A big THANK YOU to the Croninger PTA for inviting me to speak to them last night.  I introduced myself and gave them a bit of my background and education through  FWCS and how I became interested in becoming an advocate for public education.  For those of you interested in joining the fight for public education, I will share with you a little of the history of vouchers that I shared with the PTA.
 
In 2011, under the Tony Bennett/Mitch Daniels regime in Indiana and thanks to the influence of the Milton Freidman Foundation, ALEC, and the American Federation for Children, formerly chaired by Betsy DeVos, vouchers were first introduced with legislation passed during that year’s session. 
 
There were limitations to the amount of money the state would spend and qualifications students must have. $6.5 million was the limit and the voucher amount was $4500. The students must spend or have spent one year in a public school. This was supposed to be a social justice bill for low-income families who wanted to move their children to private schools but didn’t have the resources to do so.
 
You can see the income guidelines for a family of 4 on the chart.
 
The first two years this did save the state money, although Fort Wayne Community Schools only lost enough students that our overall expenses remained the same, but with less money.
 
In 2013, the voucher caps were removed and the amount grew to $4800. The pathways to receive a voucher also grew – there are now 8 pathways to receive a voucher with a couple of them being:

• Older sibling in private school, other siblings don’t need public school attendance  
• Live in attendance area where the public school has an F letter grade

 As you can see from the  chart at the very top of this page that the income qualifications have doubled for a family of four. Vouchers are no longer for the poor. They are now a middle class entitlement. Furthermore, more more than 50% of students receiving vouchers in a private religious school NEVER attended a public nor ever intended on doing so...they were always going to attend their private school. Now it's with our tax dollars. The "pot" has been spread thin for  our public schools because we are educating more students with that same pot of money.
 
Want to start advocating for YOUR  child? YOUR school? ALL children? Our public schools were designed to give EVERY child a fair shot a free, quality education.  Our schools are the future of our communities and are important to everyone.
 
Here are some resources to learn about what is happening in public education and how to fight to continue a free publication to all.
 
Resources
 
https://neifpe.blogspot.com/ (Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education)
 
http://icpe2011.com/ (Vic Smith – Statehouse Notes – At the Statehouse)
 
http://dianeravitch.com/
 
https://networkforpubliceducation.org/
 
https://www.ista-in.org/
 
http://www.livingindialogue.com/ (Anthony Cody)
 
https://deutsch29.wordpress.com/ (Mercedes Schneider)
 
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/ (Peter Greene)
 
http://www.pegwithpen.com/ (Peggy Robertson)
 
http://haveyouheardblog.com/ (EduShyster/Jennifer Berkshire)
 
https://inschoolmatters.wordpress.com/ (Steve Hinnefield)
 
Action Steps – the first steps to take to become an advocate for public education
 
Host a House Party and view a film about education reform – contact NEIFPE@gmail.com if you are willing to host and would like volunteers to moderate discussion. 

• Education, Inc. A documentary about how money and politics are changing our schools.
• Rise Above the Mark is a documentary narrated by Peter Coyote that brings to light the heartbreaking realities of public education. It’s the story of what happens when politics enters the classroom.
• Race to Nowhere is a film that calls us to challenge current thinking about how we prepare our children for success. Named by TakePart.com as one of “10 Education Documentaries You Don’t Want to Miss”, “Race to Nowhere” brings communities together to spark dialogue and galvanize change in America’s schools.
• GO PUBLIC: A Day in the Life of an American School District is a 90-minute documentary of one entire day in the Pasadena Unified School District. Pasadena is a racially and economically diverse community in Southern California with 28 public school campuses. GO PUBLIC tells the story of one full day from sun up to long after sundown.

 
Attend School Board Meetings and Work Sessions
 
Follow the State Legislature, especially the Senate and House Education Committees, and the State Board of Education. Follow bills and write letters. https://iga.in.gov/   http://www.in.gov/sboe/ 

Attend the showing of Backpack Full of Cash on April 14.
 
Attend the Network for Public Education Conference in Indianapolis on October 20-21, 2018.
 
Make appointments to meet your legislators.
 
Campaign for pro-public education candidates.
 
Register to vote, do your research on the candidates and then VOTE. https://indianavoters.in.gov/
 
Spread the word – at the grocery, at the coffee shop, to your plumber, to your mom, at the bus stop, to your realtor, to your barber. Public Schools affect every member of our community. They are our future.
 

Administering the SAT test to all children is probably the most egregious attack on public education I have witnessed. These tests were designed as an entrance exam to a 4-year college; they were meant for the roughly 20-35% of students who wish to pursue a 4-year degree. What will this do for students with learning disabilities?  Why is this necessary for students who wish to pursue a 2-year degree from a technical school? How does this help the student who attends Anthis or any other career education center for a license in cosmetology, certification as a CNA, welder, computer repairperson, or any other program that trains students to enter the world of work immediately after high school?
 
Research shows that only 20-35% of jobs require a 4-year college degree or beyond. So why must we subject roughly 70% of our students to taking a test that is unnecessary for their career goals and objectives? Why must we grade our schools on a test in which 70% of our students have no stake? 
 
I am a parent of three public school children who have had an amazing education in Fort Wayne Community Schools. Although the proposed accountability measures will not affect my children directly, they WILL affect hundreds of children succeeding them as well the community in which I live and have raised my children.  I implore you to re-consider using a test that has little or no value to many of the children forced to take it

     Harris Elementary shines brightly thanks to its renovation nearly 3 years ago. Located in Tamarack, it is a traditional neighborhood school. My visit there led me to classrooms that were different, yet the same.  Each room was identical with a carpeted area and a tiled area, yet each teacher chose a set up with desks and tables that best suited his or her students’ needs.  As the principal took me from classroom to classroom, the students remained focused on their work. Some were reading, some were doing math, some used technology, while others worked in small groups.
 
I’m not quite sure I’m “smarter than a 5th grader” as I watched them work on complex math including order of operations and other math skills that are preparing them for Algebra. I was very impressed with the young lady who neatly wrote out her steps all around her paper.  I told her my children would have erased their work despite my telling them over and over how it important it is to show their work, something my own teachers stressed again and again.
 
The students’ work was displayed throughout the building – some was writing, some was math, some included the student’s pictures. There was a display of a competition between classes to encourage students to win a “gold” or “silver” medal as they progressed to more difficult skill levels. And there were a few “teacher” works displayed – an “I’ve been mugged” picture that I noticed on several doors. The principal informed me that this was a morale booster for teachers. This was something I thought was great…being a teacher myself, I know how frustrating some days can be. I told the principal that I will never forget what it felt like to go to my mailbox and see a full-sized candy bar from the Student Council there – just because. That candy bar, though a small gesture, made a huge difference in my day.  Their “mug” morale booster is a “pay it forward” mug filled with goodies to brighten a teacher’s day. Being a teacher is difficult and sometimes feels like a thankless job. But these Harris Elementary teachers seem to have it right…they not only keep their students focused and engaged, but they support one another to make Harris a great place to be.

              Students engaged in their learning. Students understand what the expectations are in their classrooms. Teachers focused on all needs of students. These are some of the things I noticed on my visit to Indian Village Elementary.
 
            I was welcomed by a principal who was enthusiastic and caring. It was obvious that he loves what he does and cares both about his staff and students. As we walked through the halls, Mr. Peters encouraged students to focus on being an exceptional student. Although Mr. Peters has been in an administrative position for many years, it was apparent that he has not forgotten what it is like to be a classroom teacher. It was obvious that there is a team effort at Indian Village when it comes to finding the best ways to get students engaged and successful in learning.
 
           What really stands out at this school is the partnership with First Wayne Street United Methodist Church.  I had heard many positive things about the volunteers from FWSUMC before my visit. Their partnership goes beyond the typical after school tutoring as they donate school supplies, books, and much more. In my one hour visit, I met two tutors, both very enthusiastic and committed to their work.
 
          Indian Village is a unique neighborhood school, nested in an established neighborhood with the same name. The school is adjacent to a park which the school uses for special events. I had driven by this school many, many times as it was a short cut to pick up my oldest child from high school. But getting a peek inside to see what is actually going on made this school really come to life. Enthusiasm, caring, respect, a desire to learn…these are qualities one only sees from the inside.

Because I chose to visit Adams Elementary the day they recognized the many Veterans in their lives, I had a personal escort to the auditorium and a front row seat for their Veteran’s Day Program. The Boys Club had the honor of opening the door for guests and taking them to the auditorium.  When I arrived there were already Veterans in attendance and more coming in, taking a seat in the front to be recognized for their service. Once the children arrived, the festivities began with a flag processional by the Student Council. The program continued with poems, letters, and songs.  The emotion in that room was overwhelming. Staff, students, guests, and veterans were all touched by the love and gratitude expressed through music and prose. At the conclusion of the event, the Veterans were offered punch and cookies and had their pictures taken in a patriotic setting.  Many of them reminisced while they all showed appreciation for the event as they thanked the staff for making them special and appreciated. Overall, it was a truly wonderful program – one that was well worth the effort put into it as it brought joy to many of our servicemen.
 
            After the ceremony, Mrs. Smith, the principal at Adams, gave me a brief tour of the school. A program unique to Adams is their “No Excuses University.”  This program has young children and their families already thinking about life after high school – about furthering their education, whether it is through a 4 year or 2 year college, technical school, or apprenticeship. Students have the opportunity to deposit money into a savings account thanks to a partnership with 3 Rivers Federal Credit Union. Once a month they have a “College Go Day” celebration and honor students chosen for the “Picture Me in College” recognition. Parents are invited to this event so that families can learn about what college can offer their children if they continue to work hard.
 
            A great day…thank you Adams, and a BIG thank you to our Veterans!

​     I so much enjoy visiting our schools, and Principal for a Day is definitely a favorite. I love to hear the stories from other community members who visit schools, especially when they have an “ah ha” moment and discover something about one of our schools that they never knew. There are many “hidden gems” in our district, but the gem I discovered today was Northwood Middle School.

​     Starting the day off with a good book sounds like a perfect start to me!  The halls were eerily quiet at 7:30 in the morning as Principal Austin Couch and I peeked into classrooms while students read quietly to themselves. The morning reading is new for students, but all students were actively reading a book of their choice, maybe discovering a new passion or enhancing their vocabulary.

     If you need a little love, spend a day with the kindhearted, friendly students at Bloomingdale Elementary.  What a surprise it was when the principal and I walked into a first grade classroom and immediately became involved in the learning of these young people. They had just finished a lesson on vowel sounds and were instructed to match the sound with pictures that had the same sound – cut and glue style. One little girl asked if I could find her scissors; another asked me what picture was that he was holding in his hand.  I watched and helped as they matched the pictures to the letter sound. Interestingly, an olive certainly doesn’t look like an olive when it is only a black outline on white paper. I quickly learned that if I told them what color it would be if we colored it, they then realized it was indeed an olive.  But I didn’t do too well when it came to the picture of an “ox.” After all, “cow” had pretty much the same letter “o” sound they were looking for. I did wonder why the cow had horns, but one little boy pointed out to me that it was an ox. 

     We moved on to a fifth grade classroom where the children were just as inviting.  Two boys were playing memory with abbreviations and the word it stands for.  They were eager to tell me what the abbreviations represented and invited me to play a game with them.  We did a little reading as well and learned that Mars is the red planet, that the solar system of more than just the sun and planets, and that the planets rotate as they move around the sun.

     As we entered each classroom, my guide and principal had no problem being an active participant on “the ground.” She quickly engaged with the children, helped them with their assignments, gave them encouragement and support, and showed an abundance of love to these little people.  She knew each child by name, and it was obvious that she regularly spends time in the classrooms getting  to know each and every student. 

     Visiting schools is the best part of being on the school board. Everyone needs a good dose of a child’s love.  Spending time with these young Bloomingdale students brightened my day and warmed my heart. One little boy even said I was his new best friend!  

     Usually when I visit one of our schools, I am enamored by seeing the children actively learning and enjoying what they do. But today was a bit different because I was enamored by the building instead! I’m not sure if it were the location of Washington Center, or that there is so much history within the walls of the building that intrigued me.  While I still don’t know much about the history, it is obvious that there is a great deal there. There are remnants of a building from the early part of last century, the 1950s, and 1990s as well as today.  Somehow all of the time periods meld together to form this now pre-K through 5th grade building.  Remnants of perhaps a K-8 building show through the lockers that are still being used in the upper grades.  An empty computer lab shows that FWCS was cutting-edge in the 1990s with a one-to-one computer classroom methodology. But this room is only empty do to the many classroom sets of iPads and laptops that are being used daily by students, which represents today and the importance of technology.  The building will undergo renovation soon, so I was glad I was able to see it and its view to the past.  I wonder what caused the growth and made them add on during the various time periods. Is the cafeteria in the basement because this kept students and workers cooler in a non-air-conditioned building?  Maybe someone who knows the history to Washington Center will be able to answer the questions. I’m sure there are many stories that could be shared.

     The building and grounds to Washington Center are quite spacious which gives way to many opportunities for outdoors activities and indoor collaboration.  They seem to take advantage of the space they have and feel lucky to have it. Mr. Goldfuss, the relatively new principal, is encouraged with the new families coming to his school. And soon, it will be even better!  And there’s certainly plenty of room and always a warm welcome for new students.
​
     I was able to capture a short video of one part of the day that students must absolutely love…I know I would have!  Their music program is fortunate enough have several classroom sets of musical instruments, including a classroom set of hand chimes. This is what I love about FWCS: they understand the importance of the arts and find ways to bring these opportunities to all students. While probably few of these students at Washington Center will go on to be world class musicians, the skills and the rewards of learning these instruments will stay with them forever.  When I heard the chimes being played, it reminded me of my time in music class – each student playing his or her part to form an amazing musical sound. Sitting in the middle of that has to warm one’s heart and lift one’s spirit.

     Thank you for a great morning and a wonderful start to the week.

     Watching a mixed level classroom full of students all working diligently and quietly, each on a task they have chosen, never seems to stop amazing me. I have been to Bunche Montessori on numerous occasions as this was where my children attended pre-school and kindergarten. But this was a visit where I wasn’t working for the PTA, I wasn’t visiting my child for her VIP day, nor was I volunteering for a special Mother’s Day project.  This was the first time in a long time where I actually observed children doing Montessori work – work that they chose, and that they enjoy doing. As I noticed when my first child, who  is now 18 and off to college, attended Bunche, the children are happy to be at school and doing works that will make them independent, resourceful learners. My intent on visiting was to see the results of a summer’s worth of work to install air conditioning and lighting.  While I must admit the gym looked brand new with only the addition of some paint and lights and the removal of a few eyes soars, and the halls gleamed with brightness, and new carpet gave the place a lift, my eyes drifted towards the students who gleam even brighter because they are loving  learning.
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     My next stop was at Towles Intermediate School where Montessori continues in grades 1-6 and a transition to New Tech happens in grades 7-8. Once again I witnessed students in the 6-9 and 9-12 clusters working at their own pace, perfecting their skills in math and language arts by using manipulatives that enhanced the skills they were working on.  But I also observed “passion.” What did that look like?  “Passion” is seeing people light up when they talk about their school – both adults and children.  Passion is the teacher not even noticing you’re stepping into his classroom because he is so focused on the children and his goals for the day.  Passion is when a principal takes the time to talk one on one with children and say something positive about them. Passion is loving what you do and making it show. It definitely showed today at Towles.