EVANSVILLE — Glenwood Leadership Academy eighth grader Kimmy Fry moved Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. Superintendent David Smith to tears Wednesday evening as the U.S. Department of Education's Back-To-School Bus Tour visited the school.
More than 150 teachers, students and community members attended the public forum in Glenwood's auditorium with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Tony Miller discussing labor/management collaboration and community partnerships in education. The annual bus tour, now in third year, reinforces the message that "Education Drives America."
Also on the panel for comment were president of the National Education Association Dennis Van Roekel, Indiana Department of Education policy and research specialist Joe Anderson and president of the Evansville Teachers Association Keith Gambill.
Photo by Erin McCracken
Photos by ERIN McCRACKEN / COURIER & PRESS Kimmy Fry, 13, a Glenwood Leadership Academy eighth grader, asks U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Tony Miller, Dennis Van Roekel, president of the National Education Association and David Smith, Superintendent of EVSC schools, what can be given back to the teachers who work so hard and are so dedicated to their students during a panel discussion as part of the U.S. Department of Education's third annual "Education Drives America" Back-to-School Bus Tour on Wednesday night. " I wasn't going to say anything tonight," She said after the discussion, " But I am thankful to all the teachers that work very hard and wanted to know what we (the students) can do to let them know we appreciate their dedication to us."
Photo by Erin McCracken
ERIN McCRACKEN / COURIER & PRESS After a student asked, "what can be given back to the teachers who work so hard and are so dedicated?" Michelle Fellows, waves her arms and cheers with her son, Kordell Williams, 13, right, as David Smith, Superintendent of EVSC schools tells the students to "Make your life great." Fellows was moved by the answer, because she said she is so pleased with the care and dedication the teachers give the students at Glenwood. " Education is the most important thing," Fellows said, " Our kids are our future and I want them to have and education and make something of themselves."
Photo by Erin McCracken
ERIN McCRACKEN / COURIER & PRESS U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Tony Miller is introduced to Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. school board members, Mike Duckworth, left and Sally Becker, right, during a meet-and-greet session before a panel discussion as part of the U.S. Department of Education's third annual "Education Drives America" Back-to-School Bus Tour at Glenwood Leadership Academy on Wednesday night. The on discussion focused on labor management, collaboration and community partnership in education and allowed parents, teachers and community members to address concerns and ask questions of local, state and national education leaders.
Fry, 13, said Glenwood is a family, and she gave a 100 percent guarantee that every student has a relationship with a staff member or a teacher.
"And I was wondering, what can we do for the teachers," she said. "Because they work like really hard everyday, and no teacher has ever said they do it for the money."
Glenwood staff received a standing ovation from the crowd as Smith choking back tears, noted his wife is a teacher and that until the district gets more money, students should make their lives incredibly great.
"Live your life so that you never have to apologize for anybody or to anybody for actions that would be put in the paper," Smith said. "And then anytime you hear somebody denigrate teachers or denigrate kids that go to Glenwood or denigrate Glenwood families, don't allow them to do it."
Gambill advised students to finish their homework; while Van Roekel suggested students strive to become teachers.
Glenwood is the only school in Indiana on the DOE bus tour, and Wednesday evening was the first time the tour made a stop in Evansville.
Glenwood Principal Tamara Skinner said she was thrilled to host the panel discussion.
"We feel so blessed to be a part of this opportunity," she said. "And to have the opportunity to both showcase our school and also meet important dignitaries that are really impacting the education policy that's affecting the students that we're teaching."
During discussion, Miller said it's important to work to find solutions that are making a difference for students.
Smith said state funding needs to increase for prekindergarten, when most brain development is taking place, and it's a travesty that it isn't happening.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and his senior leaders are crisscrossing the country on a 10-day national tour, making stops at 48 schools in 12 states across the middle of the country. The tour concludes Friday at the DOE headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Daniel Wertz Elementary School teacher Vera Emmons appreciates the tour making a stop in Evansville, and said EVSC deserves it because they work hard with partners to do what's best for the kids.
"So many changes are being made in the education profession that I wanted to get a feel for what's going on outside our corner of the world," Emmons said. "I think EVSC and the Evansville Teachers Association work together well to stay ahead of new policies and that benefits not only the administration but the children, too."
Skinner said partnerships are critical for school districts. Some for Glenwood include Leadership Evansville, Crossroads Christian Church, Glenwood Neighborhood Association and Habitat for Humanity for changing the face of the neighborhood.
"There's no way that we could do the work that we do here by ourselves," Skinner said. "We have so many partners that come to the table to support our building and everyone here is working hard. Our teachers are very intentional about what they're teaching students, but it takes a lot of social support to really make sure that you're enveloping the whole child."
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Comments » 8
NoMoDoh writes:
"Glenwood staff received a standing ovation from the crowd as Smith choking back tears, noted his wife is a teacher and that until the district gets more money, students should make their lives incredibly great."
Why should an increase in district money have anything to do with a student making his life "incredibly great"? What should they do AFTER the district "gets more money"? Students should all be encouraged to work hard at their education in an effort to rise to whatever level in life they desire.
Look at Dr. Smith. He makes over $200,000, including perks, plus his wife is making around $55,000, which makes their combined annual incomes around a quarter million dollars. You need two things to do that in the EVSC. The right number of degrees and knowing how to play the "games" with the right people.
Indiana has given Glenwood an additional $2 million dollars for three years based on the fact that they were, at the time the grant was given, one of the 3 lowest achieving schools in the state. Doesn't that indicate that NOT being "incredibly great" pays off, too? Mixed messages?
If you asked most teachers, privately and with assurances their name will not be revealed, they will tell you the thing they want most is MORE TIME TO TEACH and LESS time spent filling out reports and paperwork that only the administration requires. They would like fewer changes, especially to programs that they have working for the kids.
Every time the administration finds a program that MIGHTt be a "silver bullet" and cure the stagnant ISTEP scores, they BUY it and make the teachers and kids start over.
I wonder how much this "Tour of 12 states and 48 schools" is costing? Couldn't that money be better used to affect education more directly?
My congratulations to the Glenwood kids and the teachers who are improving their skills and results. They didn't need this roadshow to tell them they are doing their best.
davidm writes:
But a pat on the back and a kick in the right direction never hurt anyone. Kudos to Glenwood and it's staff and students.
citall writes:
NoMoDoh- Your last paragraph was the only thing worth reading in your comment.
Hoosier_guy writes:
My best to the students, staff, volunteers and PARENTS (the member of the education team blamed when things are bad and forgotten when things are good ) on their success.
newshound writes:
NoMoDoh -- must you ALWAYS be so negative?
If you would have attended the event last night, you would have seen a tremendous gathering of parents, educators, and students who were so thrilled that their school was selected out of all others in the State of Indiana -- for this panel discussion. Principal Tamara Skinner made a comment near the end of the meeting that was quite moving. She said the miracle of what is happening at Glenwood is not about money... but about people, and partnerships with the community that are helping kids succeed. Glenwood,its leaders, students, and community partners should be commended for the extraordinary work they are doing.
michaelmann74 writes:
Personally I was thinking that Bill Cosby or Philly Mayor Michael Nutter would make a better guest at Glenwood.
NoMoDoh writes:
newshound wrote:
"Principal Tamara Skinner made a comment near the end of the meeting that was quite moving. She said the miracle of what is happening at Glenwood is not about money... but about people, and partnerships with the community that are helping kids succeed. "
Instead of printing that lovely tribute to those who have contributed to the successes at Glenwood, the C&P chose to print the following":
"...Smith choking back tears, noted his wife is a teacher and that until the district gets more money, students should make their lives incredibly great."
Smith's emphasis seems to be that without MORE money the school children will be on their own to make their lives better. It wasn't that continued work by all those involved will make the big difference.
The impression I got from the story is that this visit by the USDOE is somehow linked to additional future funding and Glenwood was being used to prime the pump.
I've been following the EVSC too long to wear rose-colored glasses when reading press releases. Smith is about getting and spending money. He is not any more of an educator than Bertram was. To hear him talk about the ISTEP scores you would think there was a big improvement. In reality, the average English and Math scores for the EVSC increased only about .4% and .7% in those categories. Only a few schools made significant improvements, but they were what you heard about.
Remember the "Emperor's New Clothes" when you read a story about the EVSC.
pressanykey writes:
If none of the teachers are teaching for monetary reasons, then I guess we can shelve that incentive pay idea.
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