The National Council of Teachers of English has honored 86 elementary and secondary schools as “Centers of Excellence” for 1990, based on their innovative English-language-arts programs for students at risk of failing or dropping out.
By drawing national attention to these exemplary programs, operating in schools in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two Canadian provinces, the council hopes to encourage all schools to develop successful approaches to teaching at-risk students. This year a lead school was chosen in each state, with 35 additional centers named on the honors list.
The honored programs, with the name and location of each school and the name of a person to contact for more information, are listed below by state, with the lead school for each state listed first:
Alabama: Resource Center, Warrior Academy, Eutaw, Rebecca Cathey. Alaska: Project apel, Yukon-Koyukuk School District, Nenana, Timothy Cline. Arizona: Project Success, Ganado Primary School, Ganado, Geraldine Garcia-Swift; At-Risk Demonstration Project, W.T. Machan Elementary School, Phoenix, Roberta Crane.
Arkansas: t.l.c.--Thoughtful Learning Community, Sheridan Junior High School, Sheridan, Brenda Haynes and Lisa Treat. California: Opportunity Program, Benicia Middle School, Benicia, Mrs. Randy Weiss; School-Within-a-School, Chino High School, Chino, Melva Galloway; pact--Promoting Achievement through Cooperative Teaching, El Cerrito High School, El Cerrito, Joan Cone; Whole Language School, E.M. Downer Elementary School, San Pablo, Derek Link; Oblone/u.c.s.c. Writing Partnership, Oblone Elementary School, Watsonville, Debbie Bell. Colorado: Basic English Skills, Berthoud High School, Berthoud, Diana Benkert; K-1-2 Primary Unit, Colorow Elementary School, Littleton, Lass Weir; Student Publication, Westridge Elementary School, Littleton, Ronald V. Horn.
Connecticut: New Arrival Center, Hartford Public High School, Hartford, L. Kay Stark; Shepaug School Writing Center, Shepaug Valley Regional Middle/High School, Washington, Emery Roth 3rd. Delaware: School Dropout Demonstration Assistance Program, William Penn High School, New Castle, Sydney Goldberg. District of Columbia: Kendall School Language Arts Program, Kendall Demonstration Elementary School/Gallaudet University, Washington, Martha M. French.
Florida: Reading and Writing--With a Little Help From Our Friends and Seahawk Country--A Home Away From Home! (two programs), North Beach Elementary School, Miami Beach, Rosalind Lanes and Daniel Snowberger; Hallandale Adult Community Center, Hallandale, Edna H. Musso. Georgia: m.h.s. At-Risk Program, Marietta High School, Marietta, Gene White. Hawaii: r.a.h.--Reading at Home, Kailua Elementary School, Kailua, Melvin Soong.
Idaho: Reach Out, Boise High School, Boise, Christine B. Larocco. Illinois: Prologue Alternative High School, Chicago, Deborah Stern; On the Road to Literacy: Empowering the Learners, North Junior High School, Crystal Lake, Carol J. Fuhler; Buddy Day, Perry Elementary School, Carpentersville, Nancy Hatcher; The Children’s Literacy Project, Maria Saucedo Magnet School, Chicago, Andre Kyriazes. Indiana: e.a.s. (Enjoyment, Affective Skills) Reading Program, West Vigo Elementary School, West Terre Haute, Elizabeth Lydick and Janice Swickard; Project smile, Tecumseh-Harrison Elementary School, Vincennes, Kathy Dotson; Simon Toliver Parsons Reading Incentive Program, Thornton Center, Vigo County School Corporation, Terre Haute, Millie Vaughn.
Iowa: School-Within-a-School, Lincoln High School, Des Moines, Lisa J. Desing. Kansas: Individualized English, Beloit Junior/Senior High School, Beloit, Bonnie J. Newcomer; Project Pioneer, Wichita High School West, Wichita, Linda Koppenhaver. Kentucky: Marion County Preschool Services for the Handicapped and At-Risk Students, Community Education Center, Lebanon Elementary School, Lebanon, Katina Johnson; Primary Language Intervention Program, Whiteside Primary School, Paducah, Charlene Davis.
Louisiana: The Alternative Program, Luling Elementary School, Luling, Felecia G. Rapp; Reading Rescue--Preventing Failure for the At-Risk 1st and 2nd Grader, Shreve Island Elementary School, Shreveport, Mrs. P. Oglesby. Maine: Reading, Let’s Do It!, Katahdin High School, Sherman Station, Rae Bates. Maryland: esso--English, Social Studies, Science Opportunities--A Team Approach, Winston Churchill High School, Potomac, Marjory Goldman and Judy Ann Webster.
Massachusetts: Kids for Kids: A Writing Program, John F. Kennedy Junior High School, Springfield, Patricia F. Hunter; Project Grad, Brockton High School, Brockton, Paul Laurino. Michigan: Mackenzie High School/University of Michigan Writing Program for High Achieving Students, Mackenzie High School, Detroit, Helen Didley; Johnson Elementary School, Milford, Joan Talaki. Minnesota: Assurance of Mastery, Hopkins North Junior High School, Minnetonka, Myrna Klobuchar.
Mississippi: Oak Park Learning Center, Laurel, Charlotte Cahill. Missouri: The English Skills/Skills Tutorial Program, Parkway North High School, Creve Coeur, Rosemarie Stocky; English Model Curriculum Standards and Objectives 7-12, Center Senior High School, Kansas City, Beverly Kowalczyk. Montana: Heart Butte School, Heart Butte, Mary Scriver.
Nebraska: Study Skills-English-Reading, Grand Island Senior High School,Grand Island, Joan Clark. Nevada: At-Risk Prevention Through Self-Esteem, Grant Bowler Elementary School, Logandale, Phyllis W. Leavitt. New Hampshire: John Stark Regional High School, Weare, Sherry Phinney; Biographic Literary Profiles Project, Harold Martin School, Hopkinton, Linda Walsh.
New Jersey: rise--Reaching Individual Students Through Encouragement, Hopewell Valley Central High School, Pennington, Nicholas J. Rotoli. New Mexico: Project: Write, McKinley Middle School, Albuquerque, Tillie Wagoner. New York: The Mentor Community, Henry Hudson School District, Peekskill, Mary Andriola; Focus, Gowana Junior High School, Goana, Karen Bronson; Focus, Guilderland High School, Guilderland Center, Sharon S. Legge; The International High School, International High School at LaGuardia Community College, New York, Marsha Slater.
North Carolina: Dropout Prevention Program, Orange High School, Hillsborough, Betty Eidener. North Dakota: South Central High School, Bismarck, Irene Voth. Ohio: Shaw High School Reading and Writing Program, Shaw High School, East Cleveland, Mary Gove; Open Room Program, Eastwood High School, Oberlin, Sharon Belcher; Freshman Achievement Program, Glenville High School, Cleveland, Faye Appling and Kathleen Freilino; Open Room Program, Prospect School, Oberlin, Gail Wood.
Oklahoma: Reading/Language Arts and English, Tomlinson Junior High School, Lawton, Lillian K. Johnson. Oregon: Success for All, Sunset High School, Portland, Chet Skibinski. Pennsylvania: tells-- Program, David L. Schwartz Intermediate High School, Carlisle, Mary Margaret Rhoads.
Rhode Island: Beta Team English and History, Essential School Program, Hope High School, Providence, Kay Scheidler. South Carolina: Building Foundations for Careers, Edwards Junior High School, Central, Marilyn E. Raines; Share the Joy of Learning, Conway Middle School, Conway, Sherry Lee. South Dakota: Michael Henry Youth Center Inc., St. Francis Indian School, St. Francis, Alta Bordeaux.
Tennessee: Challenge Class, Hunters Lane Comprehensive High School, Nashville, Kathy P. Moore. Texas: At-Risk Program, Lockney Middle/High School, Lockney, Charlotte Mitchell; School, Community, and Parent Program, Nimitz Middle School, San Antonio, Peggy Clemons; Freshmen Soaring Successfully, Willowridge High School, Houston, Valerie Sheppard. Utah: Parent-Assisted Early Reading Program, Sunrise School, Smithfield, Mary Lynn Neeley.
Vermont: Transition Program, Williston Central School, Williston, Greg Moser. Virginia: Community Links to Learning, Bailey’s Elementary School, Falls Church, Jean Frey; Kenan Project, Goerge Wythe High School, Richmond, Doris M. James. Washington: Alternative School-Within-a-School, Cedar Heights Junior High School, Port Orchard, Seenie Brown and Aileen Baxter.
West Virginia: Arnettsville Happy School, Arnettsville School, Morgantown, Evelyn Brehm. Wisconsin: Triple ‘A’ Tutoring, Mukwonago High School, Mukwonago, Shirley Jensen; Oconomowoc Senior High School, Oconomowoc, Julie Mason. Wyoming: Roosevelt Learning and Assessment Center, Casper, Tom Bishop.
Canada: Alberta: High Needs Project, Holy Cross School, Calgary, Darlene Bobrosky. Quebec: Inner Circle, John Rennie High School, Pointe Claire, Chuch Merilees; Learning Centre, Cedar Park, Pointe Claire, Carol Ross.
A symbol () marks deadlines that have not appeared in a previous issue of Education Week.
October 10--'Friends of Education': The Minnesota Coalition for Public Education is inviting nominations for its 1990 “Friends of Education Awards.” Individuals who have made positive contributions to public education in Minnesota at the local or state level may be nominated in one or more of the following categories: School Volunteer, Elected Official, Community Leader, and Business Leader. Winners will be honored at the Friends of Education Awards Banquet on November 15, 1990, in Brooklyn Park, Minn. Contact: Meeting Concepts Inc., 6321 Bury Dr., Suite 8, Eden Prairie, Minn. 55346.
October 15--Dropout prevention: The Program Planning Committee of the 1991 National Dropout Prevention Conference is inviting submissions of proposals for presentation at the conference. The conference, to be held in Tulsa, Okla., on April 14-16, 1991, will feature the theme “Unlocking Human Potential: Key to the Future.” Proposals may be submitted for workshops, instructional sessions, topical/panel sessions, or roundtable discussions. Contact: Kara Wilson, G. Dale Janda, or Brenda Martin, n.d.p.c., P.O. Box 4587, Tulsa, Okla. 74159; (918) 596-5205.
October 15--Fulbright exchange program: The U.S. Information Agency is inviting applications for the 1991-1992 Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program, which involves direct exchange of teaching assignments at the secondary and postsecondary levels. Exchange opportunities also exist for educational administrators and elementary-school teachers. Possible host countries include Argentina, Belgium/Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Senegal, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. Three years’ full-time teaching experience in appropriate subjects is necessary, and fluency in the appropriate foreign language may be required. Eligible teachers may also attend 3- to 8-week summer seminars, which will be held in Italy and the Netherlands. Contact: William Glade, f.t.e.p., E/ASX, usia Washington, D.C. 20547; (202) 485-2555.
October 19--Technology: The Tandy Corporation, in cooperation with Texas Christian University, is inviting nominations for its 1990 Tandy Technology Scholars program. The program is designed to recognize academic excellence in mathematics, science, and computer science. One hundred teachers will receive cash awards of $2,500 each, and 100 students will receive $1,000 scholarships to the colleges of their choice. Contact: Tandy Technology Scholars, t.c.u., P.O. Box 34897, Fort Worth, Tex. 76129; (817) 924-4087.
October 31--Educational excellence: The rjr Nabisco Foundation is inviting applications for its “Next Century Schools” grants. Fifteen awards of $100,000 to $250,000 will be awarded to individual public schools that have demonstrated risk taking and entrepreneurship in education. Contact: Next Century Schools Fund, rjrnf, Suite 550, 1455 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004; (202) 626-7200.
October 31--Educational research: The Institute for Educational Research is inviting nominations for the 1990 i.e.r. Action Research in Schools Awards. The awards honor outstanding “action” research that is significantly improving education for students in public and private schools nationwide. Applications are invited from individuals whose research projects were initiated and completed after January 1, 1987. Projects may be submitted in the elementary/middle/junior-high-school, high-school, and administrative-issues categories. Individual employees of public or private elementary and secondary schools and public and private educational organizations are encouraged to apply. Contact: i.e.r., 793 North Main St., Glen Ellyn, Ill. 60137; (708) 858-8060.
October 31--Foreign languages: The Rockefeller Foundation is inviting nominations for its 1991 Fellowship Program for Teachers of Foreign Languages. A total of 100 grants of $5,000 each will be awarded to high-school foreign-language teachers having at least three years of teaching experience. The grants will be used for eight weeks of summer study in the United States or abroad. Contact: r.f. Scholarships for Foreign Language Teachers in High Schools, 270 Mohegan Ave., New London, Conn. 08320; (203) 447-7800.
November 1--Arts education: The Kennedy Center Education Department, through the Alliance for Arts Education, is inviting nominations for its annual national award honoring school principals and school-district superintendents who provide leadership in making the arts central in the general curriculum. Full-time elementary- and secondary-school principals and school-district superintendents who have served in the top administrative position in their school or district for at least three years are encouraged to apply through their state Alliance for Arts Education. Contact state alliance or Carmen Tiglao, a.a.e., The Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. 20566; (202) 416-8800.
November 1--History: The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation is inviting application requests for the 1991 DeWitt Wallace Institute on World History. Fifty high-school history teachers will be selected to participate in institutes, led by university professors and high-school history teachers, where they will collaborate to refine material presented at the institutes into modules for use in high-school history courses. Contact: Nancy Arnold, History Institute, Woodrow Wilson Foundation, Box 642, Princeton, N.J. 08542; (609) 924-4666.
November 8--Education reporting: The National Association of Secondary School Principals is inviting nominations for the 10th annual “Benjamin Fine Awards.” Awards of $1,500 will be given to professional newspaper and magazine reporters and editors who have made outstanding contributions to education journalism in works published between November 1, 1989, and October 31, 1990. Entries may be submitted in the following areas: single article, editorial/column, series of articles, and supplements. Contact: nassp, Public Relations Office, 1904 Association Dr., Reston, Va. 22091-1598; (703) 860-0200, ext. 274.
November 19--Civics education: The Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution is inviting applications for awards, under the 1991 Bicentennial Education Grant Program, to support improved teaching of the Constitution in grades K-12 and to develop programs that will strengthen students’ understanding of the document’s importance. Approximately 25 grants will be awarded for proposals that focus on the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and subsequent amendments. Grants will be awarded to local educational agencies, private elementary and secondary schools, private organizations, individuals, and state and local agencies. Contact: Anne Fickling, Education Grants Program, c.b.c., 808 17th St., N.W, Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20006; (202) 653-5110.
November 26--Overseas study: The U.S. Education Department is inviting applications for its Fulbright-Hayes Seminars Abroad Program. Short-term study/travel opportunities abroad are being offered to educators of the social sciences, the humanities, and the social studies to enhance understanding and knowledge of the people and cultures of other nations. Those eligible include social-sciences or humanities faculty members from colleges, universities, and community colleges; social-studies-curriculum specialists at local or state education agencies; junior- and senior-high-school social-studies teachers and department heads; 4th- to 6th-grade teachers who specialize in social-studies subjects; and teachers of foreign languages. Contact: fhsap, used, Center for International Education, 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202-5332; (202) 708-7283.
November 30--Mathematics: The Mathematical Sciences Education Board is inviting proposals for its State Mathematics Coalition Project. One-year planning grants of $5,000 to $10,000 will be awarded to non-profit organizations interested in establishing coalitions at the state level designed to improve mathematics education. The coalitions will include state leaders from the education, corporate, and public-policy sectors who are committed to mathematics-education reform. Contact: Robert J. Kansky, Director, s.m.c.p., m.s.e.b., 818 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20006; (202) 334-1486.
November 30--Mid-career teacher training: The U.S. Education Department is inviting applications for awards, under the Mid-Career Teacher Training Program, to encourage the establishment and maintenance of programs that will provide teacher training to individuals who are moving to a career in education from another occupation. An estimated ten grants of approximately $98,700 each will be awarded to institutions of higher education with schools or departments of education. Contact: Joseph Vaughan, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, 555 New Jersey Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20208-5643; (202) 219-2187.
November 30--Partners in education: The National Association of Partners in Education, in conjunction with Kraft General Foods and Walt Disney World Company, is inviting applications for its 1991 “Outstanding Volunteer Awards Program.” First- and second-place winners will be selected in each of the following seven categories: Adult Elementary Volunteer, Adult Secondary Volunteer, Business/Agency Partnership Program Volunteer, Intergenerational Volunteer, Program Organizer Volunteer, Special Education Volunteer, and Youth Volunteer/Peer Tutor. A cash award of $1,000 will be made to the school district of each first-place winner, and $500 will be awarded to the school district of each second-place winner. Notice of intent to enter the competition should be mailed to nape by October 5. Contact: National Awards Program, nape, 601 Wythe St., Suite 200, Alexandria, Va. 22314-1934; (703) 836-4880.
December 1--Science: The Research Corporation, a foundation for the advancement of science, is inviting applications for its Partners in Science grants. The grants enable high-school science teachers to participate in research during the summer with university-faculty scientists from institutions in Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, and New Mexico. Teachers should possess a baccalaureate degree or the equivalent in chemistry or physics in order to qualify. Stipends of up to $4,000 will be provided. Contact: Brian Andreen, Grants Program Coordinator, rc, 6840 E. Broadway Blvd., Tucson, Ariz. 85710; (622) 296-6711.
December 1--Women in education: The American Association of University Women is inviting applications for its 1990-91 Eleanor Roosevelt Teacher Fellowships Program. Fellowships of $1,000 to $10,000 will be awarded to female K-12 classroom teachers with at least five years’ full-time teaching experience. Nominees should have demonstrated a commitment to creating educational equity, particularly in the fields of math and science, for girls through work in the classroom, the school district, and the community. Contact: a.a.u.w. Education Foundation, 1111 16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036;
December 3--Indian education: The U.S. Education Department is inviting applications for new awards under the Indian Education Act of 1988. An estimated 1,200 awards of approximately $44,630 will be awarded to educational agencies, schools operated by Indian tribes, tribal schools, and special projects ministering to the needs of Indian children. Contact: Division of Program Operations, used, 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Room 2177, Washington, D.C. 20202-6335; Eastern Branch Chief: (202) 401-1926, Western Branch Chief: (202) 401-1907.
December 7--Teaching awards: The Foundation for Excellence in Teaching is inviting nominations of prekindergarten through 5th-grade teachers in the Chicago area for their annual “Golden Apple Award.” Ten teachers will receive a paid fall-term sabbatical to study tuition-free at Northwestern University, a $2,500 stipend, personal use of an Apple MacIntosh computer, and specialized training through a series of professional-development seminars. Contact: fet, 8 South Michigan Ave., Suite 2310, Chicago, Ill. 606036-3318.
December 14--Fellowships: The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is inviting applications for the 1990 Kellogg National Fellowship Program. The foundation will select up to 50 fellows who will each receive a three-year grant of $35,000 to pursue an individualized-learning plan of leadership-skills enhancement and to participate in seminars and other activities offered by the foundation. Contact: Fellowship Office, w.k.k.f., 400 North Ave., Battle Creek, Mich. 49017-3398; (616) 968-1611.
December 15--Humanities: The National Endowment for the Humanities is accepting applications for grants to support projects designed to improve the teaching of the humanities at the elementary and secondary levels. Grants will be awarded for national and regional summer institutes, state and local collaborative projects, conferences, and college-school partnerships beginning after July 1990. Contact: n.e.h., Division of Education Programs, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Room 302, Washington, D.C. 20506; (202) 786-0377.
December 15--Students at-risk: The Association for the Education of Gifted Underachieving Students is calling for proposals for presentations to be given at its annual conference. The conference will be held on April 12-13, 1991, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Papers should relate directly to some aspect of the underachievement issue and gifted children and/or adults. The conference theme will focus on populations of gifted children who are at risk in the development of their abilities due to unique conditions or needs such as disabilities or culturally diverse backgrounds. Contact: Linda Emerick, Program Chair, 1991 aegus Conference, Graduate Programs in Education, University of St. Thomas, Mail #5017, 2115 Summit Ave., St. Paul, Minn. 55105.
December 15--Teaching awards: The Reader’s Digest Association is inviting nominations of elementary- and secondary-school teachers and principals for consideration in the second year of its “American Heroes in Education” awards program, which is jointly sponsored by Reader’s Digest, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, and the National Eduation Association. Ten individual educators, or teams of up to six teachers and principals, will be selected to receive an award of $5,000, with an additional $10,000 to be donated to their schools. Five runners-up will receive an award of $500, with $2,000 donated to their schools. Winners will be chosen on the basis of their achievements in solving critical problems common to all schools. Contact: Beth Jones, r.d., a.h.e. Awards, Pleasantville, N.Y. 10572.
December 28--Teaching awards: The Dolores Kohl Education Foundation seeks nominations for approximately 12 awards of $1,000 each to go to public and private preK-12 educators who have demonstrated excellence in teaching. To obtain a nomination form and procedure guidelines, contact: d.k.e.f., 165 Greenbay Rd., Wilmette, Ill. 60091; (708) 256-3000.
