GCS News Briefs

September 26, 2008

GCS and Local Businesses Commit to Excellence

The 16 most improved schools in Guilford County were recognized during the eighth annual Celebration of Excellence program, which is sponsored by Businesses for Excellence in Education. The schools each received grants of $8,000. The schools with top ABCs Performance Composite (PC) gains and current PC’s above 50 are selected from three Difficulty Index groups (high, median and low).

In addition, the top two students from each of the award-winning schools nominated a teacher who had a positive impact on their education. Each nominated teacher received $1,000, while each student received a $50 American Express gift card. Three of the teachers who were nominated twice by students each got $2,000.The awards are designed to provide recognition and support to schools and teachers who have worked to improve the quality of education within GCS. The awards were presented at the Greensboro Coliseum War Memorial Auditorium. Schools and teachers who received awards and the students who nominated the teachers are:

2008 Celebration of Excellence – 16 Most Improved Schools

Schools receiving this honor have historically used the grants in a variety of ways to address specific campus needs. Many schools used the grants to provide additional teacher training, purchase books for media centers or offer curriculum support materials in the classrooms.  For more information, please contact Haley Miller, media relations manager, at 370-3200.

Two Educators Receive the District’s Top Honors

For making a difference in students’ lives, Dr. LaToy Kennedy, the principal at Wiley Elementary and Rodney Morgan, Jr., a sixth-grade teacher at Aycock Middle, both received the district’s highest honors at the Wachovia “Best in Class” awards.

Kennedy, the 2008-09 GCS Principal of the Year, and Morgan, the 2008-09 GCS Teacher of the Year, both won a total of $1,500 - $1,000 for winning the overall award and $500 for winning at their grade levels. Kennedy also was named elementary Principal of the Year; Morgan was named the middle school Teacher of the Year.

With 14 years of experience in education, Kennedy focuses on relationships. “I realize that the most important role for me is to form relationships with the students and make them believe that they are valuable, smart and can be anything they want to be,” Kennedy said. Other principals receiving awards included Ken Wheat from Pruette SCALE School. He received $500 for being the secondary schools winner. The remaining finalists, Dr. Brian Clarida from Sumner Elementary, Dr. Benita Lawrence from Monticello-Brown Summit Elementary, and Rodney Wilds from Jackson Middle received $300 each.

With six years of experience, Morgan is proud of the work he does. “It brings me great pride to say that I am a teacher and that I am among those that help shape young lives,” Morgan said. In the classroom, Morgan finds creative ways to reach his students. “Every year, it is my desire to make learning interesting, fun and applicable,” Morgan added. Other winners in the Teacher of the Year category included Sophia Roberts from Jones Elementary, who was the elementary school winner, and Melinda Galloway from Greensboro College Middle College, who took home the high school award. Both teachers received $500. Sabrina Peacock from Pilot Elementary and Patty Schram from The Academy at Lincoln were the remaining finalists and received $300 each. For more information, contact Carla Alphin, program administrator for employee relations, at 378-8821.

Board Member and Teacher receive the Order of the Long Leaf Pine

Two members of the GCS family recently received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina’s highest civilian honor. Dot Kearns, an at-large member of the Guilford County Board of Education, recently received the award in front of a crowd of 400 at the annual Democratic Unity Dinner. A long-time board member, Kearns has a distinguished record of service in the community. She has received many prestigious awards, including High Point Citizen of the Year. In July, she received the 2008 Jack and Marsha Slane Child Advocate of the Year from the United Way of Greater High Point’s Children’s Initiatives Committee.

Also receiving this coveted award recently was Marsha Morrell Sarvis, who retired as a teacher at Gateway Education Center on September 1. At a gathering attended by about 50 friends and co-workers, Sarvis was presented the certificate by State Superintendent June Atkinson in recognition of her 30 years of dedication as a teacher. Vicki Simmons, an adapted physical education teacher at Gateway Education Center, nominated Sarvis for the special honor.

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is presented to individuals who have a proven record of extraordinary service to the state. Contributions to their communities, extra effort in their careers and many years of service to their organizations are some of the guidelines by which recipients are selected for this award. For more information, contact Haley Miller, media relations manager, at 370-3200.

NewBridge Bank Outstanding Teacher Award

Do you know an outstanding teacher? In November, NewBridge Bank will recognize one lucky GCS teacher for his or her amazing impact in the classroom. Known as the NewBridge Bank Outstanding Teacher, the teacher will receive $1,000 and will be featured on “Triad Today,” the Triad’s only locally produced public-affairs program. To qualify for the award, the GCS teacher must:

• Be a full-time, certified, pre-K-12 public school teacher
• Plan to continue in an active instructional role
• Spend the majority of the school day in direct instruction to students
• Be in at least the third year of teaching in public schools

Nominees must:

• Possess evidence of positive teacher influence related to student achievement through formal and informal documentation
• Demonstrate a personal philosophy of teaching
• Be poised, articulate, enthusiastic and energetic
• Exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable and skilled
• Show superior ability to teach and to inspire in students a love of learning
• Exhibit leadership in the community as well as in the school
• Have a track record of inspiring students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn
• Enjoy the respect and admiration by students, parents and colleagues

To nominate a teacher, please describe how the teacher meets the criteria and send any supporting documentation or letters of recommendation to: Jennifer Landes, Office of District Relations, Guilford County Schools, 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC 27401. Or you may e-mail the information to landesj@gcsnc.com. Hurry! Deadline for entry is October 15. For more information, please contact Jennifer Landes, program administrator - communications, at 370-8353.

Lateral Entry Licensure Information Sessions

The Lateral Entry Resource and Advising Center is pleased to announce two licensure program information sessions hosted in conjunction with local universities.  The purpose of these sessions is to inform lateral entry teachers about the licensure options available to them.  While the primary audience is currently employed lateral entry teachers, other GCS employees and community members are welcome to attend and learn more about becoming a licensed teacher.  Some program options may require that you be a currently employed lateral entry teacher.  If you are currently researching your licensure program options to begin your required courses this spring or summer, please plan to attend:

Greensboro College Information Session for Lateral Entry Teachers
Date: Thursday, October 9
Time: 5 - 6:30 p.m.
Location: Lateral Entry Resource and Advising Center (Warehouse Bldg.), 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro

High Point University (HPU) LEAP Information Session for Lateral Entry Teachers
Date:  Wednesday, October 15
Time:  5 - 6:30 p.m.
Location:  Andrews High School, Media Center, 1920 McGuinn Drive, High Point
Click here to view HPU LEAP flyer.

Click here for more information about the licensure program, or contact Dr. Amy Holcombe, executive director of talent development, at 335-3294 or holcoma@gcsnc.com.

Lateral Entry Networking Event

Are you a lateral entry teacher who is overwhelmed with the licensure process and / or the demands of a classroom? If so, you are invited to participate in the year’s first social networking opportunity on Tuesday, September 30 from 5 – 7 p.m. at Ham’s Lakeside (699 E. Cone Blvd.) for dinner and to meet the staff of Lateral Entry Resource and Advising Center and other lateral entry teachers.  This is a great opportunity to learn about the services the Lateral Entry Resource and Advising Center provides, as well as connect with other lateral entry professionals. Dinner will be on your own. For more information about this announcement or the Lateral Entry Advising and Resource Center, please contact Dr. Amy Holcombe, executive director of talent development, at 335-3294 or holcoma@gcsnc.com.

Looking for a Few Good Men and Women

The Lateral Entry Resource and Advising Center is seeking to link-up new lateral entry teachers with successful lateral entry teachers who now have three or more years of experience.  This “Lateral Entry Buddy Program” will allow for networking between our seasoned experts and our new lateral entry teachers who are still pursuing a North Carolina Standard Professional II teaching license.  Buddy Teachers will act as informal mentors and advisors for new lateral entry teachers who have questions or need good advice.  Additionally, Buddy Teachers will be invited to a series of networking opportunities at local restaurants and social hot spots for the purpose of interacting with our new lateral entry teachers.  If you feel that you have experiences and advice that would be valuable to a new lateral entry teacher, we hope that you will contact us with your name, school, subject area and years of experience.  We will contact you to inform you of the next steps. 
Click here for more information about the Buddy Program and Lateral Entry Networking Opportunities or contact Dr. Amy Holcombe, executive director of talent development, at 335-3294 or holcoma@gcsnc.com.

ABC Incentive Awards

GCS recently received the ABC Incentive Awards allotment to be distributed to eligible employees at schools that met Expected or High Growth for the 2007-08 school year.  Only certified personnel and teachers assistants are eligible. Certified employees include teachers, assistant principals, principals and instructional support staff (counselors, social workers, media specialists, psychologists, speech-language pathologists, instructional technology specialists, nationally certified school nurses, etc.)  Teacher assistants include media assistants, technology assistants, regular teacher assistants and general assistants assigned to the classroom.  Incentive awards are established as follows:

Eligible Personnel                   High Growth Award                  Expected Growth Award
Certified Personnel                                $1,053                                      $527
Teacher Assistants                                $351                                         $263

Special Schools                                   Gateway and McIver
Certified Personnel                                $726.33
Teacher Assistants                                $263.19

Awards are prorated if eligible personnel have served less than 100 percent employment and/or served less than the full-term of employment for the eligible position during the 2007-08 school year.  The ABC incentive award payments will NOT be subject to direct deposit processing; therefore, all eligible employees will receive an actual payroll check.  These checks will be issued on September 30, 2008.  Congratulations to the staff and students of those schools with an ABC status of High or Expected Growth.  For more information, please contact Barbara Campbell in the Human Resources Office at 370-8091 or campbeb@gcsnc.com. 

Documentation of Professional Development

Effective October 1, 2008 the Human Resources Department and the Office of Professional Development will no longer maintain a hard copy of certificates, transcripts, etc. used to document external CEU credits.  Once an external event has been completed, please send a copy of required documentation for event requests to the Office of Professional Development.  Once credit has been posted to the employee’s professional development transcript, copies of the documentation will be destroyed.  Copies will not be returned to employees.  The Staffing Office will send documentation currently on file back to the employee for their records over the next few weeks.  For more information, please contact Alison Yates, director of staffing, at 370-8094 or yatesa@gcsnc.com.

Flu Shots

All employees and dependents, insured by the State Health Plan, are eligible to receive free flu shots.  Employees and/or dependents, not insured by the State Health Plan, are eligible by paying $30 per flu shot.  Clinics will be held at all traditional high schools, Gateway Education Center, McIver Education Center, Weaver Academy, Eugene Street Central Office, Franklin Boulevard Central Office, Washington Street Annex and Maintenance/Transportation. A complete schedule will be sent via e-mail to each employee.  Clinics begin on October 6 and end on November 14.  The clinics will be provided by Maxim Healthcare Services.   Please note:

• Only children between the ages of 9 and 17 may receive flu shots and must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Children under the age of 9 should see their primary care physicians for immunizations, including flu shots.
  
• Pregnant women in their second and third trimester may receive flu shots without prescriptions, but pregnant women in their first trimester are required to provide written prescriptions from their personal physicians.
  

For more information, please contact Patty Kinkade, director of benefits, at 370-8092 or kinkadp@gcsnc.com.

Thinking Maps® Enhance Math Instruction

On September 13, math teachers in grades 2-5, principals and curriculum facilitators from Peck Elementary, Archer Elementary, Fairview Elementary and Rankin Elementary came together to learn how to utilize Thinking Maps® to enhance math instruction.  Thinking Maps® is an educational consulting and publishing company that focuses on the implementation of a common visual language for learning across the disciplines.  The eight maps are visual teaching tools that all teach the same thought processes. While these visual tools are designed to be used across disciplines, this professional development was focused on math.   The consultant utilized the five strands in math to provide a foundation on which Thinking Maps® can enable students to organize their thinking to solve complex problems, achieve mastery of learning objectives and engage in higher order thinking skills to cement their learning.  In addition, teachers tested out math games and activities to integrate the maps and reflected with their colleagues to enhance their learning experience.  For more information, please contact Gay Citty, instructional improvement officer, at 370-2325 or cittyj@gcsnc.com. 

Mentor Training

In an effort to increase the number of new mentors trained to work with beginning teachers, the Department of Induction and Success has partnered with the Guilford County Association of Educators and the North Carolina Association of Educators to offer an additional mentor training session in January and February. This session will be held on January 30 and 31, February 7 and February 20 and 21.  Click here to register.  For more information, contact Martha Snavely, executive director of induction and professional development, at 335-3290.

GCSTV 2

Superintendent’s Media Briefing

GCS Superintendent Maurice Green meets with the media weekly to discuss a variety of topics related to education and GCS.  You can see these briefings on GCSTV 2.

Inside Out

This documentary is a stark reminder of the importance of staying in school.  It is a series of stories from inmates who ponder the world outside prison walls as they talk about how dropping out of school dramatically changed their lives for the worst.  Produced by the Mattie Stewart Foundation, GCSTV 2 presents this emotionally gripping film with stories told by those who live with the consequences every day.  This program runs daily at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Driver’s Edge-Driver’s Education Special

Take this in-depth driver’s education course that gives real world examples and advice on how to safely handle a car.  The advice is handed out generously by some of the drivers who should know best …Indy Series racers.  This program runs Friday through Monday at 5:59 a.m. and 4:59 p.m. and Tuesday through Thursday at 4:59 a.m. and 5:59 p.m.

GCSTV 2 & ABC-45

GCS continues its partnership with ABC-45 television to share the following current news and feature stories about our district. The segments run on ABC-45 (Cable Channel 7) during Good Morning America each Wednesday and Friday at 7:25 a.m. and 8:25 a.m.

Monitoring Our Water
Future scientists within GCS are looking out for the quality of the water we drink.  Northern Middle students take a field trip to the Haw River to gather water samples as a part of World Water Monitoring Day.  This Newsbreak airs Wednesday, October 1.

Teacher of the Year/Principal of the Year
GCS is fortunate to have some of the finest educators available to teach our children.  Two of them were honored recently as Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year.  This Newsbreak airs Friday, October 3.

For more information, please contact Leonard Simpson, broadcast production manager, at 370-8167.