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The
mission of the Bridgeport
Public
Schools and its
supporting
communities
is
to graduate all students "college-ready" and
prepared to succeed in
life. |
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BPS
Director of Language, Speech and Hearing Featured
in The
ASHA Leader
The
ASHA Leader is
an award-winning newspaper that provides member
and association news on the world of communication
sciences and disorders. Teresa Cherry-Cruz was
featured in The ASHA
Leader where she is
highlighted for her leadership
skills.
From
the President: Taking the Lead in School
Settings
by
Tommie L. Robinson, Jr.
The
ASHA Leader
To
lead people, walk beside them...As for the best
leaders, the people do not notice their existence.
When the best leader's work is done, the people
say, "We did it
ourselves!"
—Lao-tse
If you have been reading my column in The
ASHA Leader, you know that I have chosen to focus
on leadership. I love this year's theme for the
ASHA Schools Conference—"Connect, Create,
Innovate"—because that's what good leaders do.
Leaders connect to establish
relationships. Leaders create new
programs and ideas and expand opportunities for
others. Leaders innovate and
make positive change wherever they
are.
Leadership has nothing to do with your position.
We all can lead!
In July I had the pleasure of joining 1,200
colleagues (educational audiologists and
speech-language pathologists) at the meeting of
the Educational Audiology
Association and ASHA's annual schools
conference. I witnessed passion, seriousness,
commitment, and the love that each attendee has
for his or her work. In my conversations with
members, I saw shining examples of
leadership.
I'd like to share one example—Teresa Cherry-Cruz
of Bridgeport, Conn., director
of the Speech Language Hearing Department of
Bridgeport Public Schools. She manages a staff of
22 SLPs and two assistants, supervises the
department's programs for hearing impairment and
autism, and collaborates with the district's
program for early childhood
enhancement.
Clearly
she's in a leadership position. But how did
she get there? Below are a few lessons we might
draw from her story.
Look for opportunities wherever you
are. Cherry-Cruz worked for 17 years in two
large public school districts prior to her current
position. "Regardless of my assignment," she said,
"I was always encouraged by my building
administrators to use my creativity. I learned how
to 'first engage and then marry' my skills with
the skills of special educators, mainstream
educators, and support
personnel."
- Be
a catalyst for change. Cherry-Cruz created
two school programs supported by the schools'
special and regular education teachers,
psychologist, social worker, guidance counselor,
and others:
-
"Help Families Connect" offered
language-based activities to adult family
members of elementary school children to help
strengthen their child's language skills using
practical tools common in their cultural
environment.
-
"Working to Learn" used the motif of
"money" in a language-based program for
middle-school students that ascribed financial
value to positive classroom behaviors and
student performance.
- Be
creative. While working in the schools,
Cherry-Cruz realized the importance of community
support and created the TOTAL (Teaching
Ourselves to Achieve Literacy) summer program
for young children and adolescents. The 14-year
program drew the support of a local church,
community agencies, a city-wide parent center,
and graduate interns from two universities as
well as civic groups, teachers, and other
supporters from four large public school
systems.
- Define
your personal vision of
leadership. Cherry-Cruz defines school
leadership as "an art of influence," and "the
ability to create a consensus and align people
behind a vision." Leadership, she said, "is
about being responsible for establishing and
communicating clear goals and then motivating
and inspiring the positive planned actions of
people to achieve them."
- Keep
growing. New this fall, Cherry-Cruz and her
colleagues have created a bilingual language lab
that will rotate among the district's three
largest bilingual schools. They also are
implementing a non-graded approach for literacy
instruction for K–2 students. "The SLPs are
involved to ensure quality instruction in oral
language skills, and they collaborate with
building administrators, classroom teachers,
special education teachers, ESL teachers and
literacy coaches, social workers, and school
psychologists."
- Just
do it! "We bring a unique skill set into
the school system," she said. "But
SLPs must take the lead in bringing
this knowledge forward so that it becomes
embedded into educational paradigm. We need
programs that are flexible and fluid to meet the
language needs of all students regardless of
race, ethnicity, or physical, emotional, or
economic status."
Cherry-Cruz is just one example of how leadership
works in our schools every day. As you grow as a
leader, you will be more effective and happier in
your work, and you'll be amazed at what you can
accomplish.
cite
as: Robinson, Jr., T. L. (2010, September 21).
From the President: Taking the Lead in School
Settings. The ASHA
Leader.
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Luis
Muñoz
Marin
School
Hosts
Puerto
Rican Heritage Career
Day
The
Day Makes a Lasting Impact on Scholars, Teacher
and Parents
Alike
Back
in November, the faculty and students of
Luis Muñoz Marin School
celebrated Puerto Rican Heritage Career Day.
The event, organized by the school’s Diversity
Committee, allowed students, parents and faculty
members of Luis Muñoz Marin School to
immerse themselves within the Puerto Rican
culture.
“I
am very pleased that we have a Diversity Committee
at Marin,” said parent, Joy
Purdie. “I feel honored
to be a part of it. We are very fortunate to have
approximately 40 different nationalities at our
school. Every nationality deserves to be respected
and acknowledged. It is through the Diversity
Committee that awareness of the different cultures
is possible.”
Puerto
Rican guest speakers were invited to the school,
most a product of the Bridgeport Public School
System. The intent was to expose scholars to
career options available, and to help them
understand that with hard work and determination
they can “Expect Great Things” of
themselves. The Diversity Committee
recognized the importance showing scholars that
there are many options and opportunities available
to them.
Every
year Marin School
obtains speakers of from various vocations.
The list ranges from doctors, lawyers, teachers,
police, firemen, to the political world and the
corporate environment. All of Marin’s
efforts were geared towards sending a positive
message to scholars and demonstrating the
contribution that each speaker makes in shaping
and molding the future of today’s children and
tomorrow’s potential leaders.
“Be
sure to make good decisions in life so that you
can benefit from them” are the words that
4th
Grader Eugenia Ramos
remembers from the
contact she had with the speaker for her
classroom. Since Puerto Rican Heritage
Career Day, Eugenia is giving much thought to the
educational profession for she was very impressed
with the positive message and impact her speaker
had on her and her peers.
"I
have been a teacher at Luis Muñoz Marin School for
six years and I admit that Diversity Day is by far
my favorite event at our school,” said
Patricia
Wood,
a 7th Grade Math teacher at the school. “It
is a day that is both fun and educational for our
students. Many students have left my
classroom after hearing a speaker and have said
that they now feel that the dreams of their future
are possible with their hard work and
dedication. “
Each
participant and volunteer was awarded a
certificate, souvenir and was invited to enjoy an
authentic Puerto Rican luncheon catered by Mrs.
Judith Castro former Bilingual Special Education
Teacher at Marin.
“I
have been an active participant for this great
event for 11 years and have been hostess for 7
years,” Miriam
Perez, T.A.G. Teacher
and Diversity Committee Chairperson said.
“It always amazes me to see the many satisfied
faces of the professionals that enter our doors
and share a part of themselves with our staff and
students. What is even more amazing is that
some of these faces belong to former students who
year after year return to contribute back to their
community.”
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BPS
Superintendent Dr. John Ramos,
Sr.
to Speak
at Rhode Island
College
Designing
Education for Our
Times
The
Feinstein School of Education and Human
Development in partnership with the Unity Center will
host acclaimed Superintendent of Bridgeport, CT
Public Schools, Dr. John Ramos.
Tuesday,
February 15, 2011
4:00
pm to 6:00 pm
Alger
Hall 110
600
Mt. Pleasant
Avenue
Providence,
RI
02908
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Bridgeport
Classic
High
School
Basketball
Double
Header
ARENA
AT HARBOR YARD
THURSDAY,
FEBRUARY 17, 2011
6:00
P.M.
HARDING
VS. CENTRAL
7:45
P.M.
(APPROXIMATELY)
BASSICK
VS. ST. JOSEPH’S
Come
see some of the best high school teams in the
state play in one of
Connecticut's
premier arenas!
TICKETS
$10.00 / STUDENTS
$8.00
Tickets
are on sale now at the arena box office and will
be available
at
the box office window the night of the
event.
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Nominations
Open for BPEF's
Outstanding Teacher
Award and
The
George Bellinger Leadership
Award
 Nominations
are open for The Bridgeport Public Education
Fund's Outstanding Teacher Award and for The
George Bellinger Leadership
Award.
The
Bridgeport Public Education
Fund welcomes the opportunity to recognize
teachers in the Bridgeport
Public
School system for
their dedication to scholars. Nominate a
fellow teacher who demonstrates leadership in the
field of education, and by example, encourages
other teachers to excel.
Recipients
of this award will receive a Certificate for
Excellence in Teaching, entitling them to attend a
conference in their area of expertise.
Recipients will be expected to share their
learning experience with supervisors and others in
their department.
The
George Bellinger Award, established in 2004,
honors the memory of community activist and BPEF
board member George Bellinger. This
prestigious award includes a plaque and cash award
of $1,000.
Anyone
may nominate an Outstanding Head
Principal. Nomination forms have been
distributed by the BEA, and are also available on
the BPEF website at www.bpef.org. Please
complete the nomination form, and attach a
brief statement of no more than 2 typewritten
pages explaining how your nominee meets the
following criteria:
Ø
Establishes an educational environment conducive
to learning
Ø
Is results-driven in improving academic
achievement
Ø
Motivates, engages, and provides meaningful
professional development for
staff
Ø
Involves parents and the entire school community
in the educational process
Ø
Brings vision and creative thinking to enhance the
District’s mission
All
awards, including the Beard Excellence in Teaching
Award, will be at the Annual Teacher Recognition
and Celebration Event on May 3, 2011 at
the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport.
The
fifteen nominators will recieve gift cards to
Donors Choice
Nominations
must be received by February
18th.
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