News Item
Opening Day Ceremony filled with Straight Talk about Student Achievement
September 3, 2010
“Change will be our only constant,”
said Monticello Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick Michel, as he
welcomed the crowd of more than 700 staff, faculty and community
members to the Opening Day Ceremony.
For Monticello, as the 2010-2011 school year begins, the focus will
be on addressing the issues of a recent New York University (NYU)
report that identified a gap in student achievement based on gender,
race and ethnicity. With the NY State standards for proficiency now
set higher, the district must aim to get its graduates either
college or career ready and it must ensure that all students have
equitable opportunities and the rigorous coursework available to
make that happen.
The Metropolitan Center for Urban Education representative Dr.
Edward Fergus gave a compelling presentation highlighting some of
the findings in the NYU report and spoke about some of the plans for
this year’s collaboration between his department and Monticello
Schools.
Monticello Teachers Association President Dan Burger welcomed NYU
and offered the wellspring of his teachers’ professional wisdom as
an essential part of the process (www2.ed.gov/nclb/methods/whatworks/eb/edlite-slide003.html
). Board of Education President Susan
Purcell pledged to fully support teachers as restructuring changes
are implemented.
Monticello Students Opening Act for the School Year
Members of the Monticello Middle and
High School Jazz Bands performed for the Monticello Central School
District faculty, staff, and administration at the opening day
ceremony showcasing the district’s top-notch music education
program. Under the direction of Michael Mingo, these students agreed
to take time out of their summer schedules to meet and rehearse for
this special event. The following students made up the band: Jordan
Santiago, Lah-Juan Drayton, Jacob Cohen, Megan Owens, Jessica Nesin,
Joseph Mulvey, Andrew Nagoda, Peter Maraj, Morgan Holloran and
Jordana Maraj.
Photo: Included in the welcome at the Opening Day Ceremony was the district's new interim Director of Math, Science & Technology Joe Fraioli, flanked by PPS Director Dr. Edward Escobar and PPS Coordinator Shari Biro.
CLICK HERE for the Superintendent's Opening Day PowerPoint presentation, "The Achievement Gap and Looking to the Future."
CLICK HERE to for the Opening Day PowerPoint presentation from NYU representative Dr. Edward Fergus.
CLICK HERE to read the full NYU report.
CLICK HERE for more information about the NYU Report.
CLICK HERE for the Joint Intervention Team (JIT) Report (a Joint Intervention Team was appointed by the Commissioner of Education to assist Monticello High School during its restructuring. It contains key observations and recommendations.) CLICK HERE for the JIT PowerPoint presentation.
CLICK HERE for YNN/Cable 6 News story, "Monticello School District teams with NYU to close achievement gap"
CLICK HERE for YNN/Cable 6 News story, "Working to close the educational gap"
Below are links to other resources and research about the Achievement Gap in Education
Education Week - www.edweek.org/ew/issues/achievement-gap/
Educational Testing Service - www.ets.org/family
Economic Policy Institute - www.epi.org/publications/entry/books_starting_gate/#exec
CLICK HERE for the NY Times story about the achievement gap in New York City schools titled, "Triumph Fades on Racial Gap in City Schools."
CLICK HERE for the Times Herald-Record story, "Monticello minority students lag behind, study finds."