News

Rewarding Excellence in St. Louis Public Schools

Pettus Foundation grant funds program to honor outstanding
teachers and principals

Twenty-nine teachers and eight principals from St. Louis Public Schools were recently presented with the Pettus Foundation’s Award of Excellence. The award honored the work of the district’s outstanding teachers and principals for the 2007-2008 school year, with the goal to convince other educators to replicate their successes. All recipients received a $1,000 cash gift, in addition to plaques which will be prominently displayed in their schools.

In December 2007, the Pettus Foundation pledged a three-year $330,000 grant to the St. Louis Public Schools Foundation to support the program. The Award of Excellence recognizes individuals who play an active role in creating a positive culture in their schools, inspire all students to achieve, and garner the respect and admiration of students, parents and colleagues.

A panel of judges consisting of retired teachers and principals chose the winning teachers from a group of nominees from elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the district. The eight principals were selected from four elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. The selection process included firsthand school and classroom observations and interviews by the judges.

Support Needed for Advanced Placement Test Fees

The Advanced Placement (AP) Program, developed and licensed by College Board, provides high school students, usually juniors and seniors, but sometimes sophomores, too, with opportunities to pursue college-level studies while still in high school. Thirty-four courses in 19 different subject areas are available. Colleges look very favorably on students who successfully complete one or more AP courses because it demonstrates a student’s ability to succeed in the kind of rigorous coursework required of college students.

St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS), through an Advanced Placement Incentive Program (APIP) grant from the U.S. Department of Education, is greatly expanding its AP program. The grant has enabled the district to expand AP course offerings, offer professional development to increase the number teachers qualified to teach AP classes and purchase required materials and supplies.

In addition to expanding the number of AP courses offered in the district, the focus of this important effort is on increasing the number of low-income students who enroll and succeed in advanced placement courses and tests.

Currently, more than 1,300 district students are enrolled in advanced placement courses. Less than two years ago, that number was only 250.

In order for students to earn college credit, they must pass the official AP exam for the course they are taking. The standard fee for each test is $86. Fee reductions of $22 per exam are available from the College Board for students with financial need. In addition, schools forgo their $8 rebate for each fee-reduced exam, making the final fee for these students $56 per exam. For many SLPS families, however, even this reduced fee represents a financial hardship. The DOE grant, unfortunately, does not cover the cost of test fees.

In the past, when the number of SLPS students enrolled in AP was relatively small, and the district had more resources, it was able to underwrite the test fees. Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, however, SLPS will have to obtain additional support for AP testing from the community. District officials have asked the St. Louis Public Schools Foundation to partner with the district in its efforts to raise approximately $51,000 in 2008-2009 to cover the cost of fees.

The Foundation established an AP Test Fund in 2007 for this purpose and thanks to an anonymous gift, $23,000 was provided to pay test fees for the academic year 2007-2008.

The Foundation offers a convenient way for donors to address this need. A contribution to the AP Test Fund will help ensure that all of the district’s AP students have the opportunity to take the AP test for their course and possibly receive college credit for their significant accomplishments.

Special Administrative Board Selects Kelvin Adams for Superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools

The Special Administrative Board of the St. Louis Public School District has selected Dr. Kelvin Adams as the district’s next superintendent.
“ We can document Dr. Adams’ hands-on role in improving student achievement, as well as his commitment to students,” said Rick Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer of the SAB. “He has an unblemished record, works hard, and is well respected for his work in New Orleans.”

Dr. Adams has held several roles since 1978, including teacher, middle school and high school principal, executive director, area superintendent and associate dean. Since 2007, he has held the position of Chief of Staff for the Recovery School District in New Orleans, Louisiana.

From 2006-2007, Dr. Adams was the Executive Director of Human Resources for St. Louis Public Schools. He was responsible for the recruitment, selection and retention of all district employees.

Dr. Adams received a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership in Administration from the University of New Orleans in 2005, a M.A. in Elementary Education from Xavier University in 1991 and a B.A. in Elementary Education and Special Education from Northeast Louisiana State University in 1978.

Dr. Adams is expected to begin serving as the superintendent on November 1, 2008.

 

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