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State students in advanced-placement courses up one-fourth |
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Thursday, 28 August 2008 |
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
By BOB LOWRY
Times Staff Writer
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Increase is ahead of national average hike of 9 percent
MONTGOMERY - The number of Alabama students who took advanced-placement courses this year jumped by nearly one-fourth compared to the national average of 9 percent, state education officials said Tuesday.
The College Board also released results showing AP test takers in Alabama increased their scores by 8 percent, compared to the national increase of 6 percent.
Also, 10 schools in Madison County will be targeted in September in a campaign to increase the number of students taking AP courses.
Calling Gov. Bob Riley the "education governor," state Superintendent Joe Morton praised him for helping the state win a $13.2 million grant from the National Math and Science Initiative for the state and a public-private partnership - A+ College Ready.
A+ College Ready is helping four Montgomery schools and eight in Jefferson County to increase the number of AP courses and the students enrolled in them.
The organization will invest $1.5 million next year and $8 million over five years in Jefferson and Montgomery counties, said A+ College Ready President Mary Boehm.
She said Madison County will be the next target. Boehm said schools in the Huntsville, Madison and Madison County school systems will be examined for participation in the program.
"We're spending the month of September in Huntsville," said Boehm. "We're moving into Huntsville. We have 10 schools in Huntsville that we're looking at."
The 10 schools from Madison County that responded to a request for proposals from A+ College Ready are Butler, Columbia, Huntsville, Johnson, Lee, Bob Jones, Buckhorn, Hazel Green, New Hope and Sparkman high schools.
Meanwhile, Morton also announced that Alabama public school students outpaced the SAT national average scores in mathematics, reading and writing.
Morton acknowledged that fewer Alabama students take the SAT but, like the ACT, both scores are rising in the state.
"The SAT scores are actually well above the national average," he said.
Funding for the AP Initiative and ACCESS Distance Learning program was first initiated in 2006 through a $1 million appropriation advocated by Gov. Bob Riley.
"After only one year of funding, what has happened with our AP courses in Alabama is truly incredible," said Riley. "The thing that really impressed me, among minority participation, black (students were) up 62.5 percent ... . That was just incredible."
Riley said the number of students who take AP courses will only increase in the future since distance learning will be available in every high school starting next August.
Morton said the ability to offer AP courses through video-conferencing to the smallest schools in the most remote areas of the state will make Alabama students competitive nationally and internationally.
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Team America Rocketry Challenge: Sept. 4th |
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Thursday, 28 August 2008 |
The Huntsville Area Rocketry Association (HARA) in cooperation with Space Camp will begin the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) training and mentoring class at the Educator Resource Facility on Thursday, September 4, at 6:30 pm.
All students, teachers and parents are welcome to come learn about TARC and how to begin designing, building and launching model rockets. This rocketry class will continue to meet once a month on first Thursdays with the next date being on 10/2.
Now in its seventh year, TARC is a national rocket contest offering cash prizes, and there’s room for more north Alabama schools to participate. HARA wants to help as many middle and high schools or youth groups like 4H, CAP and scouts, to learn to launch eggs competitively.
To get in to TARC this year be one of the first 750 teams to submit a completed application for a team postmarked no later than December 1, 2008. Build and fly for a qualification score before April 6, 2009, a model rocket that carries one raw egg to an altitude as close to 750 feet as possible, stays airborne for as close to 45 seconds as possible, and returns unbroken. If your score is one of the top 100 best, you will be invited to compete for a share of the $60,000 prize package in a national fly-off in Virginia on May 16, 2009.
Vince Huegele
Visit HARA"S TARC at
http://www.billcooke.org/HARA/TARC.html
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Thursday, 31 July 2008 |
"HuntsVegas" Casino Night Event
Auguest 30 2008
Honoring the memory of Matthew McLain
 news_release__draft-_casino_night_08
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The Schools Foundation’s Annual Event Brings 600+ Educators Together |
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Wednesday, 04 June 2008 |
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News Release
For Immediate Release For more information, contact:
June 2,
2008
Debbie Beaupre, (256) 503-3213
The Schools Foundation’s Annual Event Brings 600+ Educators Together
– Toyota, Dynetics Lead Sponsors for Annual Conference
Huntsville, AL – The Schools Foundation’s annual professional
development conference kicked off Monday morning with an opening
session including city and county officials, school board members from
all three systems, and representatives from corporate sponsors of the
event. The three-day event will serve more than 600 teachers and
administrators coming together from Huntsville, Madison City, and
Madison County Schools.
The conference’s Presenting Sponsor is Toyota Motor Manufacturing,
leading corporate donations with $15,000. The conference Silver
Sponsor is Dynetics, with a $10,000 donation. Additional leading
sponsors include Redstone Federal Credit Union, North Alabama Educators
Credit Union, Venturi Aerospace Brighter Day Employee Fund, The
Huntsville Times, Crestwood Medical Center, Jacobs, Wachovia Bank,
Northrop Grumman, and ServisFirst Bank.
The Great Teacher Conference is designed to enrich educators in
numerous disciplines and multiple special interest areas through
dynamic keynote speakers and breakout sessions. To show appreciation
for the educators and their dedication to their students, dozens of
local businesses have contributed extraordinary door prizes, and many
volunteers have come together to make this year’s conference a success
– truly a community effort for those who serve the foundation of the
community and the future.
Schools Foundation Board President Scott McLain said, “Providing
professional development opportunities for educators is a strong focus
of The Schools Foundation. We are extremely pleased to have such a
strong commitment from the business community again this year, enabling
us to enrich local education through supporting teachers and
administrators.”
Conference events will be held through Wednesday at Columbia High School in Cummings Research Park.
The Schools Foundation is a not-for-profit local education foundation
that supports Huntsville City Schools, Madison County Schools and
Madison City Schools through a variety of programs including student
scholarships, teacher grants, staff development, technology deployment,
and other educational programs. The Schools Foundation office is
located at 115 West Clinton Avenue, Huntsville, AL. For more
information, call 256.503.3213, e-mail
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or visit the new website at www.theschoolsfoundation.org.
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2008 Teacher Scholarship Awards |
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Wednesday, 28 May 2008 |
THE 2008 SCHOOLS FOUNDATION TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
The Schools Foundation Teacher Scholarships
support the professional growth of teachers by providing recognition and
financial assistance. Teachers identify and pursue graduate education
opportunities that will have the greatest impact on their practice, the
academic lives of their students, and on their school communities. Endowed scholarships are provided annually for
teachers to make application and obtain funds to pay for graduate courses to further
educational and professional studies.
See Attachment for Scholarship Details and Requirements:
2008_scholarship_awards
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Regions School Administrator Scholarship |
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Wednesday, 28 May 2008 |
THE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
AND
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
The Schools Foundation Regions School
Administrator Scholarship supports the professional growth of public school
principals and assistant principals by providing and financial assistance for
graduate studies leading to an advanced degree. Administrators identify and
pursue graduate education opportunities that will have the greatest impact on
their practice, the academic lives of their students, and on their school
communities. This scholarship, endowed in
2008, provides $750 to help pay for graduate coursework required for an
advanced degree.
Please see attachment for more information:
regions_school_administrator_scholarship
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Team America Rocketry Challenge |
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Tuesday, 27 May 2008 |
Local Schools Celebrate the 50th
Anniversary of Flight by participating in the Team America Rocketry Challenge
2008!
The Team America Rocketry Challenge event is an
annual nation-wide rocketry-based aerospace design and flying challenge
competition for student teams. It is sponsored by the Aerospace Industries
Association (AIA) on behalf of America's aerospace industry, and by the
National Association of Rocketry (NAR) . Pratt Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.
sponsored local teams in conjunction with The Schools Foundation.
2008 Participating Team Schools:
·
Stone Middle School
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Challenger Middle School
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Academy for Science and Foreign Language
· Discovery Middle School
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Bob Jones High School
Team America Rocketry Challenge 2008 (See Attachment)
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2008 Summer Professional Development Academy |
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Tuesday, 13 May 2008 |
Date: June 9-12, 2008
Location: Lee High
School in Huntsville
You are invited to join the 2008 Summer Professional Development
Academy hosted by Alabama A&M University and University of Alabama
in Huntsville's Regional Inservice Center. This year we are offering
workshops on Differentiated Instruction, ELL Strategies, Strategic
Teaching and National Board Certification.
You won't want to
miss our keynote address given by Dr. Adolph Brown, III.
For more information, click HERE .
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The Schools Foundation Press Release |
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Friday, 11 April 2008 |
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by Barbara Nash, APR - Board of Directors
To The Schools Foundation, nothing is more important than the students in Huntsville, Madison County, and Madison City Schools.
As a non-profit organization supporting the three public systems in Madison County, Alabama, The Schools Foundation aims to be the driving force for educational excellence with a mission to create higher expectations and widespread community support for Madison County schools, leading to world-class performance of principals, teachers, and students.
The Foundation believes that parent and community involvement are essential; that education can’t depend solely on local, state or federal governments for funding and programs; that teachers must have personal and career development opportunities that equip them to prepare students for success; and that everyone in the community has a stake in the success of education.
As the go-to organization for individuals and businesses wanting to support local public education, The Schools Foundation offers multiple programs to involve the community in providing the best that education has to offer. Funds are distributed proportionately based on enrollment in each system, and provide programs such as grants, conferences, and administrator forums to enhance local efforts and meet unfulfilled needs of students and educators.
Many area companies and other leadership organizations in the community are already partnering with The Schools Foundation to improve educational performance in the three school systems. Since the organization’s founding in 2000, the combined investment of hundreds of thousands of dollars has produced significant impact on excellence in our education system.
Dozens of teachers have benefited from scholarships for continuing education. Hundreds of grants for individual classroom projects have sparked imaginations and reinforced critical concepts. Thousands of educators have experienced training on cutting-edge education techniques through the Great Teacher Conference and other professional development seminars. And tens of thousands of students have been affected.
Along with the business community, individuals have also been making a difference by taking advantage of the Foundation’s partnership with Huntsville Utilities and Sign Up to Round Up – a program that provides a simple way to turn pocket change into a powerful mechanism to support education by rounding up monthly utility bills to the next highest dollar.
In 2008, The Schools Foundation and its new Executive Director – Debbie Beaupre – are leveraging the organization’s success to build communication channels and greater strategies for incorporating community inputs into expanding the quality of education in Madison County. Established programs and solid vision are guiding increased activity for even greater benefit.
Board Chairman D. Scott McLain said, “The Schools Foundation is committed to enhancing the excellence in education we enjoy in all three of our school systems. It has often been said, but has never has been truer – our students are our future. We and our partners will continue to help shape the future for all 50,000 of our students. ”
The Schools Foundation offices are located at 115 West Clinton Avenue, Huntsville, AL. For more information, call 256.503.3213, or visit www.theschoolsfoundation.org.
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Teacher gets a big surprise |
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Tuesday, 26 February 2008 |
By STEVE CAMPBELL - Times Staff Writer
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Rebecca Campbell gets grant fundsto buy program Rebecca Campbell had planned to buy a money management learning program for her students. Thanks to a surprise grant, the money to buy the program won't come from her pocket.
The prize patrol helped Campbell and 39 other teachers in Madison County with more than $17,000 in grants from the Boeing Math & Science Grant program.
The grants, distributed Monday by school officials, board members and The Schools Foundation board of directors, range to $500 and help teachers buy materials to teach practical math and science skills.
But like many surprises, Campbell's started a bit uncomfortably.
Just before 11 a.m., she received a call from Lincoln Elementary School, where she teaches some classes. Get to the school immediately, she was told.
Campbell hurried to the school's main office, turned right into a small meeting room, and laughed.
Huntsville board members Alta Morrison, Topper Birney and foundation officials presented Campbell with balloons and a $325 check.
"I was so relieved it wasn't something bad," she said later. "I thought it was an emergency."
Campbell, who teaches gifted students in grades 2-5, plans to buy a kit from the "Menu Math" program, where kids use play money to buy from a menu, make correct change, and budget their cash.
"They'll get to do real-life math," she said.
The kits come in handy when students complete their regular class work, Campbell said. Rather than disrupt other students, they can then go straight to Menu Math.
Campbell has purchased similar kits that keep kids busy. She likes them because they're practical.
"It's great because I know they're meeting an objective," Campbell said. "They're not wasting time."
The science kits come in several topics, including the study of planets and stars.
More than 60 teachers in the county's three school systems applied for the grants. The money will help teachers afford kits that teach math and science - skills demanded by top employers everywhere.
"This is just one small way to help," said Volker Roth, board member for the foundation, which supports schools in school systems. He said the American children need stronger grounding in the subjects.
The foundation's director, Debbie Beaupre, said many Alabama children leave school with a poor sense of money management.
"We're graduating kids today with debt," she said. Those students, she said, hurt themselves financially by making large purchases on credit.
With the help of Menu Math, Campbell hopes her students learn to avoid those money troubles.
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