Broward School District’s Urban Academies Program Wins Prestigious American Government Award

The Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, in cooperation with the Council for Excellence in Government, has named Broward County Public School District’s Urban Academies Program one of seven winners of the 2006 Innovations in American Government Award. Urban Academies is the only educational program to be honored. The announcement was made at a formal dinner held in Washington, DC attended by Superintendent Frank Till and School Board member Robert D. Parks.

The program, the result of a six-year collaborative partnership between the District and Broward Community College, Florida Atlantic University, Nova Southeastern University and Barry University, was selected for the honor because it offers a comprehensive solution to the District’s teacher shortage and improves the quality of education for all students in the District. The award includes a prize of $100,000.

The Urban Academies’ “Grow Your Own Teachers” program involves people and institutions at every level of public education in Broward County. High school students interested in teaching careers go through a special curriculum and field training that earn them college credits and prepare them for college level training; undergraduates in one of four cooperating colleges receive rigorous course and classroom training in education; practicing teachers go through professional development and preparation for mentoring their incoming junior colleagues.

The Urban Academies has already placed 360 teachers in hard-to-staff schools, and 91% of these teachers have remained in their positions for more than three years, compared to a national average of 67%. During the 2005/06 school year, 271 students were enrolled in the training program, an increase of over 400% from the first year the program was in existence (2000). One hundred percent of students enrolled in the program have gone on to attend college.

The Ash Institute’s Director, Gowher Rizvi, said the Urban Academies is “the kind of big picture problem-solving that public education needs.”

The Innovations in American Government Awards honor city, county, state, tribal and federal government initiatives that are truly creative, measurably effective, meet a significant need, and have the potential to be transferred to other jurisdictions. The 2006 award winners were selected from an initial pool of 1,000 applicants.

L to R Dr. Robert Parks, SBBC, Mr. Ray Ferrero, Jr., President, Nova Southeastern University, Patricia McGinnis, President and CEO, The Council for Excellence in Government, Gowher Rizvi, Director, Ash Institute, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

District Honors Outstanding Mentors, Volunteers, Business Partners

At an end of the school year ceremony, the District honored those who dedicated their time and effort to benefit students and improve education in Broward County. The Community Involvement Awards recognized the District’s top mentors, volunteers and business partners.

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Mentors of the Year
Diego Lopez, Harbordale Elementary School
Garnett Ferguson, Hollywood Hills High School
Debbie Kaya and Gloria Mizrachi, Boyd Anderson High School

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Volunteers of the Year
Essie Reed, New River Middle School (adult division)
Mishelle Poulos, Riverside Elementary School (student division)
Michelle Behren, Gator Run Elementary School (program organizer division)
Frank Parrotta, Cypress Bay High School (senior division)

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Department/Division Partnerships of the Year
Beasley Marketing (with Physical Education)
BrightStar Credit Union (with Social Studies)

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Partnerships of the Year
Elementary Schools
Broadview Elementary (with University Hospital)
Davie Elementary (with Davie-Cooper City Rotary Club)
Flamingo Elementary (with Davie-Cooper City Rotary Club)
Secondary Schools
Pines Middle (with multiple partners)
Everglades High (with Eastern Financial Florida Credit Union)
Centers
Whiddon-Rogers (with Minority Developmental and Empowerment, Inc.)

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The District is grateful to the following sponsors of the event:
Platinum Sponsor - Nova Southeastern University, Fischler School of Education and Human Services
Gold Sponsors – Comcast; The Miami Herald; Sunshine Child Programs
Silver Sponsors - After School Programs, Inc.; BrightStar Credit Union; JCC After School Provider; YMCA of Broward County
Copper Sponsors - All County Music; American InterContinental University; Eastern Financial Florida Credit Union; Florida Marlins; Hinson Office Supply
Humana; Pepsi Americas; Sprint – together with Nextel; United Healthcare
Bronze Sponsors - AutoNation; Florida Power and Light; University of Phoenix

The District's outstanding mentors and volunteers were among those honored at an end of the year event.