The newspaper reports Davis Magnet International Baccalaureate World School is in Jackson, Miss, and is a predominantly black public elementary school. The president of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association told the Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees on Tuesday night (Oct. 17) that “school stakeholders” voted to change the school’s name to Barack Obama Magnet IB. The report did not say who the stakeholders were.
“Jefferson Davis, although infamous in his own right, would probably not be too happy about a diverse school promoting the education of the very individuals he fought to keep enslaved being named after him,” the PTA president told the board, according to the report.
CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) is accepting nominations for the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Author/Illustrator Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is named for award-winning children’s author Virginia Hamilton (1936-2002), recipient of the 1983, 1986 and 1996 Coretta Scott King Book Award, 1974 National Book Award and the 1975 John Newbery Medal. In 1994, she was awarded the prestigious Hans Christian Anderson Author Award for the body of her work and was named a fellow of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation in 1995.
The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of Hamilton’s exemplary contributions through her literature and advocacy for children and youth, especially in her focus on African-American life, history and consciousness. Authors, illustrators or author/illustrators will be honored in even-numbered years, while practitioners will be recognized in odd-numbered years. Previous recipients of the Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Author/Illustrator Lifetime Achievement Award include Jerry Pinkney, Patricia and Fredrick McKissack and Ashley Bryan.
The Author/Illustrator Award honors an African American author, illustrator or author/illustrator for a body of his or her published books for children and/or young adults who has made a significant and lasting literary contribution. The body of work selected must represent distinguished writing and/or illustrations by and about the African American experience for children and/or young adults over a period of time. Committee members may also pay particular attention to bodies of work whose interpretation consistently motivates youth readers to stretch their imagination and thinking; that denote exceptional examples of specific types of literature; and that represent trend-setters, innovations or fresh explorations of themes or topics or perspectives in African American literature for children and/or young adult. The body of work must include at least one CSK Award winner (Author, Illustrator, New Talent winner or Honor Book for either category).
All nominees must be living at the time of the award to be considered. The winning recipient will be announced during the ALA Youth Media Awards during the ALA Midwinter Meeting on Monday, Feb. 12, 2018 in Denver. The winner will be honored at the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Breakfast during the 2018 ALA Annual Convention Conference in New Orleans and will receive a medal and a $1,500 cash award.
Nominations will be accepted through Monday, Dec. 4, 2017. The winning recipient will be notified on Monday, Feb. 12, 2018 during ALA Midwinter. To view the Award criteria and submit a nomination, please visit http://www.ala.org/emiert/cskhamilton-submit.
The recipient will be selected by a five-member award jury from the Coretta Scott King- Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement Committee of the Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT). The award is administered by the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee of EMIERT and is supported by the ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services.
The Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award is part of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards, which honor African American authors and illustrators of outstanding books for children and young adults that demonstrate sensitivity to “the African American experience via literature and illustration.” The award is designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor the late Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination to work for peace and world brotherhood.
District of Columbia sent this bulletin at 10/17/2017 02:09 PM EDT
SBOE Welcomes New Student Representatives
Tallya Rhodes’ Swearing-In Ceremony at HD Woodson High School
Late last month, the State Board of Education proudly held swearing-in ceremonies for its two new student representatives, Tallya Rhodes (HD Woodson HS, Ward 7) and Tatiana Robinson (Ballou HS, Ward 8). State Board President Karen Williams was joined by Ashley Carter (At-Large) and Markus Batchelor (Ward 8) at both high schools as our newest student representatives were sworn in with proud teachers, classmates, and family members cheering them on!
Tallya and Tatiana are the first students from their respective high schools to be selected as student representatives. These two outstanding students were chosen through an open application process due to their academic excellence and deep involvement at school and in the community. Tatiana and Tallya will also chair the State Board’s Student Advisory Committee of youth leaders from schools around the city who will advise the State Board on its work over the next year.
The Student Advisory Committee serves as the voice of students in the State Board’s work and is consulted on all issues of policy before the Board. The Student Advisory Committee conducts its meetings approximately once per month and is happy to accept new members. If you are a District of Columbia resident and either a sophomore, junior, or senior in either a traditional public or public charter high school and would like to join, please contact us via email at sboe@dc.gov.
The October 11th meeting of the task force marks the halfway point of their important work on high school graduation requirements. During this meeting, a draft problem statement was discussed, which was synthesized from input from task force members after a series of engagement opportunities with students, graduates, counselors and other stakeholders. Feel free to watch the robust discussion below.
Our SBOE ESSA Task Force held its third meeting on October 3rd, continuing their important work of devising education policy recommendations related to the District’s implementation of ESSA. At this month’s meeting, Task Force member Josh Boots of EmpowerK12 presented information on 2017 PARCC data for the District. Representatives from the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) provided an overview of the report card creation process and introduced a public engagement facilitation toolkit that task force members can utilize in upcoming focus group sessions. Check out the meeting materials here and watch the replay here.
Earlier this month, the task force started holding focus groups around the District to ensure that families are informed about the new state education and the work of the task force. To find an upcoming focus group that you can attend, please visit sboe.dc.gov/essa. The next task force meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at 6:00 p.m.
Working Session To Be Held on November 6th * Meeting Date Change *
Please be advised that the date for our November working session has been moved to Monday, November 6, 2017. We will hold this working session at 6:00 p.m. in Room 1114 at 441 4th St. NW. For more information regarding upcoming meetings, please visit sboe.dc.gov.
Deeper Learning Panel at Public Meeting
At September’s public meeting, the SBOE welcomed an expert panel on “deeper learning.” The panel delved into the current research on deeper learning as the State Board continues to push District schools to provide all students with an education that prepares them for college, career, and life. The State Board was honored to receive a grant from the National Association of State Boards of Education to assist us in our work in this area.
Don Long, Director of Teaching, Leading & Learning Policy at the National Association of State Boards of Education, Dr. Loretta Goodwin, Senior Director at the American Youth Policy Forum, and Phillip Lovell, Vice President of Policy Development and Government Relations at the Alliance for Excellent Education, shared with the Board current research into the deeper learning idea and how it can impact students. These representatives spoke to deeper learning as educational strategies that develop students’ abilities to master academic content, think critically and solve complex problems, work collaboratively, communicate effectively, and learn how to learn. Panelists discussed the benefits of integrating deeper learning with social and emotional learning in a more holistic way. Click here to review their presentation.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) received an update on the SecondLaunch Initiative at its October board meeting. The initiative, which was created by the West Virginia Department of Education in June 2015, continues to expand its reach, providing much needed technology to students throughout the state. Now, in its third year, SecondLaunch has saved the state $3 million in technology costs and has provided more than 8,000 computers to students in 47 counties.
Computers and other technology equipment are donated to SecondLaunch from West Virginia government agencies as well as private industry. Equipment is then wiped, cleaned and upgraded to meet the requirements of the programs used in schools. Computers, monitors, keyboards and mice are packaged together for ease of use and assembly, and schools can pick the computers up at the SecondLaunch warehouse in Charleston.
“Through the SecondLaunch Initiative, we are working to ensure that all students have access to technology and resources they need” said West Virginia Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Steven Paine. “Our goal is to have the program in all 55 counties, and work with educators to make sure that a lack of resources is never an obstacle for educators to provide the best education possible for our students.”
In addition to state agencies, private industry has also joined in and donated equipment to SecondLaunch.
“The program’s success depends on the donations we receive,” said David Cartwright, who oversees the program. “We have been fortunate to form a partnership with Toyota Motor Manufacturing in West Virginia, who has become a generous and recurring participant. Our hope is to expand our private partnerships so we can continue to see the program grow.”
SecondLaunch helps students interact with the technology they will encounter in life after high school, whether it be college or the workforce. Some of the state’s earliest learners also have access to the SecondLaunch materials, allowing West Virginia students to utilize 21st century learning resources every day.
When asked to share part of her writing process, fourth grade Wisconsin student, Aster Anderson focused on her love for animals. She also kept her audience in mind as she detailed, “I made a new paragraph to divide it up so people can see what they would like to read about most.”
Aster participated in the Wisconsin Writes series, which, before this year, featured professional writers from across the state. For the 2017-18 school year, the series will feature student writers, celebrating their talents, viewpoints, and passion for writing. Aster is the first student to share her writing process for the year.
Aster’s advice for students about writing surrounds the importance of reading what you write. She says she likes to “read it over after I’m done. I like to go back and look at stuff. If I make a mistake and keep on going I can go back and look at it in the end.”
You can find Aster’s videos on the Wisconsin Writes Department of Public Instruction web page. The first video is of her writing process, where she writes about baboons, focusing on factual information and structure. In Aster’s second video, she answers interview questions about writing, concentrating mainly on revision and editing, with the biggest focus on spelling and punctuation.
Questions about Wisconsin Writes?
For more information and to follow the series featuring students this year, go to: https://dpi.wi.gov/wisconsin-writes.
Contact Marci Glaus, English Language Arts Consultant for additional information.
The Wisconsin Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Talent Search is an annual competition for middle and high school students from Wisconsin. The organizers create five problem sets each consisting of five unusual and challenging math problems. The solution of these problems does not require advanced mathematical knowledge, just hard work and creativity. The participants have one month to work on each problem set and can send in their solutions via email or regular mail.
Top problem solvers will be invited to participate in the Honors Day Celebration in May, 2018 and will be eligible to compete in the Van Vleck Scholarship. The scholarship will pay $6,000 per year for four years at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
The first problem set is now available online. Please visit the Talent Search website to access the problems and additional information. If you have any questions about the Talent Search, feel free to contact the organizers at talent@math.wisc.edu.
We asked educators on NEA Today Facebook about the best thing that happened in their classrooms and schools last week. Some raised money with their students for disaster relief, others attended fun school-community events, and a whole lot had break-through moments with their students that sometimes brought tears to their eyes. We can all use a little positivity, so here’s a roundup of the good news they shared:
A discouraged dyslexic third grader has realized he can read the books I have set in a bin for him… and asked for permission to take some of the books to his after school program! This is the boy who normally says thing are too hard and puts his head down!Theresa Early, Fairfax, Virginia
Through the generous donations of my friends, I took my low-income, urban, Boston-area students on a field trip to New York City – the Empire State Building, Times Square, Ellen’s Stardust Diner, Liberty Cruise, Pizza Suprema – because they got the highest growth percentile on our state exam, because they worked their butts off every day in class, reading six more books than were in the curriculum, and because they are AWESOME.Nancy Petriello Barile, Boston, Massachusetts
My two newcomers with very little English yet, and who are both still pretty reluctant to attempt to speak in front of the whole class, enthusiastically volunteered to share their mathematical thinking and strategies during a math session this week. They were beaming from ear to ear with pride… Not only proud of them for putting themselves out there, but also for how supportive and encouraging the rest of the class always is of them. Made my week! Jennifer Gage Moke, Portland, Oregon
My seniors and AP juniors hosted a college and career fair for younger students (5th-10th graders). Each of my students became an “expert” on a college, military branch, or career field he or she hopes to pursue, created a table display and one-page informational handout, then they shared their research knowledge with their visitors. Barb Brown Andres, New Lothrop, Michigan
My first grade students performed All You Need is Love at our monthly assembly. We had picked the song long ago but it was so timely. Children remind all of us how beautiful the world is. They inspire me and drive me to be the best I can be every single day. Marianne Vasquez, Bakersfield, California
We presented a check for $5,100 to fund childhood cancer research at a local charity, the N8 Foundation. I work at the same school as Marianne Vasquez. Our school had a good week. Karen Nguyen, Bakersfield, California
I was subbing this week and when I introduced myself to the teacher she screamed and started crying because I had been her 2nd grade teacher!! I was so touched but felt old! Linda Morgan, Highland, California
During a math review quiz, one group worked together and only missed one question. But better than that was the collaboration. I heard things like, “We both got the same answer, do you agree with us” and “yes, I agree because…”. I was so happy I could cry! Megan Rene, McMinn, Lewiston, Idaho
We had a kindergarten potluck at a local park. It was so fun for the kids, parents and grandparents to have a chance to meet each other. I loved spending time with my students’ families and meeting families from the other K classrooms with my K team. Carol Harris, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
I have a student that is passing a high school math class for the first time… the joy on the student’s face makes all the daily struggles so worth it! Nell Dearing, Carlsbad, New Mexico
Thursday I returned as a volunteer at our highest poverty school to help some of the most dedicated teachers and work with kiddos that fill my heart! Phyllis Schneider Winkley, Vernon, Connecticut
New student came into our classroom and did not have a “rest buddy” of his own for rest time. The next day, a concerned child brought a gently used and carefully chosen stuffed animal of his own for his new friend. Heartwarming! Shelly Hess, Vincent, Ohio
Our association members attended events in the 3 communities that make up our district, raffling off 12 baskets of books, three Kindle fires and three family memberships to the Philadelphia zoo. Raffle tickets were free as prizes were donated by the teachers. Nicole May Armbruster, Aston, Pennsylvania
I got to see a second-grader who is struggling with behavior be a great role model to a first-grader who is struggling with behavior. ^_^Seeing them interact in such a sweet, friendly manner made my heart happy! Sarah Wood, Keizer, Oregon
An email from a parent informed me that her child loves my class and is excited about learning to love reading and writing, a subject she’s struggled with in the past. Joel Elrod Melsha, Orlando, Florida
A student who had done poorly in his first test put forth great effort at home studying, coming for extra help and really focusing during the test. ( that is hard for him). He finished early so I graded his test and it was a perfect test –100%. It was his birthday too. Right from the classroom, we called mom in front of the whole class and celebrate him. His mom was happy and the class applauded him. His smile lit up the whole room. Debra Calle, Bergenfield, New Jersey
A student who is homeless was going to have to transfer schools and be uprooted from all that is stable in his life. Our transportation department figured it out and will be busing him! Autumn Schultz, Toledo, Washington
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos today released the following statement on the announcement of new members to the President’s Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion.
“Apprenticeships have the potential to offer America’s students the hands-on education needed for today’s in-demand jobs, and expanding these opportunities will prepare them for success in the 21st century economy,” said Secretary DeVos. “As a Vice Chair of the Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion, I am excited to be part of this Administration’s efforts to strengthen workforce readiness and increase the number of postsecondary pathways available to students. I look forward to working with state and local educators, business and industry leaders and other key stakeholders as we continue our work to put the needs of America’s students and businesses first.”
“To Kill a Mockingbird” is being removed from a junior-high reading list in a Mississippi school district.
The Sun Herald reports that Biloxi administrators pulled the novel from the 8th-grade curriculum this week. School board vice president Kenny Holloway says the district received complaints that some of the book’s language “makes people uncomfortable.”
Published in 1960, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee deals with racial inequality in a small Alabama town.
A message on the school’s website says “To Kill A Mockingbird” teaches students that compassion and empathy don’t depend upon race or education. Holloway says other books can teach the same lessons.
We asked educators on 
