Unsung Heros in Education

………………………………………………………………….

BY MELANIE FRIZZELL

When the teachers who work in urban education are showcased, we usually see men and women of various hues and nationalities toiling to educate our children.  These teachers work tirelessly, giving long days and weekends to assist students with academic challenges.  In an effort to close the achievement gap, administrators and others create innovative strategies for reaching out to urban parents and students.  Although success is an individual determination, some educators measure their success by their students’ achievement on certain assignments while other educators measure their success by the light of comprehension that ignites when students grasp a concept. We read about these educators—we write about these educators—-we are these educators.  But still there are numerous quiet unsung heroes whom we have yet to read about.  These educators have picked up the baton and are continuing to race our children to the finish line of success.

Every great relay team has to have four outstanding members, each with a role and each understanding that the team’s victory is based on the success of the person passing the baton and the person receiving and carrying it forward.  It takes the entire team to succeed.  When the team wins, everyone receives a medal and all share the glory.  Educating our children is a collaborative effort where every teacher has a role.  Educators work as a relay team where the success of each student depends upon the knowledge that students attain and retain as they are promoted from grade to grade.

The track relay team and educators have one common goal: victory.  For educators, when our students succeed, we are all winners.  At Mt. Zion Primary School in Jonesboro, Georgia, there are four such young African-American women who are working as a team and are developing strategies that are carrying ELL (English Language Learners) students to new levels of success.  This educational team consists of Principal, Dr. Denise Thompson; Assistant Principal, Ms. Rochelle Smith; Media Specialist, Ms. Cherita Kempson and Counselor, Ms. Patricia Williams.

Using Root Cause-Fish Bone Analysis, this educational team saw the need to assist ELL students by addressing one primary question: Why are our ELL students not performing as well on the CRCT as our other subgroups? From 2008 to 2009, the team sought to increase the number of ELL students meeting and exceeding standards in Reading/English/LA on the CRCT (Criterion Reference Competency Test) as well as decreasing the percentage of ELL students who did not meet Reading/English/LA standards on the CRCT.  In 2008, 28.8 percent of ELL students did not meet required standards for the CRCT.   In 2009, only 14.2 percent did not meet required standards for the CRCT.  Throughout the interview, the team shared personal stories about numerous non-English speaking families they have assisted over the years.   The team realized that in order to close the achievement gap they had to meet the human needs of families before academic needs could be addressed.  Numerous answers were raised as strategies were implemented to close the achievement gap while involving parents and the community.

This team of extraordinary educators has been together since the school opened in 2008.  Their success is based on simple strategies including the implementation of a Parent Liaison, Bilingual Paraprofessional, a parent resource room (with literature and resource information in both English and Spanish) and the use of three ESOL teachers (an increase from one and a half in 2009).  One recently added program, Parent University, offers professional development for parents and workshops on homework assistance, conference strategies, discipline techniques and grade analysis.

Every great relay team has a coach, and Dr. Chantal Normil, Director of Second Language Learning for Clayton County Schools, fulfills that role as any coach would.  She  assists with educational items needed for minority student and parent success.  As the interview  ended, Dr. Thompson offered this important statement to educators: “The love for children…that’s what’s important.  Our destiny in life is to get others where they desire to be…to help them reach their full potential.”

Three years ago these educators started out with a simple goal: to increase the number of ELL students meeting and exceeding required standards on the CRCT.  Now, not only have they reached this goal, but they have surpassed it.  The team has been successful because they have won the trust and gained the respect of parents and students.  With their combined 6 plus years of ELL experience, these educators are unstoppable.  They understand the needs of their parents and have jumped into the educational relay race face forward by successfully involving parents, teachers and the community with picking up the dropped educational baton and carrying it  to victory.