My Son
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Swedeborg OKs selling classroom trailer for $1, free removal by buyer on Pulaski County Daily News
Swedeborg OKs selling classroom trailer for $1, free removal by buyer on Pulaski County Daily News
Lee's Summit has a few of these trailers. With an $8.6 million administration center, a $12 million aquatice center, and an updated Miller Center that was not good enough for the administration, but is ok for those kids that no one wants to deal with, it looks as though Lee's Summit could afford something better than trailers.
We have $250,000 band uniforms and astroturf on the football fields. Not too mention all of the other things that are really not needed.
We have the second highest tax levy in the area. We spend the least amount of money per student. Our teachers are not the highest paid. Where does all of your tax money go? To capital projects.
We may not be offering the best services, paying our teachers the best wages, spending what other districts do on our students, but our buildings, band and football fields look good. And the adminstration has a building with all of the bells and whistles.
Lee's Summit has a few of these trailers. With an $8.6 million administration center, a $12 million aquatice center, and an updated Miller Center that was not good enough for the administration, but is ok for those kids that no one wants to deal with, it looks as though Lee's Summit could afford something better than trailers.
We have $250,000 band uniforms and astroturf on the football fields. Not too mention all of the other things that are really not needed.
We have the second highest tax levy in the area. We spend the least amount of money per student. Our teachers are not the highest paid. Where does all of your tax money go? To capital projects.
We may not be offering the best services, paying our teachers the best wages, spending what other districts do on our students, but our buildings, band and football fields look good. And the adminstration has a building with all of the bells and whistles.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
America Via Erica: Coxsackie-Athens High School Valedictory Speech 2010
America Via Erica: Coxsackie-Athens High School Valedictory Speech 2010
Some of you may be thinking, “Well, if you pass a test, or become valedictorian, didn't you learn something? Well, yes, you learned something, but not all that you could have. Perhaps, you only learned how to memorize names, places, and dates to later on forget in order to clear your mind for the next test. School is not all that it can be. Right now, it is a place for most people to determine that their goal is to get out as soon as possible.
Some of you may be thinking, “Well, if you pass a test, or become valedictorian, didn't you learn something? Well, yes, you learned something, but not all that you could have. Perhaps, you only learned how to memorize names, places, and dates to later on forget in order to clear your mind for the next test. School is not all that it can be. Right now, it is a place for most people to determine that their goal is to get out as soon as possible.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Missouri fails to check for standardized test cheating
Missouri fails to check for standardized test cheating
"If you don't look, you don't find," said Bob Schaeffer, public education director for FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing. "You are void of embarrassment by not asking tough questions."
Missouri education officials rely on a system of self-reporting that assumes teachers and administrators will come to the state when they know of possible abuse.
Under this approach, even when allegations of testing irregularities are reported — as they were 41 times in 2011 — the state and school districts rarely engage in the kind of rigorous statistical review many say is needed.
The state has also dismantled a program due to funding reductions that had sent inspectors randomly into schools to ensure tests are administered properly.
State education officials say looking for red flags would add thousands of dollars to the testing contract at a time when the state has cut department funding.
"There is a cost to that," said Sharon Hoge, an assistant commissioner at the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. "We have tried to rely on self reports in our districts in Missouri. I'm not telling you that means there are not things possibly that are going on that we don't know about."
Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/missouri-fails-to-check-for-standardized-test-cheating/article_bba8c338-1763-5883-b6c2-7bdac952328d.html#ixzz1pZjpy5If
"If you don't look, you don't find," said Bob Schaeffer, public education director for FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing. "You are void of embarrassment by not asking tough questions."
Missouri education officials rely on a system of self-reporting that assumes teachers and administrators will come to the state when they know of possible abuse.
Under this approach, even when allegations of testing irregularities are reported — as they were 41 times in 2011 — the state and school districts rarely engage in the kind of rigorous statistical review many say is needed.
The state has also dismantled a program due to funding reductions that had sent inspectors randomly into schools to ensure tests are administered properly.
State education officials say looking for red flags would add thousands of dollars to the testing contract at a time when the state has cut department funding.
"There is a cost to that," said Sharon Hoge, an assistant commissioner at the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. "We have tried to rely on self reports in our districts in Missouri. I'm not telling you that means there are not things possibly that are going on that we don't know about."
Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/missouri-fails-to-check-for-standardized-test-cheating/article_bba8c338-1763-5883-b6c2-7bdac952328d.html#ixzz1pZjpy5If
seMissourian.com: State News: Missouri fails to check for standardized test cheating (03/19/12)
seMissourian.com: State News: Missouri fails to check for standardized test cheating (03/19/12)
Despite dozens of incidents of testing irregularities, Missouri education officials spend nothing on test fraud detection services and have dismantled a program that had sent inspectors randomly into schools to ensure tests were administered properly.
Despite dozens of incidents of testing irregularities, Missouri education officials spend nothing on test fraud detection services and have dismantled a program that had sent inspectors randomly into schools to ensure tests were administered properly.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Show Me State Autism Advocate Wants on the School Board | International Coalition for Autism and All Abilities
Show Me State Autism Advocate Wants on the School Board | International Coalition for Autism and All Abilities
Sherri Tucker, renowned throughout Missouri as a strong special needs advocate and activist, is making her second run for School Board in Lee’s Summit R-7 district.
Nine hopefuls are vying for one seat on the Board. Tucker is the only candidate with experience and knowledge regarding the unique needs of students with different abilities.
While the other candidates have all the expected positive credentials (and the usual ties to the public school system), Tucker’s candidacy stands out with her experience as an advocate for students, responsible spending, and educational oversight.
In this story in the Lee’s Summit Journal, Tucker’s mention is listed as simply: “Sherri Tucker, co-founder of the Lee’s Summit Autism Support Group. Tucker ran for the R-7 school board in 2008, arguing that the district was not providing adequate services for its special-needs children.”
Of course, with limited space, the publication cannot mention all of the accomplishments and activities Ms. Tucker has been involved with over the years (see below this post), that many Missourians have become aware of. All of it has been centered on helping others, ensuring that families with special needs are included in every aspect of our culture, from the legislature on down to every day issues, but always putting education at the forefront.
Sherri Tucker became a friend of our President Emily Malabey several years ago. Malabey had this to say about Ms. Tucker:
“I first knew Sherri was going to be a great ally and friend when I heard she had both angered and impressed some powerful people, including a few legislators. Sherri is fearless. She is on a mission and is unafraid to fight for what’s right. Sherri is one of the most honest and sincere people I have met, which is unfortunately a rarity in this world. I know firsthand that Sherri is talented, has a sharp attention to detail, consistent vigilance, and an advocate’s heart. One of the few but important ways we can improve our education system is by getting advocates for students into the systems so we can improve them from within. Our School Boards and administrations throughout the nation are severely lacking in student advocacy or a working knowledge and understanding of the needs for diverse student populations. Of course this means to include students with different abilities who have been neglected for far too long in the education system (despite laws that are in place to ensure otherwise). Sherri Tucker will be one promising anchor in the system to help ensure the system works for all students.”
According to Malabey and several others in the community, people have been asking Sherri Tucker for several years to run for public office. According to autistic advocate Mel Johnson, “She wants to be on the School Board but she is perfectly capable of running for higher offices as well. She cares about the kids in our schools and that is the kind of person everyone wants on the Board.”
Some say that her candidacy “is probably scaring the heck out of the establishment.” But it shouldn’t. By all accounts from several individuals who know or have worked with Tucker, she is “fair, easy to work with and a smart, thoughtful individual.”
According to Dan Brown, father and advocate, if the Board members are decided fairly (by what you know and not simply who you know), Tucker should have a good chance to begin advocating for students from the position of School Board member.
Sherri Tucker Accomplishments and Credentials:
Secretary and President of DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America)
Placed two years in a row at State Competition and went to National Competition for DECA
Secretary of OEA (Office Education Association)
Placed at State Competition for OEA
Treasurer of the Women’s Choir
Judge for Kansas DECA State Competition
Former Member of Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Special Education Advisory Panel
Chairperson for the Monitoring Committee of the SEAP
President and Cofounder of Lee’s Summit Autism Support Group
Cofounder MOAFAA (Missouri Advocates for Families Affected by Autism)
Member of the Circles of Support
Organized annual Resource Night for families affected by autism (Over 100 families and over 30 service providers attended)
Parent of two Lee’s Summit High School graduates
Former Board Member of the Hawks Ridge Homeowner’s Association
Parent Educator and Advocate
Works with legislators for positive changes in education
Visits Jefferson City to personally discuss legislation with legislators
Speaks with National legislators to discuss positive changes that need to be made and legislation that needs to be written
Works with other groups in Missouri on education issues
Works with, and consults for, national special needs and educational organizations
Sherri Tucker, renowned throughout Missouri as a strong special needs advocate and activist, is making her second run for School Board in Lee’s Summit R-7 district.Nine hopefuls are vying for one seat on the Board. Tucker is the only candidate with experience and knowledge regarding the unique needs of students with different abilities.
While the other candidates have all the expected positive credentials (and the usual ties to the public school system), Tucker’s candidacy stands out with her experience as an advocate for students, responsible spending, and educational oversight.
In this story in the Lee’s Summit Journal, Tucker’s mention is listed as simply: “Sherri Tucker, co-founder of the Lee’s Summit Autism Support Group. Tucker ran for the R-7 school board in 2008, arguing that the district was not providing adequate services for its special-needs children.”
Of course, with limited space, the publication cannot mention all of the accomplishments and activities Ms. Tucker has been involved with over the years (see below this post), that many Missourians have become aware of. All of it has been centered on helping others, ensuring that families with special needs are included in every aspect of our culture, from the legislature on down to every day issues, but always putting education at the forefront.
Sherri Tucker became a friend of our President Emily Malabey several years ago. Malabey had this to say about Ms. Tucker:
“I first knew Sherri was going to be a great ally and friend when I heard she had both angered and impressed some powerful people, including a few legislators. Sherri is fearless. She is on a mission and is unafraid to fight for what’s right. Sherri is one of the most honest and sincere people I have met, which is unfortunately a rarity in this world. I know firsthand that Sherri is talented, has a sharp attention to detail, consistent vigilance, and an advocate’s heart. One of the few but important ways we can improve our education system is by getting advocates for students into the systems so we can improve them from within. Our School Boards and administrations throughout the nation are severely lacking in student advocacy or a working knowledge and understanding of the needs for diverse student populations. Of course this means to include students with different abilities who have been neglected for far too long in the education system (despite laws that are in place to ensure otherwise). Sherri Tucker will be one promising anchor in the system to help ensure the system works for all students.”
According to Malabey and several others in the community, people have been asking Sherri Tucker for several years to run for public office. According to autistic advocate Mel Johnson, “She wants to be on the School Board but she is perfectly capable of running for higher offices as well. She cares about the kids in our schools and that is the kind of person everyone wants on the Board.”
Some say that her candidacy “is probably scaring the heck out of the establishment.” But it shouldn’t. By all accounts from several individuals who know or have worked with Tucker, she is “fair, easy to work with and a smart, thoughtful individual.”
According to Dan Brown, father and advocate, if the Board members are decided fairly (by what you know and not simply who you know), Tucker should have a good chance to begin advocating for students from the position of School Board member.
Sherri Tucker Accomplishments and Credentials:
Secretary and President of DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America)
Placed two years in a row at State Competition and went to National Competition for DECA
Secretary of OEA (Office Education Association)
Placed at State Competition for OEA
Treasurer of the Women’s Choir
Judge for Kansas DECA State Competition
Former Member of Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Special Education Advisory Panel
Chairperson for the Monitoring Committee of the SEAP
President and Cofounder of Lee’s Summit Autism Support Group
Cofounder MOAFAA (Missouri Advocates for Families Affected by Autism)
Member of the Circles of Support
Organized annual Resource Night for families affected by autism (Over 100 families and over 30 service providers attended)
Parent of two Lee’s Summit High School graduates
Former Board Member of the Hawks Ridge Homeowner’s Association
Parent Educator and Advocate
Works with legislators for positive changes in education
Visits Jefferson City to personally discuss legislation with legislators
Speaks with National legislators to discuss positive changes that need to be made and legislation that needs to be written
Works with other groups in Missouri on education issues
Works with, and consults for, national special needs and educational organizations
This entry was posted in Advocacy, Community, Education, ICAA Project Mind the Gap and tagged Emily Malabey, Lee's Summit Journal, Lee's Summit R-7 School District, School Board, Sherri Tucker. Bookmark the permalink.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
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