My week in review...Monday, Tuesday and part of Wednesday were spent in the office dealing with a multitude of things like membership, payments, media, the opt out issue to name a few. Wednesday afternoon I was to fly to Miami...get on the plane with Jacqui and Aurora in tow, and we are no sooner seated when they say we have a hydraulic issue and must deplane...take all your belongings with you...thats the universal code for this plane is not going. The mechanic comes and finally after he does his thing they decided at 5:50 our flight is cancelled. We re-booked for 7 that evening...take off, rent a car and at the hotel by 11. We start the next day early at the United Teachers of Dade as we prepared for our school visits with Lily Eskelsen García. We started at a middle school Allapattah Middle. We were met by the Principal, a young group of folks who are like cheerleaders chanting learning items...they are there each day and use this technique to engage and mentor the students. We met my favorite UTD school member in the media center, Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall. We then toured the school and saw amazing teaching and learning. Lily asked the kids in every class what one thing they wanted most of all that President Obama could possibly give to them. The most emotional for me was a young man that said, I want to take my school and put it in Coconut Grove. He then said if not that, bus me so I dont have to walk thru the project. Tell me that doesnt touch each and every reader. He loves his school, he loves his teachers, he wants to learn, this is his opportunity...he just wants it in a safer place. Florida Legislature you cant bubble that! We then went to the Hialeah Senior High were they refuse to let the tests define them. They offer, graphic design, the arts, music, religion theology and much more. The students were engaged and learning. I cant wait to go back and learn to tie dye when they do that...they said they will let me know so I can come back and learn how to do it...the kids will teach me...:) We ended our day with Charlie Crist at a press conference then a meet and greet with UTD members. It was an awesome experience. Thank you UTD. Jacqui, Aurora and Andy and I drove to Orlando to prepare for Friday. Friday we started our day at Westside K-8 a pretty new facility and it showed...but it still lacked all the infra structure it needs. However, the teachers and staff were amazing. Osceola has a large population of homeless students that live in nearby hotels. They have a FIT program...families in transition...and each Friday they pack food for the students to take home so they have food over the weekend (the students pack it for their peers...learning community service and the value of giving and helping). They even have a program for the kids to come have breakfast, lunch and dinner over the summer so they have food. Bubble that Florida Legislature. One classroom was designed as a ship and the theme for the students we are salty dog seasoned sailors sailing on the ship of knowledge - Karen Kuers was doing amazing things in that classroom. From there we went to Highlands Elementary where we toured and saw amazing teaching and learning and Lily and I ate lunch with a Kindergarten class...it sure brought back memories as I opened lots of milk cartons! The class we ate with is a two way language class...meaning in the morning they learn only in Spanish and in the afternoon they only learn in English. Bubble that Florida Legislature. We ended our day at the Osceola office meeting and talking with a Latino focus group. Thank you Apryle Jackson for a wonderful day and the great things you are helping to lead in Osceola. Then with Jacqui and Aurora in tow we drove back to Tallahassee Friday evening arriving home around 11. It was an amazing week. Thank your for allowing me, the privilege and opportunity to serve you, the FEA members and students of this state.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Sep 2014 14:04:12 +0000
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