Helping to relieve the plight of students
Pasco County Schools recognized Dr. Rao Musunuru and Shayne George for their contributions to its Students in Transition program, which ensures the educational rights of homeless children and youth. Both made personal donations to the Pasco Education Foundation to help the district’s program for disadvantaged children and their families. From left: Kurt Browning, superintendent of schools; Michele Overland, SSPS-SIT homeless liaison; Kurt Conover, representing Shayne George; Dr. Rao Musunuru; Stacey Capogrosso, Pasco Education Foundation executive director; Michelle Barthel, school social worker; David Chamberlin, supervisor Student Services; and Cynthia Armstrong, school board member.
Honor Day ceremony
Citizens Concerned for Students will recognize the public middle and high school African-American students who have earned the Honor Roll at least once during the current school year.
The annual awards ceremony, Honor Day, will celebrate almost 2,000 students who have earned the achievement on May 12 at 5 p.m., at the Pasco Schools Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel, 30651 Wells Road.
The fifth annual College and Career Fair also will take place at 3 p.m., in the adjacent Wesley Chapel High School gymnasium.
The fair will feature schools and career resources, including Florida State University, Pasco-Hernando State College, the United State Coast Guard, St. Petersburg College and more.
A voter registration booth also will be available.
Both the awards ceremony and fair are free.
For information, visit HonorDayPasco.org.
Teaching excellence awards
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that by 2024, there will be more than 1.5 million skilled trades job openings as Baby Boomers retire.
Harbor Freight Tools for Schools “Teaching Excellence” will award a combined $1 million in cash prizes to 18 outstanding public high school skilled trades teachers and programs.
Three first-place winners each will receive $100,000, with $70,000 going to the high school skilled trades program and $30,000 to the individual teacher or teacher team.
The 15 second-place winners each will be awarded $50,000, with $35,000 going to the program and $15,000 to the teacher/team.
Applications are open until May 16 and are due July 6.
Semifinalists will be announced on Aug. 15, and the first- and second-place winners will be announced on Nov. 15.
For information and to register, visit HFTForSchoolsPrize.org.
Community service hours
Life’s Treasures Thrift Store, 4910 S. Allen Road in Zephyrhills, is looking for teens age 14 and older to join its team.
Students can acquire volunteer hours toward the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship community service requirement, as well as develop their character, add new skills and increase their confidence.
For information, contact Anne Ferrell at (813) 357-5321 or .
Education assessment
Thirty-five years after “A Nation at Risk” was released, student achievement is either flat or dropping for many U.S. students, according to the results of the latest National Assessment of Education Progress, known as the Nation’s Report Card.
Scores from the 2017 NAEP administration saw no significant change from the prior 2015 assessment, except for a one-point increase in eighth-grade math scores.
The results were as follows:
- Reading proficiency or above: Fourth grade, 37 percent; Eighth grade, 36 percent
- Math proficiency or above: Fourth grade, 40 percent; Eighth grade, 34 percent
- Math proficiency declined in 10 states
Florida, in particular, did see unprecedented gains statewide and in two of its largest districts — Miami and Duval counties.
Hillsborough schools honored
The National School Boards Association’s National Black Council of School Board Members presented its Recognizing Innovative Strategies in Equity (RISE) Award to Hillsborough County Public Schools during its annual conference.
The RISE Award honors a school board for its excellence in policies, practices and strategies that promote and enhance equitable outcomes and career readiness for African-American students.
The award is sponsored by McGraw-Hill Education, a learning science company that delivers personalized learning experiences that help students, parents, educators and professionals improve results.
For information about the council, visit NSBA.org and click on “services.”
For more on McGraw-Hill, visit MHeducation.com.
Pasco-Hernando ranks fourth
Pasco-Hernando State College has been ranked fourth overall best college among 28 state and community colleges by Schools.com.
Schools.com evaluated the 28-member institutions in the Florida College System, including traditional community colleges and state colleges that provide bachelor degrees, as well as associate degrees.
Florida’s efforts to develop a more well-trained and educated workforce have garnered national attention.
The statistical methodology used to rank colleges included affordability, graduation rates, transfer rates and student-faculty ratio.
PHSC ranked fourth behind Valencia College (Orlando), followed by Eastern Florida State College (Cocoa) and Lake-Sumter State College (Leesburg), respectively.
Looking for alumni, photos
Independent Day School/Corbett Prep is turning 50 and is looking for alumni who attended the Independent Day School in Tampa, for an anniversary celebration that will take place Aug. 18.
The school is asking for stories and photos from former students who were enrolled anytime between the school’s founding in 1968 to present day.
To share your memories, help with planning or attend the event, email Lisa Herscovici at , or join the Facebook group at Facebook.com/groups/IDS50.
Independent Day School changed its name to Corbett Prep in 2012, and is located at 12015 Orange Grove Drive in Carrollwood.
For information, call (813) 961-3087.
