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WINTER 2008 EDITION
Student achievement
‘The New View’ at Albany High School
They believe in their school. They
believe in their peers. They believe in
their teachers. Most importantly, they
believe in themselves.
Albany to welcome U.S. educators for
annual National Urban Alliance event
More than 2,500 educators from across
the United States will convene in Albany
this spring as the City School District of
Albany and its partners welcome the
National Urban Alliance for Effective
Education’s annual conference “Teaching
for Intelligence: Believe to Achieve.”
The conference will be held March
28-30 at the Empire State Plaza, with an
additional day of pre-conference visits to
five Albany public schools March 27.
The conference will address the most
critical issues facing educators today,
including the achievement gap, graduation rates, multilingual education,
language development and literacy,
culture and learning, educator preparation, educational leadership in the 21st
century and numerous other themes.
“We are excited that this outstanding
national organization has chosen Albany
as the location for its important annual
gathering of educators focused on
enriching the academic fabric of our
nation’s urban schools,” said Superintendent Eva C. Joseph, Ed.D.
“This is a critical issue for our city, and
we are pleased to have this opportunity to
showcase the meaningful progress our
school district is making on behalf of all
students through our ongoing partnership
with the NUA.”
The district is in the second year of
its partnership with the NUA, which
strives to build toward high intellectual
performance through students’ culture,
language and cognition. Mentors
in NUA’s network plan with school
districts to provide ongoing professional
development activities for teachers and
administrators. To learn more about the
NUA, visit www.nuatc.org.
The conference will feature 30 of the
nation’s leading scholars, researchers and
advocates for school betterment. Albany
teachers and administrators will lead a
dozen workshop sessions, highlighting
NUA strategies that they are implementing.
Seniors Sagira Knight and Elisia
Maxwell, junior Maleeha Asif and
sophomore Sa’adah Garbey know they
are in good company at Albany High
School. That’s why they got together last
fall to highlight the positive aspects of
their school. Their group, The New View,
aims to rekindle something the girls
say has been missing for too long:
Falcon pride.
“We just want to show that there are a
lot of good things here and a lot of good
people here,” Elisia said.
The girls’ effort gained momentum in
November with media coverage in the
Times Union and on WTEN/TV-10. The
New View’s first main event was Falcon
Pride Day on Nov. 30. Hundreds of
students painted their faces and wore blue
and white to show off their Falcon pride.
There were art and poetry contests, and
the event resurrected a falcon mascot
uniform that had become a little funky
from lack of use.
The girls continue to work with their
faculty advisor, John Doran, and Principal Maxine Fantroy-Ford to brainstorm
new ways to engage the school community in fun events and projects that bring
out the best in everyone.
“For me, I think it was more about
trying to enhance the relationship
between students and teachers and
bringing back the pride in the teachers,”
Sagira said.
Mr. Doran said that message has been
well received. “There are a lot of faculty
members who have come to me to say this
is a wonderful thing and asking how they
can be a part of that,” he said. “When you
see those people having a change in
attitude, it’s a wonderful thing.”
NUA President and Founder Eric J.
Cooper, Ed.D., said his organization chose
Albany for the site of its 2008 conference
because of the school district’s leadership
in embracing important strategies for
improving student achievement.
“This conference is both an educational
experience for educators and a celebration
of a bright future for all American
children,” Dr. Cooper said.
“Thanks to the City School District of
Albany’s commitment to these ideals and
its progress toward them, Albany is
the ideal location for ‘Teaching for
Intelligence: Believe to Achieve’ in 2008.”
Members of The New View, left to right: Front row, Sagira Knight and Maleeha Asif. Back row,
Sa’adah Garbey and Elisia Maxwell.
We choose Albany schools because…
Teachers recognized among area’s best
Teachers Tom McGurn of Albany High
School and Kandie Antonetti of Philip
Livingston Magnet Academy have been
recognized as two of the best teachers in
the Capital Region.
Mr. McGurn and Ms. Antonetti were
among 22 area teachers selected for
the New York Lottery-WNYT/TV-13
Educator of the Week award. They were
chosen from more than 200 nominees.
Each award recipient receives $100 for
their school’s library fund and will be
recognized at a banquet in the spring.
Mr. McGurn, who has taught for nearly
30 years, teaches European History, an
Advanced Placement (AP) course, and
20th Century Issues, a course in the
International Baccalaureate (IB) program.
His students cite the enthusiasm he exudes
in the classroom and his ability to help
them recognize their fullest potential as
his greatest strengths.
“I think this is what I was meant to do,”
he said. “The real key to teaching, as far as
I’m concerned, is being able to tap into
that potential. Find out what your students
can do, and help them do that better.”
For Ms. Antonetti, that has meant
incorporating culturally relevant teaching
strategies learned through the district’s
partnership with the National Urban
Alliance for Effective Education. She is an
Tom McGurn of Albany High School and Kandie Antonetti of Philip Livingston Magnet Academy
have been recognized as two of the Capital Region’s best educators.
NUA coach at Livingston and often can be
seen and heard in her classroom dancing,
rhyming and rapping to help her students
better connect to concepts.
“You have to make learning fun and
engaging for students,” she said, “and
when this happens they experience
success.”
We choose Albany schools
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From the superintendent
Crafting a vision
for the future
I am so pleased to report
to you on the great progress
we are making this winter in
constructing a new strategic
plan for the City School
District of Albany in partnership with individuals and
groups throughout the city.
This is a critical process
for the district, the community and, most especially, for
Superintendent
the children of our city. It has
Eva C. Joseph, Ed.D.
been very meaningful to have
participation and input from such a diverse group, and
I am particularly grateful for the leadership that the
members of our Strategic Planning Team have provided.
This group of caring individuals has dedicated
considerable time and talent to build a vision for the
district’s future that will ensure more and better
opportunities for all of our students. As we move forward
through the next months, the work of our action teams
will drive us toward a strategic plan that will allow us to
address the critical issues we face.
I am proud of the significant improvement we have
made across the district and across grade levels in recent
years. All of our indicators show that we are progressing
steadily, but we know there is so much more to accomplish before we can rejoice as a community in attaining
the one objective that motivates all that we do – 100
percent graduation for our city’s public-school students.
Plainly, we have to do more, and our strategic
planning process is building that framework.
Our challenges compel us to think differently about
the delivery system for academic programs,
particularly in our middle and high schools. When we
consider strategies for dramatically increasing our
classroom results, it is imperative in a city as rich
in diversity as ours to have full community support in
developing a plan that serves all students.
Our challenges also extend beyond the classroom.
The district is facing greater pressures than ever before
in terms of our fiscal well-being, due primarily to the
inordinate number of charter schools in Albany.
The financial burden of supporting two separate
school districts – one public, one charter – is significant.
The eight charter schools operating in Albany this school
year will take almost $22 million from our budget. That
is an increase of nearly $6 million over 2006-07, and the
figure will increase again in 2008-09 and further drain
resources away from our 9,000 public-school students as
a ninth charter school opens its doors.
This is a financial reality that cannot be denied, nor
can the related pressures of declining enrollment and the
challenge to change our school configuration so that we
can meet our fiscal and academic obligations to the
children of our community.
These are difficult decisions that we must make
together. Our strategic plan will provide a blueprint for
meeting these challenges, and I am confident that the
community teamwork driving this process will allow us
to move confidently forward with a strong
commitment to our students.
Eva C. Joseph, Ed,.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Capital Education is published by the
City School District of Albany.
Please direct comments about the newsletter,
story ideas and questions to
Ron Lesko at (518) 475-6065
or [email protected].
City School District of Albany
Academy Park
Albany, New York 12207
2
www.albanyschools.org
Voices
‘What do you see as the biggest strength
of, or what do you like most about,
Albany public schools?’
“Our greatest strength is our
diversity. Our students and staff bring
an incredible range of cultural
backgrounds, life experiences and
professional histories. When we
build on these assets the results
are magical.”
– George Benson,
math teacher, Harriet Gibbons
High School
“I like Albany public schools
because they give me an opportunity
to get my mind ready for the next
level. School gives me a chance to
accomplish the things I look forward
to accomplishing. I look forward to
school so I can learn something new
everyday. I hope to get better and
better everyday. I love school!”
– Dahmarie Berkley,
fourth grade, Philip J. Schuyler
Achievement Academy
“The City School District of
Albany offers a diverse and unique
learning environment in which the
students are able to learn and grow
into productive, contributing citizens
of our community. I am proud to be
one of the many great educators
in Albany.”
made a 3-D shape with toothpicks
and playdough to find out about
faces, edges and vertices. Another
thing I like is doing new things like
learning about mass and capacity.
For capacity we are using liters and
milliliters, and for mass we use
grams and kilograms.”
– Manuel Guerrero,
fourth grade, Philip J. Schuyler
Achievement Academy
“The things I like most about
Albany public schools are the teachers and their personalities, various
field trips and choices of classes.
I appreciate the academic standards
because they push kids to their
best ability.”
– Zakiyyah Hood, eighth
grade, Stephen and Harriet
Myers Middle School
“I like the Albany public schools
because the teachers are nice and the
students don’t judge you, they accept
you. When I went to my school for the
first time last September, I was
nervous but soon I felt like I had been
there my whole life. I feel it is very
important that the students feel
welcome at school and, because of that,
I like the Albany public schools.”
– Tierney Hornbeck,
seventh grade, Stephen and
Harriet Myers Middle School
“The thing I like the most about
Albany public schools is the faculty.
They make learning interesting and
are always there to help if you need
them. They have made my high school
journey a memorable experience.”
– Ben Lawitz, junior,
Albany High School
“I think our biggest strength is the
academic programs we have at the
high school. They are by far the best
I have seen. I chose Albany public
schools for my child after looking
at every private and public school
available to us. The programs are
rigorous, they are engaging and they
are delivered by teachers who are
dedicated and truly committed to
our students.”
– Arnelle Ullrich, after-school
coordinator and district parent
– Olaiya Curtis-Morris, sixthgrade teacher, Albany School of
Humanities (ASH)
“One thing I like about Albany
public schools is that in my class we
do a lot of fun work. In math we
Top from left, George Benson, Dahmarie Berkley, Olaiya Curtis-Morris. Bottom from left, Manuel Guerrero, Zakiyyah Hood,
Tierney Hornbeck, Ben Lawvitz, Arnelle Ullrich.
At a Glance: William S. Hackett Middle School
Constructed in 1926 and named after Albany’s 68th mayor, William S. Hackett Junior High School was among the first junior high
schools (grades 7-9) in the United States. Reconstituted as a middle school (grades 7-8) in 1974 (grade 6 was added in 2000), Hackett
Middle School offers a richly diverse and supportive learning community for its students. The school provides academic and social
support for each student and enjoys partnerships with organizations throughout the Capital Region that enrich the school environment.
Students: 442 Teachers: 50 Total employees: 90
Points of distinction:
• Only district middle school offering Earth Science,
Latin and Accelerated Spanish
• Honors coursework in all core academic areas as
well as Spanish and French
• Outstanding English as a Second Language program
• Academic Achievement Club to strengthen skills
in Math and English Language Arts
What makes our school special? In the belief that all
students can learn, the Hackett Middle School mission is
to ensure maximum academic success for its students. To
accomplish this, it is imperative to facilitate their transition
from childhood to young adulthood in a safe and nurturing
environment. The goal is to enable each individual to achieve
academically, socially, culturally and physically to the best
of his or her ability. Hackett Middle School prides itself with
a strong, supportive parent/family partnership. The Parent
Teacher Association (PTA) includes parents, community
members, teachers and administrators. Family resources are
available to students and easily accessible to their families.
Partnerships:
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters
• Bilingual Education Technical
Assistance Center
• The College of St. Rose
• DJ Club/Music Program in
partnership with MP Duplicators
• Double-Dutch League in
partnership with Nanny’s
Double-Dutch League
• Empire State College
• Girls’ Inc.
• Hispanic Outreach
• Liberty Partnership Program
• National Urban Alliance
• Park Playhouse KIDZ
• Percussion Anyone! in partnership
with Community Learning
• Police Athletic League (PAL)
Marching Band, Sewing Club,
Art Club and Karate Club
• Regional School Support Center
• Responsible Males in partnership
with Youth Empowerment Services
• Science and Technology Entry
Program (STEP) in partnership
with the University at Albany
• Special Education Teachers
Resource Center
• Teen Choices
• Urban Scholars in partnership
with Siena College
Did you know? Hackett Middle School’s temporary
location at 141 Western Ave. was Albany High School
from 1913-74. Hackett will return to its familiar location
at 45 Delaware Ave. for the opening of school in
September 2008 after that facility’s complete renovation
is finished next summer.
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What is a magnet school?
As the name implies, a magnet school is a specialized
theme-based program designed to attract students by focusing instruction on the unique programs offered. The programs
offered at each grade level provide support and background
knowledge necessary for success at the next grade level.
These specialized programs are like a chain – each link
connects to the next, and the strength of the chain is due to
the combined power of each individual link.
Magnet school programs follow the New York State
Learning Standards and the City School District of Albany’s
curriculum for each subject area (English Language Arts,
Science, Social Studies and Math) as well as the specifically
designed curriculum for each magnet school’s theme-based
program. Albany’s four public magnet schools are:
• Albany School of Humanities (ASH; pre-K-6)
Albany School of Humanities (ASH)
Pre-K through grade 6
108 Whitehall Road • 462-7258
The humanities approach provides students
with an overview of diverse cultures
reflective in the instruction of language,
literature, music, drama, dance and government
by using a curriculum that incorporates the
arts into daily teaching and learning.
When students begin their educational
career at ASH, they are given a “passport to
learning,” which they take with them from
one grade to the next as they study about the
cultures and traditions of each of the seven continents (one continent each year). The study of each continent is incorporated into students’ other areas of study, such as music, art, dance and drama.
A Spanish program in every grade facilitates language acquisition and stimulates interest in language
learning. Other languages and cultures, such as Chinese, also are infused into the curriculum.
• Montessori Magnet School (pre-K-5)
• Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and
Technology (TOAST; pre-K-6)
• Philip Livingston Magnet Academy (6-8)
Many factors contribute to the success of a magnet school,
including parental involvement, community partnerships and
students and teachers working together toward the same
goals: educational excellence and quality enrichment.
Is a magnet program right
for your child?
Parents interested in enrolling their child in a magnet
school lottery should consider the following:
1. Are you interested in placing your child in a
school environment with a specific themebased curriculum or teaching methodology?
2. Do you feel your child’s educational needs
would be better met through a theme-based
specialized program?
3. How do you feel about having your child attend
a school that may not be your neighborhood
school?
4. Did you visit each of the magnet schools?
How does the magnet
lottery process work?
Once a parent makes the decision to enroll their child in
the magnet school lottery, they must fill out and submit an
application to the Magnet Office by March 6, 2008.
All applications will be processed through the Magnet Office and information will be entered into the lottery computer
software program.
On April 10, an independent consultant from Joseph
White Associates will conduct the lottery drawing. The specially designed computer software will randomly select students to fill the seats available at each grade level in each of
the magnet schools for the 2008-09 school year.
Montessori Magnet School
Pre-K through grade 5
65 Tremont St. • 475-6675
In a Montessori classroom, students experience a holistic,
child-centered program that has at its core a profound respect
for the individual child and an understanding that each child is
unique and develops at his or her own pace.
Children are encouraged to choose and work with
developmentally appropriate materials in a prepared, supportive
learning environment where success is built-in and where the
surroundings are both orderly and attractive. In this setting,
learning becomes its own reward and children are evaluated on the
basis of their individual progress, not in comparison to their peers.
One of the most distinguished features of the Montessori
educational method is its extensive use of manipulative
materials. These multi-sensory, sequential and self-correcting
materials provide concrete learning experiences and facilitate the students’ grasp of abstract ideas.
Another unique aspect of the curriculum is the manner in which all subjects are integrated with one another to create a universal, or cosmic, education.
Philip Livingston Magnet Academy
Grades 6-8
315 Northern Blvd. • 462-7154
Philip Livingston offers an exciting
alternative in middle-school education, with
enrichment courses offered in the areas of arts
and humanities and video technology.
In the arts and humanities, students have the
opportunity to study traditional music and fine
arts offerings that are taught by professional
artists who also are certified teachers. Students
can participate in activities such as ceramics,
band, orchestra, chorus, drama, video
production, dance, drumming and playwriting.
Since technology is integrated into every
subject area, students use technology skills to enhance the creative process, particularly in creative writing,
illustration of poems, plays, short stories and class books.
In classes, students can participate in a variety of programs in which they learn basic computer skills such
as word processing, spreadsheets and database programs.
After the lottery drawing, letters will be sent to everyone
who applied for the lottery. Letters will indicate that the child
was selected for a magnet school or that the child’s name will
be placed on a waiting list for future openings and lottery
drawings.
Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science
and Technology (TOAST)
Pre-K through grade 6
Lincoln Park • 462-7262
If selected, parents must register their child at the district’s
Central Registration Office, located in the Sunshine Building
in Lincoln Park. Failure to register your child by the designated date printed on your letter will remove your child’s
name from the class list at the magnet school.
At TOAST, science instruction is rooted in
all subject areas and is reinforced by a variety
of technology tools. The integrated theme
curriculum engages students’ natural curiosity
about their world while directing student
exploration in science and technology.
Any seats that become available will be filled through the
waiting list. Parents who miss the registration date can request that their child’s name be placed on the waiting list for
future lottery drawings.
For more information, contact the Magnet Office
at 475-6070.
TOAST was named a National Blue
Ribbon School of Excellence with Special
Honors in Technology by the U.S. Department
of Education. Additionally, TOAST was recognized by Redbook magazine as “One of America’s
Best Schools.”
Explorations for TOAST students focus on curiosity, observation, problem solving and inquiry and discovery skills, allowing students to construct their own understanding of the world and how its parts fit together.
A partnership with the New York State Museum and the use of specialized facilities such as the Museum
Discovery Room, the Outdoor Learning Center, science and computer labs and the library-media center
help TOAST students actively acquire the skills, knowledge and characteristics necessary to be effective
problem solvers and lifelong learners in an ever-changing world.
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Strategic direction sets sights on district’s future
T
he City School District of Albany and
partners from throughout the community are
at work this school year on a new strategic
plan for the future of the district and its approximately
9,000 students.
Led by a 25-member Strategic Planning Team, the
strategic planning process will guide the development
of all aspects of district operations, including curriculum, academic programs, instruction, hiring, facilities
and extracurricular activities.
“This is an exciting – and at the same time
challenging – time for the City School District of
Albany as we continue our progress toward success for
all students,” said Superintendent Eva C. Joseph, Ed.D.
“Bringing together a collective team of community
stakeholders dedicated to the long-term improvement
and progress of our city’s public schools to develop a
strategic vision that will guide the district to best meet
the needs of our students is essential.”
The strategic planning process has been underway
since June, including a series of presentations at Board
of Education meetings during the fall.
Consultants SoarPoint Associates, engaged by the
district to facilitate this process, provided guidance on
the composition of the Strategic Planning Team and
the process itself.
The Strategic Planning Team is comprised of a
broad range of representatives from the district and
community, and represents diverse experiences,
perspectives, skills and expertise. The team convened
for three eight-hour working sessions Nov. 29-Dec. 1,
drafting a vision and goals for the district’s future and
strategies to achieve them.
The product of the team’s work – the district’s
strategic direction – is the result of consensus-driven
decisions and is considered the initial phase of the
strategic planning process. The team reviewed
relevant reports and materials, analyzed materials and
made informed decisions, and developed the
following strategic plan components:
• Enduring value statements
• Mission statement
• Strategic boundaries
• Student performance objectives
• Strategies
The board reviewed the strategic direction at its
Dec. 4 meeting and approved the document at
its Dec. 20 meeting.
With the strategic direction set, the district now has
engaged action teams, again comprised of representatives from the district and community. The board
approved co-leaders for the seven action teams at its
Jan. 17 meeting, and the action teams will work over
the next several months to develop a plan for the
district’s future.
Enduring Value Statements
An enduring value statement describes how everyone throughout the district is expected to communicate with, relate to and treat one another. It applies to
students, families, teachers, staff, administrators,
board members and community partners.
1. We will fulfill our responsibilities and
be accountable for ourselves and to
each other for our actions at home,
in school and in the community.
2. We will communicate effectively in
an open and honest manner.
3. We will embrace, respect and
celebrate our diversity, which is
among our greatest assets.
4. We will consistently show care,
concern and respect toward
one another.
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www.albanyschools.org
The City School District of Albany’s
new mission statement, created by
the Strategic Planning Team:
The mission of the City School District
of Albany is to educate and nurture
all students to be responsible citizens,
critical thinkers and lifelong learners
to successfully compete in the global
community by providing an academically rigorous and safe environment
in partnership with parents, students
and the community.
5. We will uphold the right of everyone
to learn, work and live in a safe
environment.
6. We are committed to continuous
self-improvement, setting high
expectations, assessing our progress
and modifying our course as needed.
7. We value education and promote
lifelong learning.
8. We will value all students, families,
employees and the entire community
as partners in our mission.
Strategic Boundaries
A strategic boundary is a self-imposed limit that
states what the district will always do or never do.
It guides the district to make substantive decisions
consistent with its enduring values. Equally important,
a strategic boundary further defines the mission.
Strategic boundaries must be enforceable.
1. We always will work to enhance
students’ intellectual, emotional and
physical well-being.
2. We always will make instructional, curricular, placement and program
decisions based on improving student
performance and individual student
needs and never on arbitrary or discriminatory factors.
3. We always will offer professional
development with appropriate
ongoing support to teachers and staff.
4. We always will seek to involve
affected students, parents, community
members and other stakeholders in
decisions regarding our schools and
the well-being of our students.
Performance Objectives
A student performance statement describes a high
expectation outcome that applies to all students in the
district. A student performance statement describes
a high expectation for student achievement and/or
performance, and the way in which it will be
observed, demonstrated and/or measured. Student
performance statements are driven by the enduring
value statements and the aspirations reflected in
the mission.
1.100 percent of students in grades 3-8
will score at Level 3 and above on
English Language Arts and
Mathematics tests as measured by
the New York State testing program.
2.100 percent of the students attending
the City School District of Albany will
graduate in accordance with New York
State graduation requirements.
3.The district’s suspension rate will
move incrementally to the state
average by 2010.
4.100 percent of students will attain a
95 percent attendance rate across the
district, K-12.
5.100 percent of students in middle and
high school who are present in school
will be on time and stay all day as
measured by period-to-period
attendance rate.
6.100 percent of students in the City
School District of Albany will abide
by the rules of conduct set by district
in classrooms, buildings and grounds,
as measured by suspension data and
reports on classroom disruptions
and conduct violations.
Strategies
A strategy is a broad statement consistent with the
district’s values and strategic boundaries. It describes
how resources will be used to achieve the mission and
student performance statements. A strategy represents
an idea in which the district is willing to invest energy,
expertise, time and resources. Strategies are broad
enough to yield a variety of programs, products,
functions and/or services. Each strategy will support
five to eight action plans, which will be developed by
the action teams.
1. We will design and implement a more
effective way to engage parents and
families in the education of their
children at home and at school.
2. We will ensure the emotional and
physical safety and well-being of our
students in collaboration with
community and family partners.
3.We will assess and redesign all aspects
of the high school with the community
to ensure academic rigor and
high-level student performance.
4. We will improve education in grades
6-8 in partnership with our community
to address academic rigor and the
disparity in academic achievement.
5. We will develop and implement more
effective communication, ensuring
input from all district stakeholders
about matters affecting the well-being
of our students.
6. We will use all assessment data to
drive academically rigorous instruction, pre-K-12, to improve the
performance of every learner.
7. We will develop a variety of ways for ensuring every student’s access to all school
education and extracurricular activities.
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City School District of Albany Strategic Planning Team
Faye Andrews
Commissioner of Youth and Family Services
City of Albany
Eva Joseph, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
City School District of Albany
William Barnette
Vice President
City School District of Albany Board of Education
Melissa Mackey
Board Member
City School District of Albany Board of Education
* Ms. Mackey was a Board Member-Elect when the
team convened in November.
Mark Barth, Ph.D.
Board Member
City School District of Albany Board of Education
Shawn Morris
President
Albany Common Council
Mary Claire Bauer
Director of Admissions
Hudson Valley Community College
Dr. Joseph, center, discusses a component of the strategic plan
during the Nov. 30 session of the Strategic Planning Team.
Wayne Morris
Secretary
City School District of Albany Board of Education
Joseph Bowman, Jr., Ed.D.
Regent
NYS Board of Regents
Judy Rosen
Realtor
Greater Capital Region Association of Realtors
Debora Brown-Johnson
President
Albany chapter of the NAACP
Angelena Rouse
Student
Albany High School
Cathy Corbo
President
Albany Public School Teachers Association
John Viggiani
Staff Development Director
Albany County Department of Children, Youth
and Families
Brendan Cox
Commander
Albany Police Department
Judy Doesschate
Board Member
City School District of Albany Board of Education
Joseph Dragone, Ph.D.
Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education
City School District of Albany
Kimberly Wilkins
Principal
Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School
Marilyn Gounaris
Facilitator
SoarPoint Associates
Rocco Rainone, Jr.
Facilitator
SoarPoint Associates
Maxine Fantroy-Ford
Principal
Albany High School
Myers Middle School Principal Kimberly Wilkins, center, and
Daniel Gentile, executive director of the Capital Region Workforce
Investment Board, work with Dr. Joseph in a small-group discussion.
Participating in a small-group session are, from left, district
teacher Kara Ford, Albany Police Department Cmdr. Brendan
Cox and City Council PTA Co-president Felicia Green.
Kara Ford
Teacher
City School District of Albany
Teneka Frost
President
City School District of Albany Board of Education
Barbara Gaffuri
Board Member
City School District of Albany Board of Education
Daniel Gentile
Executive Director
Capital Region Workforce Investment Board
From left, Cathy Corbo, president of the Albany Public School
Teachers Association, district teacher Kara Ford and Debora
Brown-Johnson, president of the Albany chapter of the NAACP.
From left, City Council PTA Co-president Felicia Green, district
teacher Kara Ford and district Board Member Barbara Gaffuri.
District Board Member Mark Barth, Ph.D., center, is flanked by
Joseph Bowman Jr., Ed.D., a member of the New York State Board
of Regents, left, and John Viggiani, staff development director for
the Albany County Department of Children, Youth and Families.
From left, Albany Common Council President Shawn Morris,
Judy Rosen of the Greater Capital Region Association of Realtors
and Mary Claire Bauer, director of admissions at Hudson Valley
Community College.
Felicia Green
Co-President
Albany City Council PTA
John Higgins, Esq.
Community Member
Nixon, Peabody LLP
WINTER 20 08
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Pre-K and Kindergarten: Beginning
a Journey, Building a Foundation
Few things are as important to a parent as establishing a solid educational foundation for their children. The City School District of Albany has excellent pre-K and
kindergarten programs in both magnet and non-magnet settings to ensure that children
build the skills, confidence and relationships they need to begin a lifetime of learning.
Visit www.albanyschools.org for more information about our pre-K and
kindergarten programs.
Pre-K
Pre-kindergarten is the beginning of an educational journey. It is an exciting time
for parents and students when children are encouraged to develop an interest in and
joy for learning. Pre-K programs are based on activities that nurture this enthusiasm
in a safe and caring environment. In pre-K, play is work and work is play!
Non-magnet pre-K registration for the 2008-09 school year begins May 28.
Students must be 4 years old by Dec. 1, 2008.
Magnet schools
The City School District of Albany offers three theme-based elementary schools
that provide families a choice of educational options for their children. Magnet schools
offer students a unique opportunity to deeply explore enriched, theme-based programs
in specific content areas.
Albany’s magnet public elementary schools are:
• Albany School of Humanities (ASH)
462-7258
• Montessori Magnet School
475-6675
• Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science
and Technology (TOAST)
462-7262
For more information on Albany’s magnet schools, see page 3.
Completed magnet applications for the 2008-09 school year are due to the Magnet Office in Academy Park by 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 6. The magnet lottery will
be held Thursday, April 10 at TOAST.
Since space in pre-K programs is limited, registering on May 28 is advised.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten often is the first formal introduction to education. The City School
District of Albany’s programs build an educational foundation on the expectation and
wonder that fill children at this age. The district follows a curriculum that covers English language arts; math, science and technology; social studies; the arts; and social
and personal development.
Non-magnet kindergarten registration for the 2008-09 school year begins
April 28. Students must be 5 years old by Dec. 1, 2008.
Registering early helps avoid long lines in September!
All City School District of Albany students must be registered at the Central Registration Office, located in the Sunshine Building in Lincoln Park. The office is open
8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and can be reached at 462-7207.
Albany’s non-magnet public elementary schools are:
• Arbor Hill Elementary School
462-7166
• Delaware Community School
475-6750
• Eagle Point Elementary School
475-6825
• Giffen Memorial Elementary School
462-7176
• North Albany Academy (pre-K-8)
475-6800
• Philip J. Schuyler Achievement Academy
475-6700
• Pine Hills Elementary School
475-6725
• Public School 19
462-7239
• Sheridan Preparatory Academy
475-6850
2008-09 non-public transportation deadline
New York state education law requires that parents residing within the boundaries
of the City School District of Albany whose children will attend a non-public school
in the City of Albany in 2008-09 submit a written request for transportation to the
district by April 2.
For students who move into the city after the April 2 deadline, parents must submit
a written request for transportation within 30 days after establishing residency.
In order to qualify for transportation students must meet the requirements under
the district’s Transportation Policy. Requests should be mailed to:
City School District of Albany
Transportation Department
830 S. Pearl Street
Albany, NY 12202
Middle school lotteries
Lottery applications for 2008-09 enrollment in grades 6-8 at Stephen and Harriet
Myers Middle School and North Albany Academy will be available March 26 on the
district’s Web site, www.albanyschools.org.
For your application to be considered for the lottery drawing, please be sure to sign,
date and return your completed application so that it arrives no later than the end of
business April 30. Completed applications can be delivered or mailed to:
City School District of Albany
Office of Information
Academy Park, NY 12207
ATTN: Middle School Lottery Process
The lottery drawing will be conducted May 16. Please visit our Web site for
additional information.
Information for parents of
students with disabilities
The City School District of Albany has an obligation to evaluate, with
parental consent, and offer a free and appropriate public education to
students with disabilities who are residents of the district who require
specialized instruction and/or other special accommodations to benefit
and access educational services and programs.
If you believe your child has a disability that requires specialized instruction
or special accommodations to benefit and/or access our programs and
services, we encourage you to contact your child’s building principal or
the director of special education to discuss whether a referral to the
Committee on Special Education or the 504 Team is appropriate.
For students attending non-public schools within the boundaries of
the City School District of Albany, and pursuant to Education Law
§3602-c, the district is to provide special education services to students
with disabilities who are enrolled in non-public elementary and secondary
schools within the district.
For the 2008-09 school year, parents must request the special education
services in writing to the district by June 1, unless a student is first
identified as a student with a disability after June 1, and before April 1,
2009. In the latter case, the parent must submit the written -request for
services within 30 days after the student first was identified.
The purpose of this deadline is to enable districts to budget funds and make necessary
arrangements to provide reasonable and economical transportation. This applies to
students who will attend private, parochial and charter schools.
The district’s Committee on Special Education will develop an Individual
Education Service Plan (IESP) for students with disabilities. An IESP is
developed in the same manner and includes the same contents as an
Individual Education Plan (IEP).
Albany public school students who will be attending a public school in 2008-09 will
receive a transportation application in May.
Feel free to contact the Special Education Department at 462-7217 if
you have any questions.
For more information, contact the Transportation Department at 462-7320.
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We choose Albany schools because…
(continued from page 1)
Making a difference
Albany High School Principal Maxine
Fantroy-Ford has been honored by the
Times Union as one of 25 individuals who
are making a difference in the Capital Region through their leadership and commitment to the community.
Mrs. Fantroy-Ford was recognized in
the newspaper’s Capitaland Quarterly.
“If she were in business,” the newspaper wrote, “Fantroy-Ford would be known
as a turnaround specialist.” The Times
Union cited her efforts to dramatically improve state English Language Arts test
scores at Giffen Memorial Elementary
School in 2004-05 while she was principal there.
states as they tested their ingenuity by
programming Lego robots to complete
energy-related missions on special Lego
tournament tables.
This year’s theme was “Power Puzzle.”
Students researched and analyzed energy
choices and assessed their environmental
impact, then chose and completed
missions for points. They were judged on
robot programming and design, an oral
presentation, teamwork and team spirit.
North Albany Academy placed ninth of
40 teams, and Myers Middle School
placed 22nd.
teacher, John Doran. One by one, they
flung items across the frozen turf the way
traitors and disease-ridden body parts
once were tossed over castle walls.
And many of them were earning
college credit in the process.
Mr. Doran’s Anthropology course, a
unique offering in its own right, is just one
of 28 courses available for college credit
through Albany High’s College in the
High School program. Articulation agreements with six colleges and universities
allow Albany High students to earn a
semester or more of college credit before
high school graduation, and save a lot of
money in the process.
Halimah Garbey, left, and Angel Ayala
helped North Albany Academy to a strong
finish in the RPI & GE First Lego League
Tournament.
Montessori Magnet School students
studied African storytelling, Swahili and
mask-making during a weeklong, crosscultural exchange with students from
Mali, Africa.
Artwork on display
Throughout February, Stuyvesant Plaza
shoppers are getting a peek at a mysterious
Pacific island thanks to a Little Book House
display created by School 19 students.
This year’s theme “Sailing to Easter
Island” integrates art history, geography,
math and art production into the
eight-week project.
Developed with the aim of educating
students about different cultures and
traditions, the exchange was made possible by an association with One World
Classrooms, a non-profit organization that
specializes in linking students around the
world. The school has been working with
One World Classrooms for eight years.
Students also worked on Powerpoint
presentations, geography, maps, flags,
stories and artwork, which were displayed
at a cultural fair at the school in
January that about 500 people attended.
Montessori students also planned to send
their artwork, a video and how-to books
they created to Mali to share their own
culture with their African peers.
“Easter Island is art history at a rare,
ancient level,” said Debbie Cronin, School
19 art specialist. “Our students are studying the mysterious sculptures of this
scarcely inhabited Polynesian island off
the coast of Chile and recreating the island
scene with sculptures of their own.”
Students from North Albany Academy
and Myers Middle School installed solar
panels, wind turbines and hydroelectric
dams at the RPI & GE First Lego League
Tournament in December.
In its third year, the tournament for
students in grades 5-8 featured more than
40 robotics teams from schools in the
Capital Region and several neighboring
Albany High senior Nick Kitzrow uses an
old boot to test out the trebuchet built by
Anthropology teacher John Doran.
Mr. Doran used the apparatus to give his
students a first-hand look at how technology
was used centuries ago.
PTA fosters reading
mentorship
Delaware Community School’s new
After School Reading Mentorship
Program gave 100 students in pre-K
through fifth grade a chance to receive
extra help learning to read. The 12-week
program, created by the school’s PTA,
engaged parents, teachers, school-related
professionals, graduate students and
community volunteers to work with
the children.
“Every student would have the same
assignment, regardless of age,” said Jackie
Paredes, PTA co-president. “The older
students read the books out loud to the
younger ones, and then we asked them
questions about the books. The youngest
kids would draw their answers and then
explain their drawings – that’s how we
engaged all of the children to do the exact
same work.”
When the New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation wanted to
announce the statewide launch of its new
Conservationist for Kids magazine,
it looked for a location where students
routinely get a chance to take their
classroom outdoors.
And they found Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST),
one of three magnet elementary schools in
the City School District of Albany.
“As an elementary science magnet
school we have worked very hard to have
all our children involved in outdoor
experiential learning as an important
strategy to assist our students in meeting
the New York State Learning Standards,”
said TOAST Principal Rachelle Salerno,
Ed.D.
Following the DEC news conference
announcing the new magazine, TOAST
fourth-graders got the opportunity to
explore the snowy grounds in front of
their school through fun activities that
included a chance to try out snowshoes
and homemade “binoculars.”
The students stayed at school after the
regular day to participate. At an awards
ceremony in December, students received
certificates, books and Staples school
supplies in recognition of their completion
of the program and in celebration of their
reading accomplishments.
ASH students learn
‘Legal Lives’
Students have added personal touches
to their sculptures by including hats, facial features and other colorful details.
Robotics clubs test their
ingenuity
The program is about everyday lives
of young people, said ASH teacher
Diane Micelli.
TOAST touts the great
outdoors
Africa comes to life
Albany High Principal Maxine Fantroy-Ford
has been recognized by the Times Union as
a leader who is making a difference in the
Capital Region.
“It is my hope that through ‘Legal
Lives’ these young people will make
better choices in their own lives and help
to rebuild the trust and faith in the legal
system that has been lost in our communities,” said Mr. Soares, who taught
classes in the program as an assistant DA.
“It is about choosing the right path,
making good decisions and being careful
who we choose as friends,” she said.
The leader of the 2,400-student Albany
High since 2006, Mrs. Fantroy-Ford says
she wants to create smaller communities
within the school.
“You want it to be a little more personal, to know who the students are,” she
told the newspaper. “I am an alumnae of
Albany High, and I'll tell you I loved high
school. I want our students to be able to
enjoy their years at Albany High.”
program, students’ knowledge of the law
will increase through role-playing, group
discussions and participation in a series
of mock trials as well as field trips to
courts, police precincts and the district
attorney’s office.
Montessori students Latrell Raggs-Fuller,
left, and Javonney Dennis participate in the
school’s African celebration, a week-long
collaboration with One World Classrooms
that included an art and poetry exchange
with a school in Mali.
College in the High School
On a blustery winter day, about 40 Albany
High School students braved the elements for
a first-hand look at how spies and germ
warfare were handled centuries ago.
The students tested out a type of catapult constructed by their Anthropology
WINTER 20 08
Albany School of Humanities sixthgraders are learning how to prevent juvenile delinquency with help from Albany
County District Attorney David Soares.
With the return of the “Legal Lives”
TOAST fourth-grade student Jemma O’Neill
tries out a pair of snowshoes following the
state DEC’s news conference announcing
the statewide launch of Conservationist for
Kids magazine.
Check us out online!
• Giffen Gems
We have created an Online News
Center at www.albanyschools.org
to provide you as much news as
possible about the great people and
programs of the City School District
of Albany. Visit our home page and
click the Online News Center link
in the right-hand column to read
more about any of these stories and
additional articles, including:
• The show must go on!
• Bringing Japan to the classroom
• Giffen, School 19 students love NY!
• Fall athletics awards
• TOAST students find Nemo
You also can check out our District
News and Photo Gallery features!
www.albanyschools.org
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Board of Education
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 149
Albany, NY
Teneka Frost, President
William Barnette, Vice President
Barbara Gaffuri, Secretary
Academy Park
Albany, New York 12207
Mark J. Barth, Ph.D.
Judy Doesschate
Melissa Mackey
Wayne P. Morris
Eva C. Joseph, Ed.D., Superintendent
You can access all the
information in this
newsletter online at
www.albanyschools.org
Communications Office, Academy Park, Albany, N.Y. 12207 | (518) 475-6065 | Fax: 462-7289 | www.albanyschools.org
Leading the way
Alumni achievement
Meet Ryan Hunter
Tyrell Hughes ’01 –
A MODEL mentor
Seventh-grade math teacher, William S. Hackett Middle School
Q: What are some of your secrets for engaging
students in – ugh! – math?
A: It’s tough teaching the least-liked subject,
but I try to keep my focus on the students.
I remember teachers who just connected with
us on a personal level and weren’t as strict in
establishing the adult-child role. I think it’s
really important to come down and be able to
laugh and joke, to not be so serious all the time.
I give them life lessons, too, some advice as an
adult who isn’t their parent. It makes them
more comfortable, and because of that
they’re more receptive to what we’re doing.
Q: What’s the story with the basketball
hoop in the corner of your classroom?
A: I use that as an incentive. It’s helped out
a lot, especially with the boys. You get a
problem right and you get an opportunity
to take a shot. Sometimes we split into
teams, or play around-the-world. They look
forward to coming in here and know that
they can relax a little bit. They can look
forward to playing some ball. They can
look forward to a smile.
Tyrell Hughes ’01
To say Tyrell Hughes is busy is an understatement.
When not at his job at the Social Security Administration or working as a consultant for the conflict-resolution organization Mediation Matters, the 2001 Albany High School graduate volunteers his
time as director of MODEL, a non-profit organization he helped
launch.
Tyrell and four friends founded MODEL – Men Organized to
Develop, Empower and Lead, Inc. – as a student group at Johnson
C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C. “I asked myself what I could
do to change the perception of young black males,” he recalled.
Q: Your first career was on Wall Street.
What led you to teaching?
A: After I graduated from Fordham I stayed in
New York City and worked for J.P. Morgan for
seven years. I was in New York City for 9/11.
I was getting tired of the big city, kind of
getting burned out by my work, and 9/11 was
a final straw that pushed me to move back
home (to Beaumont, Texas). A lot of people
were evaluating their lives and deciding what
to do. I wanted to do something that was a
little more impactful.
So he created a program for young males, ages 12-18, to help
develop positive individuals through mentorship and helping them
personally, professionally and educationally.
“We like to give our kids options, teach them to think outside
of the box and to be original and to be themselves,” he said.
The program engages students with activities like camping,
skiing, college tours and roundtable discussions on topics such as
setting goals and relationships. There is also a separate program that
helps students who have dropped out of school find jobs and attain
a GED.
Q: Why did you choose middle school?
A: I think everyone has a social responsibility
to try to uplift our adolescents, especially those
who are on the bubble and can go either way
at this age. They need that pull to get them
over on the right side. I wanted to have an
impact on students who need some attention,
guidance, positive reinforcement – whatever
they need at this point in their lives. I wanted
to try to get some of them that are on that line
to understand that if you get your education it
will definitely carry you out of bad situations.
“When you’re put in an environment where you don’t have to
compete against each other or compete for the affection of females,
you have a higher tendency to focus on what is important,” he said.
Tyrell’s high school experience wasn’t always smooth, but he kept
his focus and persevered. He still keeps in touch with many of his
Albany High teachers and credits them with being a positive influence.
“The extent that they were willing to go to make me better myself was a real inspiration,” he said.
Ryan Hunter is in his first year in the City School District of Albany after relocating when his wife,
Elicia, transferred to the area with Cisco Systems. A basketball player at Fordham University, where he
earned a bachelor’s degree in finance, Mr. Hunter fittingly is a member of Hackett’s “Dream Team” –
officially, faculty team 7A. He and fellow Dream Team members Valarie Karas (ELA), Troy Gale (science),
Kelly Madison (social studies), Corey Lustig (writing) and Lisa Thompson (special ed) foster a collaborative, supportive teaching and learning environment that has proved to be a great benefit to their students.
8
www.albanyschools.org
Word of wisdom: “It’s very important to develop relationships
with your teachers because they have the capability to mold you
and direct you in ways that you might not see yourself. If you have
enough exposure to positive avenues, it doesn’t necessarily mean
the results will be positive, but it definitely increases your chances
of being positive.”
– Tyrell Hughes, Albany High School, Class of 2001;
B.A., B.L.A., Johnson C. Smith University, Class of 2005
WIN TER 2008