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News – Media Releases
APS to use stimulus dollars to create teaching jobs
(Back to Top)
Akron Public Schools will use federal stimulus funds to create 73 new
teaching positions targeting literacy, middle school climate, expanded K-12
instructional coaching, and intensive professional development for all
staff. Postings and information about the
Service Separation Plan have been mailed to all teachers.
Teachers interested in applying for jobs created with stimulus funds should
mail, or deliver, a letter of interest and a resumé to Human Resources and
indicate which position you’re applying for and your qualifications. Letters
of interest are due by Tuesday, July 14, 2009. Please refer to the contact
person listed on each posting for questions specific to the position. If you
have general questions about applying or the transfer process, please
contact Human Resources at 330/761-2947 or 330/761-2946. Service
Separation Plan (SSP): A Service Separation Plan (SSP) provides an
opportunity for staff to fill one of the stimulus-funded positions for one or
two years (beginning in 2009-10 and ending at the conclusion of the 2010-11
school year), to receive a financial incentive, and then irrevocably agree to
separate from the district.
Teachers who meet the requirements outlined in the Service Separation Plan (SSP)
will be offered a separation payment of $4,000 for each year, up to two years,
prior to their irrevocable separation. This payment is in addition to any
severance benefit to which the teacher may be entitled. SSP applicants may
interview and be considered for any of the ARRA positions listed below and will
receive priority placement, based on seniority, for the following three
positions: K-2 Literacy Intervention Teacher, 3-5 Literacy Intervention Teacher
and Professional Development Release Teacher.
The deadline for applying for the proposed SSP is TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2009. To
learn more about the SSP positions, you may attend two informational meetings
about the SSP positions that will be held at Kenmore High School in the
auditorium:
- Monday July 6, 2009, 4 p.m.
- Tuesday July 7, 2009, 10 a.m.
Postings:
Grades K-2 Literacy Intervention Teacher (34 positions)
Grades 3-5 Literacy Intervention Teacher (6 positions)
Internal Math Coach (6 positions)
Positive Behavior Support Coach .5 & Middle School Teacher .5 (4
positions)
MD/OI Behavioral Specialist (1 position)
Transition Teacher for High School Students with Disabilities (2
positions)
Professional Development Release Teacher (Estimated to be 20 positions)
Firestone named top high school by Newsweek (Back to Top)
Wednesday, June 10, 2009 — For the fifth year in a row, Firestone High
School has been named one of Newsweek’s top 1,500 high schools in the United
States. This prestigious honor is awarded based on the number of Advanced
Placement and International Baccalaureate courses offered to students. In
addition to AP and IB, Firestone offers students a wide variety of
award-winning programs including visual and performing arts, foreign
language study and athletics. View the
Newsweek Web site for the complete list.
For more information, contact principal Larry Petry or IB coordinator Judith
Harrison at 330/873-3315. Firestone is located at 333 Rampart Ave.
Cort named Akron's Teacher of the Year (Back to Top)
Thursday, May 21, 2009 — Mary Anne Cort, a 33-year education veteran, is
Akron Public Schools 2009 Teacher of the Year. She teaches fourth grade at
Helen Arnold Community Learning Center.
Cort received her elementary education degree from The University of Akron
in 1976. Her previous honors include Ashland Oil Teacher Achievement Award
and Portage Path PTA Outstanding Educator Award. She is also the recipient
of various grants.
Cort believes all students can achieve if given adequate time and
appropriate resources.
“I cannot think of anything more rewarding than to observe students take
ownership of their accomplishments and watch them beam with confidence and
self-pride as they reach new goals,” explained Cort. “In our classroom, the
motto is YES, WE CAN!”
Cort believes technology plays a very important role within the classroom.
“By using classroom computers, the Internet, Alpha Smart keyboards,
listening centers, Google Earth and Smart Board technology, our classroom is
instantly transformed into a diverse and realistic learning environment that
extends learning beyond the four walls of the classroom,” says Cort.
“Technology allows me to bring grizzly bears and volcanoes to students who
are otherwise limited to inner-city life.”
Cort was one of nine nominees for Teacher of the Year. The other nominees
were:
- Daniel Camburn, Garfield High School
- Toby Clifford, Glover CLC
- Mary Leahy, Buchtel High School
- Janet Lippincott, King Elementary School
- Rebecca Oram, Hyre Middle School
- Marianne Pramuka, Forest Hill CLC
- Linda Reischman, Goodyear Middle School
- Kimberly Shama-Hanna, Ritzman Elementary School
Education nonprofit donates hand-held computers to
Akron schools (Back to Top)
Monday, May 18, 2009 — Portage Path teacher John Bennett begins each morning
with custom-designed morning announcements designed on PowerPoint. His
first-grade class, dubbed the Dream Factory, eagerly listens to learn if Max
will join them that day. They wiggle with excitement when they discover he
will.
Max is a hand-held computer game about the size of an iPod, and his
technical name is TeacherMate. He sports a vivid 2.5-inch color screen, 512
MB of internal memory, an SD slot for expandability, a built-in microphone
and speaker, earphones, and eight control buttons, with a battery life of
four hours.
“The students sincerely LOVE Max,” said Bennett. “When I say that it’s time
to wake up Max, the sound of glee permeates the room. They even demand time
with Max if they have to leave the classroom when their classmates are using
the device.”
Max is programmed with reading and math software designed as games. Children
are invited to record what they read on the screen into a built-in
microphone and listen as the computer plays back their own voice readings.
Teachers can use a learning management system on their personal computer to
differentiate instruction for each student when students are using the
hand-held devices. One connection enables the teacher to reprogram the
devices all at once and recharge the batteries. The teacher can also
download information about the progress each student makes on the devices.
“As the students record their voices,” explained Bennett, “I can listen in
as I meander around the room. Next fall, I will more closely monitor reading
levels in differentiated groupings in relationship to specific goals set on
Max for each group. There is no question that limiting the time to 15-18
minutes helps to maximize engagement each day. The intensity of engagement
has not dropped at all.”
Innovations for Learning, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization, equipped
more than 8,000 first-grade students in Chicago public schools with its
TeacherMate hand-held computers. And this spring, Innovations for Learning
started pilots in Akron, Ohio; Round Rock, Texas; Detroit, Mich.; Tampa,
Fla.; and Baton Rouge, La.
Chase provided funding for the devices in Akron and other cities as part of
its national initiative to improve education. This past April, Akron Public
Schools received 112 TeacherMates which were donated to five elementary
schools — Leggett, Mason CLC, McEbright, Portage Path and Robinson CLC.
Akron schools will continue in the pilot program next year.
“Students love the TeacherMate because it’s fun to use,” said Ted Walter,
president of the Akron market for Chase. “We love it because TeacherMate
helps students learn reading and math skills that they'll need throughout
their lives.”
The effectiveness of Innovations for Learning’s software has been
demonstrated by independent university research funded by the Spencer
Foundation. The reading and math software is aligned with all of the major
reading and math basal programs and was developed in consultation with
curriculum researchers at various U.S. universities. At about $100 per unit
for a complete system of hardware and beginning reading and math
instructional software, TeacherMate can be a more affordable solution for
providing one computer to every student in a classroom.
“I was thrilled to have this opportunity to help my students (and me)
stretch and learn more this year,” said Bennett. “We are enjoying learning
this way. I have to make sure that Max makes it into our curriculum daily,
or there could be a first-grade revolt at Portage Path Elementary School.”
For more information contact: Lisa Spathis, Innovations for Learning,
Lspathis@comcast.net, 847/831-1367; or Mary Kay Bean, Chase Media
Relations,
mary.kay.bean@chase.com, 313/225-2831, 586/536-0060 (cell). Buchtel student wins UNCF Gates Millennium Scholarship
(Back to Top)
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 — Mathú Davis, a Buchtel High School senior, has been
named a Gates Millennium Scholar. Davis, a Seniors to Sophomores student, will
graduate this spring with both his high school diploma and 28 hours of college
credit.
“I have been very impressed with Mathú. He is very focused and committed to
excellence in all he pursues,” said Buchtel principal Deborah Houchins. “I am
very proud of his accomplishment and happy that I have had the opportunity to
work with him.”
Mathú plans to attend Howard University next fall to obtain his bachelor’s,
master’s and doctorate degrees in the field of electrical and mechanical
engineering. Mathú says his career goal is “to help convert our country to a
more environmental source of energy.”
“I plan to donate a percentage of my income to scholarships to help students be
able to attend college and pursue their dreams,” Mathú wrote in his scholarship
application. “I believe this is important because, without financial support, I
will not be able to pursue my dreams. I will help contribute to the advancement
of young people such as myself and hopefully see that they succeed as I plan to
do.”
“Mathú Davis is a young man who possesses the perfect mix of ability and
humility,” said school counselor Dan Richards. "Mathú will continue to have
incredible personal, academic and professional success throughout his life. What
will differentiate him from others is his humble, dignified style and sense of
manhood.”
The Gates Millennium Scholars Program, initially funded by a $1 billion grant
from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is administrated by the United Negro
College Fund. UNCF recently notified 1,000 students that they were selected as
2009 Gates Millennium Scholars. The students are from 48 States, the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam and are enrolling for the fall semester in 346
colleges and universities. Eleven students are from Ohio. Davis is the only
student selected in Akron.
About 5,000 current Gates Scholars attend over 900 schools, including Ivy League
colleges, flagship state universities and minority-serving institutions
including historically black colleges.
According to UNCF, Gates Millennium Scholar recipients have an average
graduation rate of almost 80 percent, higher than the graduation rate for all
college students and higher than the rate for high-income students.
As a Seniors to Sophomores student, Davis attends classes at The University of
Akron where he also participated in Upward Bound and Project SEED, a science,
technology, engineering and math-based program which assigned him to a chemical
engineer mentor from The University of Akron.
“It has been my distinct pleasure to have been Mathú Davis’ Upward Bound
academic adviser here at the university for the past four years," said Carolyn
Felton, University of Akron Upward Bound adviser. “By being one of a thousand
recipients to have been awarded this scholarship, out of 20,500 applicants,
Mathú has proven what we knew all along – that his determination and hard work
would pay off.” Akron Board approved administrative reorganization and job
cuts
(Back to Top)
Monday, March 30, 2009 — At a special Akron Board of Education meeting,
Superintendent David W. James presented a reorganization of the district's
administrative staff. The new structure results in the elimination and
reassessment of 17 administrative positions, resulting in a savings of more than
$1.6 million. "My reorganization is centered on two important goals,"
explained James. "Obviously, my first priority is balancing our budget. We are
facing a $37 million deficit in FY11. It is our financial responsibility to
begin making cuts now in order to reduce or postpone that deficit." The
district is waiting for details on the Governor's new budget and other funds
that may be attached to the stimulus package. Early reports indicate that, if
the district receives more funding, it is likely these funds will be earmarked
for special purposes. In addition there is no guarantee that new funding coming
to the district will continue beyond a two-year period. "My second goal, as I
stated in the State of the Schools address, is to streamline this organization
to directly focus on our five strategic goals. I will assign some of my top
staff to be directly accountable for these goals, which include high quality
teaching and learning; high caliber employees; public engagement; financial
stability; and safe, secure learning centers. "You could look at the
administrative reorganization as the second step of our budget reductions,"
explained James, "which follows the building closings we announced in February.
As we learn more about next year's projected revenue and enrollment, we will
scrutinize every facet of the district for more ways to reduce our
expenditures." By the end of this school year, the district will close Erie
Island, Lincoln and Stewart elementary schools, and Goodrich and Riedinger
middle schools, as well as the Adult Vocational center and the Guinther
administration building. Building closures and administrative cuts will reduce
the budget by an estimated $3.1 million. "We all hear people say that school
districts could balance their budgets just by eliminating the administrative
staff," said James. "What they don't understand is that these jobs represent
less than two percent of our personnel budget. However, I completely agree that
administrative jobs must be relevant and productive. What I am trying to do is
streamline, reassess and align each job to directly focus on our district
goals." Administrative positions to be eliminated or downgraded* include:
- Executive Director, Elementary Schools
- Director, Testing, Research & Evaluation
- Director, Library/Media Services*
- Program Manager, Saturn
- Coordinator, Adult Vocational Services
- Coordinator, Special Education
- Elementary Learning Specialist
- Manager, Broadcast Communications
- Middle School Principals (2)
- Elementary School Principals (3)
- Middle School Assistant Principals (4)
The state of Ohio requires school districts to submit a new five-year
plan each spring and requires a detailed account of how the district will
balance its budget for two of the five years. The new proposed budget will
include school closings and administrative cuts as well as further
district-wide cuts to be recommended by the superintendent.
"I support and applaud Superintendent James for actively taking steps to
bring recommendations to the Board on how we can right-size our organization,"
said James Hardy, board president. "We will continue to work in partnership to
reduce our budget deficit and implement the district-wide strategic plan."
Akron Principal named 2009 Metlife/NASSP Ohio Principal
(Back to Top)
Tuesday, March 10, 2009 — Felisha Cheatem of Perkins Middle School was selected
by Metlife/NASSP as one of Ohio’s Principals of the Year. Cheatem has been a
school administrator for 12 years and served as principal of Perkins Middle
School since 2004.
Under her leadership, a successful discipline committee was established at
Perkins, lowering the amount of referrals for inappropriate behavior. Test
scores have risen: sixth-grade reading scores rose 68%, seventh-grade math
scores rose 72% and eighth-grade math scores rose 39%. Cheatem coordinates
multiple community support services, including a John S. and James L. Knight
Foundation Grant-funded program called Perkins Activities Central. Activities
include the Eighth-Grade Bridge Program, Inventors Hall of Fame, Digital
Photography, African Drum and Dance, Camp Invention, First Tee of Akron, Read
Baby Read, Boys and Girls Club, Alchemy Boys Club, Girl Scouts and Girls
Wellness Group.
Cheatem will attend a leadership symposium in Washington, D.C., in October
and will be honored at the 2009
OASSA Fall Conference in Columbus.
Board recognizes 139 Ohio Master Teachers (Back to Top)
Tuesday, March 10, 2009 — The Akron Board of Education honored 139 teachers who
met the qualifications for Ohio Master Teacher. The Master Teacher Program
recognizes and honors teachers who go above and beyond district expectations. It
creates a resource of teacher leaders to advance the profession and encourages
high quality teachers to remain in the classroom.
For more information, contact Bernie Burchett at 330/761-3033.
Three Firestone students are finalists for the National
Merit Scholarship Program (Back to Top)
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 — Three Firestone students – Jack Licata, Shammas
Malik and Bruce Perry – were selected as finalists for the National Merit
Scholarship Program. High school students enter the National Merit Scholarship
Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying
Test, which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.5 million entrants
each year.
“I hope the success of these young men show that the public schools offer a
challenging curriculum that prepares a student for life after high school,” said
Principal Larry Petry. “We are so proud of their accomplishments and hope that
the college on their wish list feels the same way. Best of luck to them as they
pursue their dreams.”
For more information, contact counselor Deborah Sturm at 330/873-3315.
Board closes five schools at end of this school year
(Back to Top)
Monday, February 9, 2009 — At its February 9 meeting, the Akron Board of
Education discussed the district’s pending deficit and took action to close five
school buildings. Schools that will close at the end of the current school year
include; Erie Island, Lincoln and Stewart elementary schools, as well as
Goodrich and Riedinger middle schools.
“There is nothing more difficult than closing buildings; however, based on our
current enrollment, our district is operating too many schools,” said
Superintendent David W. James. “As we continue our building project, the Ohio
School Facilities Commission requires us to build fewer schools based on our
projected enrollment decline.”
In the past two decades, the district’s enrollment has declined from more than
34,000 students in the early 1990s to less than 28,000 today. Enrollment
projections show further decline over the next decade. The district previously
closed five schools, and this recent Board decision will bring the total to 10
schools.
The district will soon notify parents with their student’s new home-school
assignments and plans to hold informational meetings for parents in March. A
special open enrollment period will be held for these families.
“I should note that while the Stewart building will close next year,” said
James, “the Africentric program will continue. The Africentric program will
become a school within a school and be housed in the new Crouse CLC, which opens
next fall.”
“Our action today is much larger than a student enrollment issue,” explained
Board President James Hardy. “Our district is facing a $37 million deficit in
2011. Closing these schools is just the first step in our efforts to balance our
budget and right-size our district. Over the next few months, the board expects
the superintendent to recommend further budget reductions for our
consideration.” Superintendent delivers State of the Schools address
(Back to Top)
Wednesday, February 4, 2009 — Akron Public Schools Superintendent David W. James
delivered his first State of the Schools address at the Akron Press Club.
“My vision for Akron Public Schools is one of collaboration,” said James. “By
working together, focusing resources and transforming education, we can prepare
the next generation for the opportunities ahead.”
Key points of the Superintendent’s State of the Schools include:
- With a projected $37 million deficit in 2011, James and the Board of
Education will focus on right-sizing the district. Projected cuts will
include school closings, a reduction in staff across the district and a
reduction of programs.
- APS will meet the demands of a 21st-century work force by developing
non-traditional learning institutions, including the new STEM middle school
which opens next fall, and evolving the program into an immersion science,
technology, engineering, mathematics and medical (STEMM) high school.
- To assure the highest quality of teaching and learning, the district
will explore using an instructional-rounds model to help teachers improve
their teaching practices. In a medical-rounds approach, teachers observe
each others’ teaching methods; provide feedback to each other; and
collaborate on what best practices should be implemented.
- In an effort to eliminate the day-to-day disturbances in the classroom,
new programs and innovative approaches will be implemented to help students
with severe behavioral issues. The district is exploring a pilot program
with Judge Linda Teodosio of Summit County Juvenile Court to reduce the
number of referrals to juvenile court for issues related to disruptive
school behavior or truancy.
- James revealed that Stan Hywet and the City of Akron will partner with
Akron Public Schools to build an innovative learning center for students in
grades K-5 which will be built on the Stan Hywet Hall property.
- Community residents from across the district will be appointed to a new
Superintendent’s Advisory Committee, which will provide better feedback to
the school board.
“I commit to you that the children of Akron Public Schools come first,”
pledged James. “And I will do my very best to serve them and our community
with care and understanding. Together, we can make a difference.”
David W. James is the 22nd superintendent of Akron Public Schools in its
162-year history. He has been employed by the district for 17 years. He
lives in Akron with his wife and two children, both students at Akron Public
Schools.
The Superintendent’s State of the Schools address will air on Time Warner
Cable channel 15 on Thursday, February 5, at 9:30 a.m., 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
His speech is also posted in its entirety at
www.akronschools.com.
Ellet students receive national award
(Back to Top)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008 — National Honor Society students at Ellet High
School received the National Award for Leadership in Conducting an Outstanding
Service Project for its student-designed program “Seminar for Elementary
Schools: Obesity in Children.”
The program provided four learning stations at each Ellet cluster elementary
school, designed to help young students make healthy choices.
This is the third such award presented to Ellet High School. For more
information, contact adviser Barb Baltrinic at 330/794-4120. Local school board member honored by state
association
(Back to Top)
Monday, October 13, 2008 — James Hardy, vice president of the Akron City Schools
Board of Education, has been recognized for his service to a statewide
association of school boards.
Hardy — a three-year member of the board of education — received a plaque
thanking him for his contributions as a member of the Ohio School Boards
Association Board of Trustees, the association’s governing body. Rob Delane,
OSBA deputy executive director and director of school board development,
presented the plaque at a September 22 school board meeting.
Hardy also is a member of OSBA’s Urban Commission and the association’s
Northeast Region Executive Committee.
The Ohio School Boards Association is in its 53rd year of service to public
education and represents the state’s public school board members. OSBA’s
services include management consulting, continuing education through training
programs and workshops, policy development, legal services, legislative
initiatives, management services, superintendent and other executive searches,
information, technology, employee relations, and communications.
Firestone student gets perfect scores on SAT and ACT
(Back to Top)
Thursday, July 24, 2008 — It’s not easy to score 100% on a test. It’s a rarity
to get a perfect score on college admissions exams like the ACT or SAT. But,
scoring perfect on both the ACT and SAT borders on the impossible.
Firestone student, Bruce Perry, achieved this rare feat. Perry earned a perfect
36 on the ACT and a perfect 2400 on the SAT.
“I was well-prepared for the exams through my courses at Firestone,” said Perry.
“I knew I scored well.”
During the 2006-07 school year, more than 2.2 million ACT tests were
administered. Only 177 came back with a perfect 36. Of the nearly 2.6 million
SAT exams taken, only 335 came back with a perfect 2400.
“We are very proud of this accomplishment. These scores are very impressive and
position Bruce in the 99th percentile on both state and national levels,” said
Firestone principal, Larry Petry. “Bruce is a great, well-rounded kid who will
be a senior next year in our International Baccalaureate Program.”
Beyond his rigorous International Baccalaureate and advanced placement courses,
Perry actively participates in Firestone’s Academic Challenge, Project Lead the
Way, track and field and cross-country.
Perry says he hopes his perfect scores will land him a scholarship to MIT
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology). He plans to study chemical engineering.
Firestone High School: Campus for International Baccalaureate and Visual and
Performing Arts is located at 333 Rampart Ave. Joint press conference held
regarding MSRA
(Back to Top)
Friday,
November 9, 2007 — Akron
Public Schools held a joint press conference
with the Akron Department of Health and Akron
Children’s Hospital regarding the identification
and handling of suspected and confirmed cases of methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA), a type of “staph”
infection that can cause skin infections that
may be difficult to treat. Infections caused by staphylococcal bacteria
occur commonly in the community; and
individual cases have been confirmed at Barrett,
Firestone Park, Harris, David Hill, Jennings and Voris elementary
schools.
A
physician has treated each of these cases. Each
school building has been cleaned. Even before
the recent concern about MRSA, all Akron Public
Schools buildings have been cleaned regularly
with a broad-spectrum, germ-killing solution
that is effective against
Staph aureus,
including MRSA.
Akron Public Schools routinely works with the
Akron Health Department and other health
officials to monitor
illnesses, look for disease trends and
determine when specific local responses to
significant increases in illness are required.
Health officials advise schools about the
appropriate ways to handle specific illnesses.
While MRSA can cause some various serious
illnesses, most MRSA infections are in the skin
and soft tissue and can be treated. Common signs
of a skin infection include redness, warmth,
swelling and tenderness. Often an MRSA infection
will look like a spider bite, abscess or pimple.
It
is important to seek medical attention early for
any wound or sore that looks infected, and
follow a physician’s instructions completely.
Parents and students can help by
encouraging and practicing proper hygiene,
especially by:
- keeping hands clean
by washing with soap and water or using
alcohol-based hand rubs and showering after
athletic games and practices;
- washing cuts and
scrapes and keeping them covered with clean, dry
bandages;
- not sharing personal
items such as towels, soap or razors;
- keeping clothes and
linens clean; and
- not using whirlpools, hydrotherapy pools,
cold tubs, swimming pools or other common tubs
if open wounds are present.
Akron Public Schools is making every attempt to educate all its parents about
MRSA by sending information home to parents; posting information on its Web
site; posting good hygiene tips in our buildings; promoting hand washing; and,
with assistance from local health officials, providing information to principals
and high school athletic directors.
Specific questions can be referred to the Akron Health Department at
330/375-2145 or the Akron Children’s Hospital “Ask Children’s Nurse Information
Line” at 330/543-2000.
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