I’m not sure which I found more intriguing: the fact that a virtual school principal has made finalist for the prestigious Principal of the Year award, or that virtual schools are a real school choice for families in Florida. I met Christopher McGuire at his finalist interview. He leads Broward Virtual Schools (BVS), one of the […]
Lawmakers Seek to Repeal, but Not Replace, Parts of School Accountability Law
by Lane Wright, editor at Education Post, a nonprofit fostering better conversation for better education. The state senator sponsoring a new education bill in Florida is very adamant about one thing: “This is not a retreat on accountability.” Sen. Bill Montford (D-Tallahassee) repeated it three different times during a press conference Wednesday afternoon in Tallahassee, […]
“I Am Who I Am and I Will Not Be Bullied!” –The Story of Little Cindy Arenberg- An Insatiable Child Advocate Who Grew Up to Lead a Government
Cindy Arenberg Seltzer, President/CEO of the Children’s Services Council, believes her life of happenstance and opportunity led her to Broward. But, follow her story and see, it’s more than chance. Cindy has an uncompromising allegiance to her moral compass. And, I think she is exactly who she set out to be…an insatiable advocate for children. […]
True Schools Are Created By Those Who Own It
I was born in Kingston, Jamaica and came to the U.S. as a teenager. That journey took me from a strict Catholic private school to an inner city high school in Miami. The true definition of culture shock! I recall the pivotal first encounter at my American school when I was asked to define my […]
To Be Young, Gifted and a Student of Color
So, I have to say…I’m a little proud of our school district. Recently the Washington Post highlighted Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) for a revolutionary policy started over a decade ago that rolled out universal screening for giftedness for every second-grade student. Previous to this policy, gifted testing was initiated at the recommendation of a […]
A Birthday Surprise Got Me Reflecting on This School Year
Just the other day, I received a call from my child’s school during my birthday lunch. It was Ms. Giancarlo, my daughter’s social studies teacher. The same teacher who accused her of making some “not so good choices” this school year, that resulted in us both deciding to give my daughter an F. (Yup…I’m that parent.) […]