is best known for the Gallup Poll, it is now one of the world’s largest management consulting firms, with more than 50 offices in nearly 30 countries. Gallup’s core expertise is in measuring and understanding human nature. Gallup applies this knowledge to help organizations improve their business performance by better managing their employee and customer assets.

Dr. Clifton has created more than 200 personnel selection interviews for salespeople, managers, army generals, industry CEOs, priests, teachers, physicians, nurses, dentists, professional basketball and hockey players, lawyers, accountants and support persons. With Paula Nelson, he has co-authored Soar With Your Strengths, and, with Marcus Buckingham, Now, Discover Your Strengths, a major bestseller.

International Partners in Education and Sister Cities International will hold a two-hour, pre-session roundtable discussion at the 2001 National Symposium on Partnerships in Education in Anchorage, Alaska. In recent years, there has been much debate about globalization and the role education plays. IPE and Sister Cities look forward to discussing the trends in education around the world and what partnerships between cities are doing to promote the success of all students and citizens.

Joshua Wilson, chair of the Youth Steering Committee, and Ginny Cress, Vice-Chair, prepare to welcome youth from across the country to their home state to participate in this year’s Symposium. Youth will participate in all events offered at the Symposium. There will also be special events for youth integrated into the Symposium agenda.

The City of Memphis Law Division became the official Adopt-A-School Partner of Ida B. Wells Academy in December 2000. As their first major project, the Law Division volunteered to help the school’s seventh graders prepare for the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) Writing Test.

"Writing is something that attorneys do every day," said Sherry Brooks, a deputy city attorney. "We thought we could help students learn to organize what they wanted to say, structure their points, and state their case clearly and concisely, just as a lawyer learns to do."

"City Attorney Robert Spence and his staff were a key part of our strategy to get students ready for the TCAP Writing Test this year," said Verna Dobbs, program manager at the school.

New Orleans Public School CEO, Col. A.G. Davis began a contest to encourage children to read. The Tales of Two Cities contest partnered students in New Orleans, LA, and Birmingham, AL, with Southwest Airlines in this unique approach to the reading initiative program.

The book chosen was Through My Eyes, by Ruby Bridges. The author recalls her role in 1960 when, as a first-grader, she integrated an all-white school in New Orleans and in turn had an impact on the civil rights movement in the United States.

Students who entered the contest wrote a 250-word typed essay describing their reactions to the book, how Ruby Bridges’ actions changed the lives of all Americans, and explained how the word "confidence" related to Ruby’s experiences. Winners from this first round went on to make an oral presentation on the book and finally 20 winners were chosen in both Birmingham, AL, and New Orleans, LA.

Southwest Airlines flew the winners from New Orleans to Birmingham, where they discussed the book and toured the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.

The New Orleans-to-Birmingham connection originated in a conversation between Sandra McCollum, coordinator of the Partnerships in Education Program for the New Orleans Public Schools, and Adrienne K. Mitchell, director of Partners in Education for the Birmingham Public Schools.

"This is a really good opportunity to connect our children. We both have rich histories from our cities and the children can learn from each other," says Mitchell.

McCollum says she and Mitchell plan to conduct a workshop on the mechanics of the program for a future national Partners in Education conference. "The Tales of Two Cities program helps children realize they don’t live in isolation. It’s been wonderful working with a project that has a national impact," McCollum says.

One of the most useful membership benefits available to Partners in Education members at the associate and higher levels is the Partners in Education publication discounts which range from 20 to 30% and can be utilized by an individual or institutional member at any time.

An example of the effective use of this benefit would be a training scenario. If an organization were interested in purchasing the Business & Education training guide for a group of the 30 persons, the cost of the guides would be approximately $1500. Once the member discount is applied, the cost with shipping included is reduced to less than $1200. The organization saves $400 and can apply the remaining funds to another project.

In addition to discounts on Partners in Education materials, members at the associate level and above also receive discounts on Symposium registrations. An institutional membership, covering up to 30 people, qualifies for ten Symposium registration discounts generating a savings for the sponsoring organization of $1,250.

The city of Roanoke hosted the 2001 Virginia Conference. The conference theme, "Partnerships for Student Success," was one that was visible during the site visits of Roanoke City Public Schools.

Conference participants visited the Huff Lane MicroVillage — an intermediate magnet school dedicated to teaching students in grades three to five the principles of a strong work ethic and free enterprise, Westside School of Performing and Visual Arts, and Fleming-Ruffner Magnet Center for middle and high school students. The Fleming-Ruffner Magnet Center offers a School of Unified Arts, a School of Global Studies and a School of Science and Engineering. The School of Science and Engineering offers aeronautics with both ground school and in-air flight training for high school students.

In addition to site visits, the Virginia Association hosted valuable workshops, and an awards recognition event. The conference closed with the recognition of the Virginia Partnership Award winners in the categories of school-business partnerships, school-community partnerships, multi-organizational partnerships, and outstanding partnership/volunteer coordinator.

The Tennessee Association of Partners in Education held an exciting annual conference last month in Jackson, TN.

A trip to visit two outstanding Dyersburg schools was on the first evening's agenda. Participants were astounded and encouraged by the candid answers given by approximately 20 high school student leaders to our numerous probing questions .

The conference showcased innovative state programs designed to help students succeed through partnership initiatives. Workshops helped newcomers and professionals to sharpen and build skills.

Lisa Wheeler, Manager, Partners in Education, AutoZone, accepted the Tennessee Partners' annual Award of Excellence, which was given this year to AutoZone. Jenny Lou Hallums of Clarksville received the Kay Sullivan Educator of the Year award.

Albertina Herron, a teacher at East High School in Memphis won the Big Door Prize, a trip to the Symposium in Anchorage in October, courtesy of Northwest Airlines. Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), McKee Foods, and several local businesses assisted financially and otherwise to ensure that the conference made an impact on "keeping students at the center" and to support the efforts of Tennessee Partners in Education.

Approximately 180 participants from Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and the Untied States attended the first International Seminar on Partnerships in Education last month in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. The objective of the meeting, which was hosted by MOBILIZAÇÃO EDUCACIONAL, International Partners in Education, and Instituto Rede Paranaense de Comunicao, was to establish an international network, as well as to exchange experiences and best practices to improve education through partnerships.

As Ramiro Wahraftig, Secretary of Science and Technology for the state of Parana stated, "We don’t want to teach anything — we want to share experiences so that we may provide a better education for our students."

AmCham Brazil (American Chamber of Commerce of Brazil) presented their business-education partnership model, Instituto Qualidade no Ensino, which involves over 4,200 companies throughout all of Brazil. Joao Gilberto dos Santos explained, "The more the companies are engaged in the schools, the better chance a school has to get what it wants and needs. It’s not about writing out a check. Businesses want to participate and be engaged in what the students are learning and what the schools are doing."

MOBILIZAÇÃO EDUCACIONAL, a non-government organization that is an affiliate of International Partners in Education, is a leader in Brazil in community/business/education partnerships. Its aim is to engage the community in setting higher educational standards.

Due to the success of this first conference and the momentum it created within Brazilian communities, International Partners in Education and MOBILIZAÇÃO EDUCACIONAL look forward to future seminars in Brazil that focus on partnerships in education.

Youth Venture is building a movement of young people who are redefining the role they play in society. The initiative enables youth to take greater responsibility for their own lives and communities by creating and leading their own organizations.

First, young people Dream it—identify opportunities, set goals and define concrete plans of action, then Do it — realize those dreams. Youth Venture provides partners and allies who help, but don’t take over.

Second Gear Bicycles in Cambridge, MA, sells new and used bicycles and bike parts and trains young people in bike mechanics and entrepreneurship. Ayuda (American Youth Understanding Diabetes Abroad) provides basic support for diabetic children and their families in Ecuador. Transforming Futures helps children in Washington, DC, become more proficient in English and Spanish. These are only a few of the many programs under the auspices of Youth Venture.

The national office is headquartered in Arlington, VA, with offices in New England, New York, and the Mid-Atlantic regions.

The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts located in Vienna, Virginia, hosted its first high school intern this past spring. The mission of Wolf Trap is "to present and create excellent and innovative performing arts programs for the enrichment, education, and enjoyment of diverse audiences and participants."

Through the partnership recently created between Fairfax Academy for Communication Arts in Fairfax, Virginia, and Wolf Trap, high school senior, Julianna McGreer, experienced what only college students in the past have had the opportunity to experience. Every day, for two hours a day, she was "behind the scenes" of Wolf Trap Opera Company’s production and development.

Ms. McGreer’s responsibilities ranged from research and shadowing to creating a filing system for scores of music, alumni information, and photographs.

This opportunity gave McGreer a real world experience by teaching her the difference between independent problem solving and asking questions when truly necessary.

Kim Witman, General Director of the Wolf Trap Opera Company and Ms. McGreer’s mentor said, "An internship experience in the arts influences every performer’s creativity."

When asked about her experience, Ms. McGreer said, "The internship is more of an experience, not just a paycheck. It’s such a nice place to work. I’m glad I had it for a first real job."

Earth Force After-School is an innovative program to engage youth in creating lasting solutions to environmental issues in their communities. Participants (youth ages 10 to 15) receive a comprehensive kit with hands-on student materials and educator guides tailored to an after-school setting. The program also offers educator training and access to the Earth Force network of support. To join, call (703) 519-6867 or e-mail tmartin@earthforce.org

The National Association for The Exchange of Industrial Resources (NAEIR), a 24 year-old gifts-in-kind program, has provided over 1 billion dollars in new, donated supplies to schools and non-profits.

NAEIR collects brand new, overstock merchandise from businesses across the U.S. and redistributes these goods from its 10-acre warehouse in Galesburg, IL.

Schools and nonprofit groups can access the merchandise through full-color catalogues published ever ten weeks, monthly special offers, an on-line shopping site, and a potpourri warehouse called Grab Bag.

Recipient groups pay $575 annual dues, plus shipping and handling. The merchandise itself is free.

To participate, call Jack Azvada at (800) 562-0955, ext. 205 and visit the website at www.naeir.org.

The public is increasingly beginning to recognize and value the positive effects that high-quality out-of-school time experiences have on children, youth, and communities. With these enhanced opportunities for expansion of services comes a corresponding need to help communities build high-quality programs, practices, and staff, and to plan for sustainability.

The MOST approach, outlined in this guide, provides a method for bringing the whole community together to meet these needs.

The MOST initiative is in its seventh and final year of funding from the Wallace Readers Digest Funds. The guide uses city models from Boston, Chicago, and Seattle to illustrate its approach.

To order the guide, call the Center for Research on Women, Wellesley College, at (781) 283-2547 or visit the website at www.niost.org

The Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) has released its third report, Leadership for Student Learning: Redefining the Teacher as Leader.

The IEL task force, co-chaired by Mary Hatwood Futrell, Dean of the Graduate School of Education and Human Development and the George Washington University, and James A. Kelly, Founding President of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, addresses the obstacles schools face in ensuring more teachers have a voice in the decision-making that impacts student learning and the classroom.

While noting that the system has not been organized to treat teachers as leaders, the task force nevertheless concludes that the existing system is ripe for teacher-driven change from within — that is, for stronger teacher leadership in the classroom, school system, and larger policy environment.

Transcripts of this report, and previous task force reports, are available free of charge from www.iel.org or by e-mailing Mary Podmostko at podmostkom@iel.org.

The Committee for Economic Development (CED) report, Measuring What Matters, strongly supports measurement and accountability as tools for focusing education on results, while providing guidance on how these tools should be used and improved.

CED’s report, the result of more than a year of research, calls tests that are valid, reliable, and fair the best means of charting the country’s progress toward the goal of improved academic achievement. It applauds the efforts underway in virtually every state to specify academic standards and measure student learning. CED cautions, though, that assessment and accountability systems capable of driving school improvement are still in their formative stages. More work must be done to ensure that tests are good measures of learning, that students are provided with adequate preparation, that teachers and other educators are prepared to translate the testing information into improved instruction, and that accountability systems accurately reflect how well schools are doing in boosting student performance.

About CED
CED is an independent, nonpartisan organization of more than 220 business and education leaders dedicated to policy research on major economic and social issues and the implementation of its recommendations by the public and private sectors. For a full copy of CED’s report, please visit www.ced.org.

Partners in Education members participate in the U.S. Department of Education’s Satellite Town Meeting
The National Association of Partners in Education has partnered with the United States Department of Education to identify partnership programs and program representatives to serve as panelists for the US Department of Education’s Satellite Town Meetings. The Satellite Town Meeting is the US Department of Education’s monthly television program about improvements in teaching and learning that are happening in schools and communities across the nation. On each show, the Secretary of Education invites national experts as well as local educators and community leaders to share their ideas about how schools are preparing all students for the challenges of the 21st century. In panel discussions with parents, teachers, principals and business experts, as well as videotaped reports on innovative schools, viewer call-ins, and special segments on resources, the Satellite Town Meeting focuses on the nation’s effective school, community, and business partnerships.

The Colorado, Virginia, Mississippi, and Oklahoma Affiliates were represented on the Town Meeting panel by Rynn Mar Nichols; Dr. Gary Charles; Judge Robert Gibbs; and Jo McCord respectively. Panelists shared information with the live audience on the effectiveness of specific partnership programs in their communities.

Satellite Town Meetings can be viewed via satellite in your community through any local cable access station or school board channel with satellite downlink capability on the third Tuesday of every month.

Live or archived meetings can be viewed on Apple Computer’s Apple Learning Interchange at http://ali/apple.com/event/aliqttv.

To join the Satellite Town Meeting call 1-800-USA-LEARN, or visit www.ed.gov/satelliteevent.

Ranjit Sidhu Appointed 
Executive Vice President and COO

Ranjit Sidhu, former Director of Field Services, has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. As Chief Operating Officer, Sidhu’s main duties will include the supervision of office staff and the management of daily office operations.

Before joining the Partners in Education staff last June, Sidhu worked as a partnership manager at George Washington University in Washington D.C. Sidhu has worked in the oil industry; as a high school teacher; is a graduate of Mary Washington College, the University of Pittsburgh, and George Washington University; and is a current candidate for an Ed.D. at George Washington University.

Sidhu will continue the management of field services throughout the end of this fiscal year.

Commitment to Children: The Reddig Endowment Steps Up
Elizabeth and Edward Reddig were Certified Public Accountants and executive officers in the Cleveland, Ohio, business community. They were extremely concerned about education issues and both actively supported local schools.

Their daughter, Dr. Sally Reddig Schulze, created this fund in 1984 in loving memory of her parents and their personal commitment to children and their education. Dr. Schulze, an educator and community leader herself, is a member of the Advisory Council of the National Association of Partners in Education. She is a strong advocate of education partnerships and recognizes the critical need for stable, financial support for the activities of Partners in Education throughout the U.S. The Reddig Endowment Fund is dedicated to the individual school volunteers and education partners whose active support, commitment and love make a difference in the lives of millions of children across the country and around the world.

To contribute to the fund, visit the Reddig Endowment on the website at www.partnersineduation.org

An original painting which focuses on children learning through exploring museums will be presented at the 18th Annual National Symposium on Partnerships in Education. Barbara Lavallee, Native Alaskan, has been commissioned to create this painting to support the funding of the Elizabeth and Edward Reddig Endowment Fund. A viewing of the original will take place at the Artique Gallery in Anchorage, Alaska. Notecards, made from portions of the large painting, will be on sale during and after the Symposium.

If you would like an invitation to attend the viewing of the commissioned original work at a special reception, please contact Sally Schulze at (216) 932-5115 or e-mail at sallyschulze@hotmail.com.

Partners in Education is pleased to announce that Michael DiMaggio has accepted the position of Director of Urban Education Partnerships. DiMaggio, a former high school special education teacher at Bellflower High School, Bellflower, CA, spent this past summer at Partners in Education as a Verizon Fellow. Prior to teaching, he attended law school at the University of Pittsburgh where he also attained a Master’s of Arts in International Affairs.

The Urban Institute is interested in creating a dialogue among urban leaders and people with urban education partnership experience. The Institute is searching for individuals involved in efforts to develop partnerships between schools, community organizations, and businesses that will result in increased academic success for urban students.

For more information on The Urban Institute, please contact the Institute office at (703) 836-4880 or e-mail at mdimaggio@napehq.org.

Barbara St. Amand, Partners in Education Director of Development, will be leaving her position to return to independent consulting, allowing her to expand into diverse activities and new areas of development. St. Amand said, "I will continue to consult to Partners in Education as we work towards our mutual commitment to the common goal of success for all students."

During her two years at the national office, St. Amand expanded the financial position of Partners in Education, built the capacity of the staff, strengthened the Board, broadened the scope of activities and focused projects on current issues, raising the visibility of the organization in the areas of research, public policy, technology, and global education.

St. Amand is a member of the award committee for the Sally Reddig Schulze Award, president of the Washington Independent Writers legal education fund, and on the advisory council of the Documentaries International Foundation.

Prior to joining the staff of Partners in Education, St. Amand was an independent consultant to the non-profit sector for eight years and is positioned to consult and serve as a technical writer for non-profit organizations involved in education and economic development.

Partners in Education’s Board of Directors, Leadership, and staff visited the classroom of the future at the joint spring meeting held at the National Education Association (NEA) building in March. A 3,000 square foot, world class exhibition showcasing creative thinking strategies and technologies that are transforming education in America’s public schools was opened to Partners in Education’s leadership prior to the NEA’s public opening. Student TV, programmable robots, online parent teacher conferences, and virtual high schools were among the innovations on display in the Making the Grade exhibit.

During the meeting, members of the Board of Directors and the Leadership discussed membership value, public policy issues and initiatives, and were presented with the proposed technology strategy for Partners in Education developed by Booz-Allen & Hamilton. The Booz-Allen & Hamilton strategy presented to the Board of Directors suggested that a more sophisticated IT Plan could maximize the organization’s resource capabilities which could potentially offer more services to its state affiliates and members.

The Making the Grade exhibit is funded by 19 partners including: Apple Computer Inc.; AT&T; Verizon Data Solutions Group; Verizon Foundation; Compaq Computer Corp.; Homework Hotline Educational Services; MBNA America; Nationwide Financial Services Inc.; NEC Foundation of America; Prudential; Computer Curriculum Corp.; Cisco Systems; e.magination; Microsoft; NCS; National Cable Television; Software & Information Industry Association; U.S. West; and VTEL Corp.

The 1st Annual Youth Leadership Summit, sponsored by Booz-Allen & Hamilton, will be held during this year’s Symposium in Anchorage, Alaska beginning October 30, 2001 through November 2, 2001. Twenty-five youth from across the country will be selected to attend the Summit to establish the 1st National Youth Agenda for Educational Partnership Development. Some of the issues that youth will address include: youth and adult communication; career preparation; and urban and rural connections that can be made through the effective implementation and utilization of partnerships.

Youth who have completed grades 9, 10, and 11 by June 30, 2001, from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and all US Territories, are eligible to apply to participate in the Youth Summit. In addition to establishing the National Youth Agenda, youth participants will also be attending Symposium, learning sessions and events.

Youth interested in participating can find answers to questions about the Summit and download applications from the Partners in Education web site at www.partnersineducation.org. The deadline for applications is June 10, 2001.

Organization Identity & Brand Recognition
Partners in Education members and state affiliates that have adopted the national logo benefit greatly from the National brand. Affiliation with the national association connects members to an international network. Utilization of the logo indicates that the local partnership programs and state organizations are part of that network. The increased visibility of the Partners in Education logo draws the attention of potential members, businesses, and corporate sponsors, while increasing awareness of our mission.

A prime example of the effectiveness of logo use is in the March issue of Fortune Magazine. The logo was used in the feature article on Partners in Education. Consistent and repetitious use of the logo at all levels establishes brand recognition among these potential members and sponsors. The Partners in Education logo is recognized by sponsors as a symbol of quality. When local partnership and state organizations use the logo, sponsors and potential members recall the symbol of quality and are more willing to join and support state and local efforts.

The United Nations has designated 2001 as the International Year of Volunteers (IYV). Energize, Inc., the leading international volunteerism training and publishing firm has launched the Look Back to Look Ahead project as its contribution to IYV. Susan J. Ellis, the company’s president, urges colleagues to "grab the opportunity of IYV to change everyone’s perceptions about volunteering."

Throughout North American history, volunteers have been pioneers — the initiators of every major social change and the founders of all community organizations. But too much of this important history has been forgotten, even as today’s volunteers continue to be on the cutting edge of emerging issues. The Look Back to Look Ahead project allows every group to rediscover its own volunteer past and then recommit to the future involvement of volunteers.

Here are the 5 Steps: Rediscover History, Share What You Learned, Envision the Future, Act Collectively, and Tell the World.

Energize is committed to helping in this IYV celebration process. We have designated an area on our Web site (www.energizeinc.com/backahead.html) to capture and share the work of colleagues who adopt the Look Back to Look Ahead IYV project.

The people of the San Luis Valley represent a wide diversity of cultural, ethnic, economic, and lifestyle backgrounds. Fifty-four percent are of Hispanic/Latino heritage. Low incomes create a group of people who simply are not involved in the Valley community because of economic status.

SLV Christian Community Services (CCS) is a faith-based organization that fills various niche markets serving Valley residents who have "fallen through the cracks." CCS has participated in several grant programs funded by the Department of Housing & Urban Development and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to provide virtual information indexes and virtual business incubators here in the Valley.

Valley schools have participated in a number of community partnerships with various organizations throughout the area. The next step currently in progress is to begin to weave individual efforts into a Valley-wide initiative using the National Association of Partners in Education model.

Rural areas of the country face an ever-growing problem of an inability to provide significant training for students, and then to provide meaningful jobs that will allow them to remain in their hometowns to work.

We have finally begun to truly understand that one cannot have separate conversations regarding education, business, and economic development. The lines of separation have been eradicated by technology and connectivity. Businesses have much to offer to schools, but schools also have much to offer to business and economic development.

McKee Foods Corporation will recognize four individuals for their leadership role in developing partnerships that help students reach local, state, and/or national standards through systemic change. Two winners from the business sector and two from the education sector will be selected. Within each sector, there are two levels of service: 1) local grassroots leadership and 2) state/national leadership.

This year’s Little Debbie Award winners will receive recognition at the 18th National Symposium on Partnerships in Education in Anchorage, Alaska, in addition to round-trip airfare, free registration, and a monetary reward.

To apply for the award, log on to www.partnersineducation.org and download the application or call the national office at (703) 836-4880. The deadline to apply is August 1, 2001.

The Annual Sally Reddig Schulze Award will be presented during the National Symposium on Partnerships in Education. The Award, named in honor of the Endowment Founder and Chairman, Sally R. Schulze, Ph.D., was established to recognize the work and accomplishments of an outstanding education Mentor and Mentee. This Award celebrates the fact that "One Person Can Make a Difference!"

Recipients will receive round-trip airfare for the Mentor/Mentee, one night’s lodging, and a specially designed award. In addition, the Mentee will be presented with a $100 U.S. Savings Bond.

For the guidelines and an application, please contact the National Association of Partners in Education at (703) 836-4880 or visit the website at www.partnersineducation.org.

The SBC National Telecommunications Partnership Awards is a multi-year relationship between the National Association of Partners in Education and the SBC Foundation. The awards recognize outstanding work in facilitating the integration of telecommunications technology into education. This year, the focus of the awards will be on those education partnerships that use telecommunications technology to bridge the Digital Divide. Eligible partnerships must target underserved populations.

To apply for the award, visit the website at www.partnersineducation.org and download the application, or call the national office at (703) 836-4880. Deadline to apply is July 9, 2001.

According to a survey released by NetDay, a national education technology non-profit, more than eight out of ten teachers (84%) believe that computers and access to the Internet improve the quality of education. Seventy-five percent of teachers say the Internet is an important tool for finding new resources to meet new standards. However, two-thirds of teachers agree that the Internet is not well integrated into their classrooms, and only 26% of them feel pressure to use it in learning activities.

NetDay has surveyed 600 teachers around the country to gather their input on how computers and the Internet are used in classrooms. The survey was designed to assess how teachers are using technology for instruction.

Five years ago, when NetDay launched a national movement to wire all schools and classrooms to the Internet, few schools had Internet connections, and only a handful of classrooms were wired. Today, nearly every teacher has access to the Internet at his or her school and 80% of classrooms have computers that are online. Seventy-seven percent of teachers agree that teachers without Internet access in the classroom are at a disadvantage.

For a copy of the survey, log on to http://www.netday.org/news_survey.html.

Native Alaskan Illustrator’s Work will be featured at the 18th Annual National Symposium
This delightful children’s book is filled with original drawings by Alaskan illustrator, Barbara Lavallee. The book helps a child learn that a mother’s love is constant even as the child grows and tests the limits of her independence. Its unusual Arctic setting, filled with such exciting animals as whales, wolves, and puffins, makes this universal story all the more captivating. Complemented by a detailed glossary, this tender story will introduce young readers to a distinctively different culture, while at the same time show that the special love between parent and child is a bond that transcends the boundaries of time and place.

Barbara Lavallee’s vibrant watercolor illustrations are well known for their depictions of a wide range of Alaskan life.

To purchase a copy of the book, call the Artique Gallery at (907) 277-1663 or visit the publisher’s website at www.chroniclebooks.com/Kids. (Price $14.95 plus S&H.)

Yo, Alejandro is a collection of personal essays written by Alejandro Gac-Artigas, a gifted 12 year-old Latino boy. Alejandro began writing the essays in the second grade. They deal with discrimination, racism, teasing, and harassment, all of which, according to the specialists, are at the base of the explosion of violence in schools today.

Wanting to fit in and yet excel individually to win the respect of his teachers, Alejandro writes that discrimination is based not only on one’s race, but also on the amount of money one has, one’s name, intelligence, and abilities or disabilities. The author makes the point that all discrimination hurts and if you keep it inside it can explode in a threat, a fight or a shooting.

Check out the new Alaska Partners in Education Website, www.alaskapartners.org, to get up-to-date information on the 2001 Symposium in Anchorage, Alaska! Browsers can access information on sightseeing tours, monthly news bulletins on local planning efforts, a map of Anchorage, links to other Alaska sites, and much more!

A detailed schedule of events, learning sessions, hotel and airline information will be available on the National Association of Partners in Education website, www.partnersineducation.org.

The city of Valdosta, Georgia, opened its arms for the annual conference of the Georgia Association of Partners in Education (GaPIE) and welcomed over 260 educators, business representatives and volunteers from around the state on February 28, 2001.

The Conference Committee, co-chaired by Lynne Wilson and Janeen Josey, worked diligently to set up a conference that would provide participants with at least one innovative idea to take back to their partnerships — most importantly — an idea they could put to work!

Opening breakfast participants were treated to an enthusiastic keynote speaker, Mike Vollmer, Director of the Office of Education Accountability. Vollmer is responsible for the implementation of the Governor’s A+ Education Reform measure to set up an accountability system for all publicly funded programs from pre-kindergarten to post-secondary institutions. "Real reform will take 15 to 20 years," said Vollmer. "Change is a frightening thing to many." According to Vollmer, the critical issue in education right now is teachers. "The need for good teachers is going to rise every year. We need 10,000 teachers a year to keep up."

Local students led "moments of reflection" at each meal, provided exhibitions and musical presentations, and added a festive atmosphere with their colorful costumes and charming smiles.

Larry Lybrand, President of GaPIE and a Manufacturing and Cost analyst with Milliken & Company, said, "This conference is in keeping with GaPIE’s mission of developing, encouraging and strengthening partnerships throughout Georgia. Those who attended were looking for something specific or unique to take back to their schools and communities."

Barbara St. Amand, Director of Development for the National Association of Partners in Education, was more than a little impressed with the innovative partnerships, the spirit of volunteerism, and the gracious hospitality that was a hallmark of this Conference.

Florida 2001 Conference

The Florida Association of Partners in Education held the 2001 Conference in Orlando last month. As part of the 25th anniversary celebration of community involvement, the Florida Association and the Florida Department of Education brought together professionals and volunteers to showcase many of the innovative programs that have a positive impact on student achievement throughout the state.

During the three-day conference, attendees heard from keynote speakers Charlie Crist, Florida’s Commissioner of Education, and the Honorable William E. Brock, Founder and Chairman of Intellectual Development Systems Incorporated and former Secretary of Labor. The Commissioner of Education recognized several businesses for unique partnership efforts throughout the state. Special recognitions were also given to the Florida affiliate’s founders, and the state’s outstanding volunteers.

Membership Value: 
Volunteer Liability Insurance Program

Every new member who joins the National Association of Partners in Education receives Volunteer Liability Insurance coverage through the Volunteers Insurance Service (VIS) Insurance Program. VIS is underwritten by Employers Insurance of Wausau. Employers Insurance of Wausau has been selected by VIS because of its financial stability and ability to meet the needs of current volunteers.

The Volunteer Liability Insurance program provides all members with personal liability coverage at a limit of $1,000,000 per occurrence. The VIS program covers personal injury; property damage; and legal defense for members if charges of sexual abuse or misconduct are filed.

When an Institutional membership is purchased, 30 designees can be covered on the VIS plan, 50 designees can be covered with a Corporate membership, 100 can be covered with a Gold Key membership, provided that these members are listed in the members’ database. Professional, Associate, and Volunteer memberships provide liability insurance coverage for the individual member only.

Upcoming State Conferences

The Washington Association of Partners in Education Conference with the Office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction will take place on April 26, 2001 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Lake Washington School District, Redmond, WA 98052, in the Board Room. For more information, call Karen Hansen at 253-841-8703.

The Tennessee Association of Partners in Education
May 3-4, 2001
For more information, call Jolena King at 423-238-7111

The New Hampshire Association of Partners in Education
May 24, 2001
For more information, call Brenda Abbott at 603-664-5432

Nnenna Freelon in Concert

April 17, 2001, at 8:00 p.m.
Los Angeles, CA: University of Southern California - Call: 213-740-2516

April 28, 2001, at 3:00 p.m.
New York, NY: Aaron Davis Hall - Call: Carnegie Hall for info

May 19, 2001, at 8:00 p.m.
Kansas City, MO: Gem Theater - Call: 816-474-8463

National Mentoring Conference

America’s Promise Partner National Mentoring Partnership, an advocate for expanding mentoring and a resource for mentors and mentoring initiatives, will host the national mentoring conference, titled Strengthening Programs and Improving Results for Youth, May 2-4, 2001, in Alexandria, VA.

Aimed at directors and staff of community-based mentoring programs and mentoring services, the conference will address such topics as, "Mentoring Recruitment and Retention," "Mentor and Mentee Training," and "Mentoring Kids in the Juvenile System."

Co-sponsors of the conference include the National Mentoring Center and the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

Fulbright Scholar Program

The Fulbright Scholar Program is offering 138 lecturing/research awards in Education for the 2002-2003 academic year. Awards for both faculty and professionals range from two months to an academic year. A new short-term grants program—the Fulbright Senior Specialists Program — offers two-to-six week grants. While foreign language skills are needed in some countries, most Fulbright lecturing assignments are in English.

Application deadlines for 2002-2003 awards are:

• May 1, 2001, for Fulbright Distinguished Chair awards in Europe, Canada and Russia

• August 1, 2001, for Fulbright traditional lecturing and research grants worldwide.

• Rolling deadline for Fulbright Senior Specialists Program

The Keys to Literacy

The inaugural National Symposium on Partnerships in Education, an outcome of the White House Office of Private Sector Initiatives in 1984, challenged business leaders and educators to form innovative partnerships to direct greater attention on the importance of lifelong learning. Over the years, these partnerships have played an important role in reshaping the nation’s classrooms.

Pizza Hut took the challenge 16 years ago and started BOOK IT!®, a nationally recognized reading incentive program. Today, more than 22 million students and 1 million teachers, librarians, and principals are involved in two BOOK IT! Programs—one for children in early childhood centers and one for children in elementary schools.

First Lady of the United States, Laura Bush states, "As parents, the most important thing we can do is read to our children early and often. Reading is the path to success in school and life. When children learn to love books, they learn to love reading."

BOOK IT! encourages children to love reading, and the Reach Out and Read (ROR) program is helping parents understand the importance of reading to their children. Developed in 1989 by a team of pediatricians at Boston City Hospital, the ROR program incorporates early literacy efforts into standard pediatric care. Mrs. Bush helped initiate the ROR program in Texas.

"We can do a better job of teaching children to read," said President George W. Bush in his remarks to parents and teachers at the Moline Elementary School in St. Louis, Missouri. The President’s proposal to Congress, Reading First, will triple the investment in reading over the next 5 years.

"Clearly, students who are unable to read cannot begin to even approach meeting the high academic standards that have been set," said Christopher Cross, former Partners in Education board member and president of the Council for Basic Education. "While many partnerships are committed to and champion high standards for all students, there is much to be done in assuring first that all children are reading well by the 2nd Grade."

"Nearly 70% of low-income fourth graders are unable to read at the basic level," said Cross. "Over the last 15 years, 15 million students have graduated from high school without the ability to read at the basic level."

The Keys to Literacy, published by the Council for Basic Education, presents the four pillars of a comprehensive and sound reading program; reading research, teacher training, coherent student instruction, and the development of reading comprehension. The authors, who include Reid Lyon, a research psychologist at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and Louisa Moats, the director of an early reading instruction study in Washington, DC, provide teachers, partnership leaders, and others with a framework for what constitutes good reading instruction.

Teaching Children to Read, a report released by the National Reading Panel in December 2000, provides researched-based information on the effectiveness of various approaches to teaching children to read.

Business-education partnerships are a strategic element in improving reading instruction and learning. The Keys to Literacy and Teaching Children to Read are among the tools these leaders can employ in helping all children read and achieve their dreams.

(The Keys to Literacy, www.c-b-e.org/PDF/KeysToLiteracy.pdf, and Teaching Children to Read, www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/nrppubskey.cfm, are available online.)

Cathleen M. Healy is Director of Communications at the Council for Basic Education and the former Director of Constituent Relations at the National Association of Partners in Education.

VERIZON Funds Math/Science Literacy

Linda Painter’s fifth grade class at Pearson’s Corner Elementary School in Hanover County, Virginia, was bouncing beams off the walls in an exciting lesson on light and Steve Clementi, Director of External Affairs for Verizon, was there to witness student involvement in lessons from the See the Light resource trunk being sponsored by Verizon.

Clementi added to the class’s understanding of fiber optics, as he noted how the fiber optic cable with which they were experimenting is like cable used by Verizon and other companies in transmitting high speed telecommunications around the world.

Funded by a Verizon Foundation $10,000 grant to the Hanover Education Foundation, 30 discovery-and-activity-based, self-contained resource trunks called See the Light and Hear the Sound are being developed to teach physical science and related math concepts to every Hanover County fifth grader. The trunks contain the materials, supplies and manipulative resources needed for students to be actively engaged in the learning experience.

Clementi remarked that this is the type of program which excites Verizon and noted that literacy and math and science initiatives, such as this one for Hanover students, are areas of great interest to them. With Verizon’s $10,000 grant, the resource trunks will be ready for use by all fifth grade classes in Hanover County by the beginning of the 2001 school term.

GTE, which recently merged with Bell Atlantic to form Verizon, has been a long-time supporter of Hanover Country Public Schools as a Partner in Education with Battlefield Elementary School and a steady supporter of Hanover Education Foundation initiatives to benefit Hanover County schools and students.

Math/science trunks for other grades have been funded by Target ($10,000), Service Partners ($20,000) and the Richmond East Loyal Order of the Moose, Lodge 1947 ($10,000).

AWS School Weather Net Named Laureate by Computer World

AWS School Weathernet was nominated by Verizon in the education and academia category to become a laureate of Computer World’s search for New Heroes.

On April 8 and 9, Bob Marshall, president and CEO of AWS, will travel to San Francisco for a medal ceremony honoring all the laureates.

AWS has partnered with Partners in Education to bring the WeatherBug to members as a way to raise funds to continue the important work in supporting education and success for all youth.

Partnership Focuses on Mentoring

First National Bank & Trust Company and Blue Ridge Elementary School in Columbia, MO, are proud to be celebrating 17 years as Partners in Education. The partnership is one of only a handful that has existed since the Columbia School District established partnerships in 1983. Currently, more than 40 bankers volunteer time at the school doing everything from reading to students, guest teaching a series of lessons on "Dollars & Sense", sharing their hobbies, and more.

While the partnership offers a variety of valuable programs, the emphasis for the 2000-2001 school year has been on mentoring. Bankers and teachers on the Partnership Committee feel like this is where the biggest differences are being made in the students’ lives. Bill Hervey, First National Bank’s Human Resources Director, oversees the mentors and this year worked to double the number of bankers volunteering in this role.

Mr. Hervey has been mentoring for five years and was recently presented with an Excellence in Mentoring award by the Columbia Public School Board.

Not only does Mr. Hervey find mentoring to be "a very rewarding experience", he says he has learned a lot, "Most importantly, I now know it is imperative to finish my lunch in less than five minutes, so we can get outside to play kickball!", said Hervey. In addition to sharing time at recess, Bill and the other mentors also help mentees with homework assignments, and spend time just being friends.

First National Bank & Trust Company expects the mentoring program to continue growing. The Bank’s commitment to the education and welfare of Blue Ridge Elementary students is a top priority.

Partnering On Job Shadow Day

Recently, 50 ninth grade students in Humble Independent School District in Houston, TX, partnered with Administaff, a national company who serves as an off-site human resource department for small to medium-sized businesses. A team of representatives from the school district and Administaff planned the event using the manual, How to Have a Successful Groundhog Job Shadow Day provided by America’s Promise.

Students from ninth-grade classes, including "Introduction to Business," and "Career Connections," participated in the Job Shadow experience.

The day began with an introduction to the corporate workplace, followed by a one-to-one match of ninth grade students to Administaff executives. Students shadowed in Marketing, Finance, Payroll, Public Relations, e-Commerce, and Human Resources and experienced mock interviews, and corporate conference calls, and designed mock payroll operations.

Supervising teacher Cindy Marches said, "This day gave my students a real taste of the topics we have been talking about in class. We will definitely do this again!"

The Birth of Intergenerational Week

The idea of bringing generations together with an Intergenerational Week came out of a story written by a nine-year-old boy, Devin Cecil-Wishing. His story was about a fish he landed that was many times bigger than the whale that swallowed Jonah.

I was so taken with that youngster’s gargantuan imagination that I, then an 84-year-old man, wrote a letter of congratulations to him. After sending the letter, I felt so pleased about writing to the boy that I wanted to share that satisfying intergenerational feeling with others. That is what gave birth to Intergenerational Week, a weeklong celebration of the generations that begins on the third Sunday in May in the U.S., between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.

Places of worship listed in the Yellow Pages offered the place to test this untried way of bringing the generations together. Hundreds of letters and telephone calls to intergenerationalists and organizations brought a response from across the U.S. and other countries. Mother Teresa gave the concept her blessing in a letter from Calcutta.

9th International Intergenerational 
Training Institute

From July 11-13, 2001, the University of Pittsburgh will host this special training. Generations Together invites you to join with staff and other leaders in the intergenerational field to examine the rebuilding of communities through an intergenerational approach. The Institute features three days of intensive interactive training to help participants develop the skills needed for success in the intergenerational field. Regardless of area of specialty, the Institute offers a broad knowledge of the dynamics of intergenerational programs and research.

Generations Together (GT) is a one-of-a-kind intergenerational program with the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Social and Urban Research.

For more information, e-mail Louise Humphreys at humphlo@pitt.edu or call 412-648-2209.

Space Day Encourages Science, Math, and Technology Education

Space Day encourages people of all ages to advance science, math and technology education and inspires young people to realize the vision of our space pioneers.

Space Day 2001...the Odyssey Continues will be celebrated on May 3, 2001, with a spectacular one-day event at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum and at local Space Day activities all over the U.S. and Canada. To learn about local Space Day events, visit "Space Day in Your Neighborhood" at www.spaceday.com.

Space Day Co-Chair John Glenn will join several of the 65 Partners to kick off Space Day 2001 in Washington, DC. The Cyber Space Day webcast, an annual hallmark of the Space Day celebration, will be broadcast live from the National Air and Space Museum to bring Space Day into homes and classrooms around the world. Webcast viewers can:

 Learn about living and working in space from the experts themselves

 E-mail questions to guests including former astronaut and Senator John Glenn and Roger Crouch, chief scientist of the International Space Station. (Design Challenge "Stellar" teams will also be featured.)

 Take part in live chats, interactive polling and quizzes

The International Space Station and the Destiny Lab will be among the exciting topics of the webcast. Cyber Space Day is accessible at http://www.spaceday.com and via satellite.

International Literacy in Mexico

Spanish-speaking parents come to family literacy programs with a vast range of education, Spanish literacy and English experiences. Embedded in their native language, culture, and life experiences are strengths family literacy programs may draw upon to facilitate their learning of English.

The Mexican government program Instituto Nacional para la Educación de los Adultos - INEA (National Institute for the Education of Adults), is making its adult education program available for U.S. implementation.

Research has shown that the ability to read in one’s native language aids the acquisition of and reading ability in a second language because there is a transfer in basic reading skills from the first to the second language (Auerbach, 1996).

Using volunteer tutors who lead study circles, this strengths-based model builds upon the knowledge of the adult learners who work at their own pace. Free training and educational materials created by INEA for volunteer tutors is offered through Mexican consulates throughout the U.S. The materials consist of teaching guides, basic textbooks, workbooks, and supplementary general interest books.

Folgers Coffee & The Grammy Foundation’s "Wakin’ Up the Music" Education Program

Folgers’ Coffee aims to wake up the full potential in every child with the sponsorship of a new elementary school music education program.

Themed "Wakin’ Up the Music," the program was created by the Grammy Foundation, a branch of The Recording Academy dedicated to advancing music and arts-based education across the country.

The new program was announced by Michael Schafer, Marketing Director of The Folger Coffee Company, and Michael Greene, President/CEO of the Recording Academy. The program is part of a comprehensive three-year sponsorship package and will make a difference in the lives of students in up to 50,000 public elementary schools in the United States.

The program includes a curriculum distributed to elementary school teachers and cash awards to recognize and reward excellence in elementary school music education programs.

At the same time, Folgers will be able to build its relationship with the teachers and parents of elementary school-aged children, and others who care about early music education.

To participate, visit the website at http://www.folgers.com/grammys/index.html.

OneBook Provides Comprehensive 
Technology Resources

The eSchool News 2001 K-12 School Technology One Book is a 700-plus page resource book designed to meet the needs of K-12 educators who play a part in planning, implementing, or using technology. Inside this resource book, you’ll find all information conveniently listed alphabetically by product category and indexed for easy reference. This single source puts the facts and contacts — at every key technology decision point — in one convenient, comprehensive, easy-to-use volume.

The 2001 K-12 School Technology One Book provides contacts, facts, guidelines, and proven techniques that will help you make informed, effective decisions about technology planning, funding, purchasing, integration, and management throughout your school or district.

Order the new eSchool News 2001 K-12 School Technology One Book for the charter publication price of $129 and save $70 off the publication price of $199.

From the April,  May, and June 2001 Issues of the 
National Association of Partners in Education Newsletter 
Keeping Children at the Center.  
To become a member call 703-836-4880.

This page updated 6/20/01.