Upcoming Events
Henderson County Parent Involvement Meeting - September 29, 2009 (6:00 PM)
McLean County Cultural Attitudes Meeting - October 13, 2009 (6:00 PM) McLean Board of Education
Dixon Education Advocacy Group Meeting - October 22, 2009 (3:45 PM) Dixon Elementary
Wowowow! Education Advocacy Teams in Henderson, McLean, Union, and Webster Counties are off and running—no joke. Proactive and passionate citizens have committed themselves to creating a culture which expects education excellence—nothing less. Let me share a quick overview of grassroots progress in your community:
Henderson County
Henderson County's Early Childhood Education group presents to 25 additional education advocates
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Henderson County advocates have several innovative projects underway. For example, Henderson Community College, community leaders, and local businesses have partnered to create Colonels 2 College, a scholarship initiative aimed at offering every single Henderson County High graduate (beginning with the Class of 2013) the opportunity to earn up to $1000 per year to attend Henderson Community College. To earn a Colonels 2 College certificate, students must earn a 96% attendance record and 2.5 yearly GPA, as well as demonstrate persistence and rigor.
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McLean County
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McLean County advocates have initiated several impressive projects as well. One committee began a Ready, Set, Learn! initiative through which Baby Bags for new or expectant parents are available through local churches or the Family Resource Center. Baby bags include resources and informational materials to encourage parents to prepare their littles one for lifelong learning from day one.
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McLean County native Beth Mitchell shares the Ready, Set, Learn! program with McLean County advocates.
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Webster County
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Webster County advocates understand the important role that mentoring and tutoring can play in motivating and supporting students to achieve their fullest potential. A group in Dixon plans to implement a tutoring program at Dixon Elementary and Webster County High School. The group is currently looking for volunteers in all study areas, especially math. Mentors will be provided materials to work with students. Contact Paul Westerman to volunteer.
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Webster County's Providence group discusses piloting a mentoring program.
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Union County
Union County’s Academic Emphasis group has created a three-day job shadowing program to connect schoolwork to adult life occupations. The group piloted the job shadowing program in July with two incoming freshmen and plans to offer the opportunity again to students this fall. Another Union County team planned the first annual Back to School Rally to create excitement for the 09-10 school year. Several speakers offered students and community members wisdom about the necessity of education for job opportunities as well as improved quality of life and enjoyment of the world around us.
For more information on any of these programs or to coordinate an additional project in your community, please contact Katie French at Katie@northwestky.com or 270.832.7417.
Henderson County Schools East Heights Elementary Named 2009 National Blue Ribbon School
East Heights was named a 2009 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Secretary of Education. 264 public and 50 private schools will be honored at an awards ceremony on November 3 in Washington D.C. The award honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either academically superior or have made dramatic gains in student achievement and helped close gaps in achievement among minority and disadvantaged students. Each year, the U.S. Department of Education has sought out schools where students attain and maintain high academic goals.
For more information about Blue Ribbon Schools go to http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/awards.html
For more information about East Heights Elementary, please contact Nancy Gibson, East Heights Principal at 270-831-5070.
Union County Superintendent Josh Powell Named Superintendent of the Year
Mr. Powell is the only Superintendent in our state to have received the KASA Administrator of the Year award twice, in 2007 and 2009.
View details at http://www.kasa.org/awards_and_recognition/index.html for details.
"Graduate Kentucky: A Community Approach" Statewide Dropout Prevention Summit
First Lady and former teacher Jane Beshear partnered with General Colin Powell’s America’s Promise Alliance to organize a statewide dropout prevention summit September 11 and 12. The recent summit in Frankfort urged community members, business owners, and local leaders throughout Kentucky to commit to proactive dropout prevention, beginning in elementary school. Did you know that it costs twice as much to incarcerate someone per year in Kentucky, ($19,000), than to educate them in public school, ($9,200), and in higher education, ($7,000), every year? Visit Graduate Kentucky at http://graduate.ky.gov/ to learn what students, parents, schools, communities, and businesses can do to meet the challenge.
"What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country," states President Obama
View full Education Week article at http://www.edweek.org.
New Economic Model Links a Decrease in High School Drop-out Rates to Economic Gains
View full article: http://www.americaspromise.org.
The High Cost of High School Droupouts: What the Nation Pays for Inadequate High Schools
View the article at http://www.all4ed.org.
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