PURE Reform - Parents United for Responsible Educational Reform


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Candidates for School District 2 July 2009 Kathy Fine Resume: http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddznxj6h_659cfd9m8dw July 2, 2009 Dear Public School Enthusiast, As you all know, I have been advocating for responsible educational reform via our website and blog for almost 2 years. I have an intimate knowledge of the District’s reform initiatives and I believe that I would be a powerful voice for District 2 and all of our city’s students and will be seeking the appointment of School Board Director in District 2. I have been volunteering is the PPS for the last 15 years and I have been active in the elections of our last two school board members. I feel that it is now time to move from behind the scenes and pursue this appointment. If appointed, I am committed to maintaining a continued focus on a common sense approach to increasing student achievement while keeping a watchful eye on the budget to ensure wise use of taxpayers’ money. I also hold firm the belief that transparency and true community involvement are the cornerstone to the success any major reform effort. I have no further political ambitions and with the departure of my son to college this year I am in the position to dedicate the necessary time that this important position requires. With major changes occurring in our schools, it is more important than ever that we have a well-informed school board director with a vision for a school district that will provide a quality education for all of our children. I am attaching a copy of the resume that I am submitting to the mayor and am asking you, who have shown a commitment to good school board governance, to contact the mayor’s office to ask him to appoint me to the position of District 2 School Board Director. The mayor is required to make this appointment in the next thirty days, so any support that you are willing to offer must be sent without delay. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl Mayor’s Office Room 512 City-County Building 414 Grant Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-255-2626 pghschoolboard@city.pittsburgh.pa.us In the spirit of our phenomenal grass roots efforts of the past, if each of you recruited 2-5 other city residents to write a letter of support, our voices would be strengthened exponentially! I thank you all for your past and continued advocacy for our public schools Sincerely, Kathy Fine ___ Stephanie Tecza Resume: http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddznxj6h_662dsf776gh July 2, 2009 Dear Parents and Community members: I am honored to have another chance to put my name out in hopes to take the open seat on the Board of Directors for the Pittsburgh Public Schools. Please let me reintroduce myself. I was born in Pittsburgh, have lived on Polish Hill for the past 35 years and recently celebrated my 25th wedding anniversary. I am interested in becoming a school board director because I bring a unique perspective to the table with my experience as a parent of two very different children. My oldest daughter Leah, who is 24, was born with Down Syndrome and was in the special education program in the Pittsburgh Public School System. She was the first student with mental retardation in 1993 to be fully included with her non disabled peers. Leah loves to work and volunteer in the community. My other daughter Ellie recently graduated from the International Baccalaureate program at Schenley High School earning the IB Diploma Certificate and now attends Washington & Jefferson College. As you can see my children experienced very different educational programs within the Pittsburgh Public School system resulting in exceptional outcomes. That is what I hope for all kids in the city. For the past 14 years I have been helping families navigate the special education system and work with their districts. I presented workshops for families, attended trainings on disability related topics, visited legislators, participated in various rallies for the rights of students and adults with disabilities and spoke in Harrisburg on funding education with the School Reform Network. I have been a member of organizations and committees including PURE Reform, Western PA Coalition of Advocates, VALUE Coalition, Pennsylvania Protection and Advocacy Children’s Team, PA ARC Education Committee, and the Early Intervention Coalition of Advocates. I have received several awards for advocacy efforts throughout the years. In 1994 I received the Award of Excellence: Advocacy Award by The ARC of Allegheny and in 1995 received the Jean Isherwood Advocacy Award by the ARC of Pennsylvania. Most recently I received the Education Law Centers Advocacy Award. I am extremely concerned about the district’s sincerity as to parent and community input. We need to make sure that parents and community members are heard. Pittsburgh has extremely valuable and informative parents who would assets in helping to create a district that is child focused and embraces parent and community involvement. I want to make sure that parents are taken seriously and are a part of everything the district carries out. Families will have a voice through me. I would appreciate your support by writing to the pghschoolboard@ city.pittsburgh. pa.us or contacting the Mayor’s office at 412 255-2626. Thanks so much for your time. Stephanie Tecza ___ Other candidates are encouraged to submit their information for posting. ___ Letter to Mayor Ravenstahl from Annette Werner July 11, 2009 Dear Mayor Ravenstahl: I am writing to urge that in making a choice to fill the opening on the School Board, you appoint a person who has demonstrated a sincere and sustained interest over time in public education in Pittsburgh. The ideal candidate will view this position not as a springboard to other goals, but as fulfilling in and of itself. I also urge you to appoint a person who will communicate with and be responsive to the citizens he or she represents. I recognize that School Board director is a volunteer position and that directors have other obligations. However, a good candidate will be one who recognizes that communication with residents is a vital part of this position. We need someone who will commit the time and effort necessary to not only attend the many board and committee meetings and read the extensive information provided to directors, but also to respond to phone calls and emails from concerned parents and members of the community. Applicant Kathy Fine has long been an active, enthusiastic and attentive participant at district meetings, presentations and focus groups. Often she has been one of only a handful of parents at parent engagement meetings. She has a particularly strong interest in early childhood education as a means to provide a sound foundation for student achievement. She also seems to be one of the very few people who are not district employees or committee members to read, thoughtfully consider and make insightful comments about the district’s long and densely written Strategic Plan. Applicant Stephanie Tecza has likewise shown longstanding involvement in and commitment to district matters including a high level of responsiveness to community members in need of assistance. Based on these applicants’ proven records of dedication to public education and public participation, I ask that you give them strong consideration for the district 2 director’s seat. We look forward to a wise appointment to fill this important position. Yours truly, Annette Werner

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Questions About High School Reform

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Watch

Candidates for School District 2
July 2009

Kathy Fine

Resume: http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddznxj6h_659cfd9m8dw

July 2, 2009

Dear Public School Enthusiast,

As you all know, I have been advocating for responsible educational reform via our website and blog for almost 2 years. I have an intimate knowledge of the District’s reform initiatives and I believe that I would be a powerful voice for District 2 and all of our city’s students and will be seeking the appointment of School Board Director in District 2.

I have been volunteering is the PPS for the last 15 years and I have been active in the elections of our last two school board members. I feel that it is now time to move from behind the scenes and pursue this appointment. If appointed, I am committed to maintaining a continued focus on a common sense approach to increasing student achievement while keeping a watchful eye on the budget to ensure wise use of taxpayers’ money. I also hold firm the belief that transparency and true community involvement are the cornerstone to the success any major reform effort. I have no further political ambitions and with the departure of my son to college this year I am in the position to dedicate the necessary time that this important position requires.

With major changes occurring in our schools, it is more important than ever that we have a well-informed school board director with a vision for a school district that will provide a quality education for all of our children. I am attaching a copy of the resume that I am submitting to the mayor and am asking you, who have shown a commitment to good school board governance, to contact the mayor’s office to ask him to appoint me to the position of District 2 School Board Director. The mayor is required to make this appointment in the next thirty days, so any support that you are willing to offer must be sent without delay.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
Mayor’s Office Room 512
City-County Building
414 Grant Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-255-2626
pghschoolboard@city.pittsburgh.pa.us

In the spirit of our phenomenal grass roots efforts of the past, if each of you recruited 2-5 other city residents to write a letter of support, our voices would be strengthened exponentially!

I thank you all for your past and continued advocacy for our public schools

Sincerely,

Kathy Fine

___

Stephanie Tecza

Resume: http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddznxj6h_662dsf776gh

July 2, 2009

Dear Parents and Community members:

I am honored to have another chance to put my name out in hopes to take the open seat on the Board of Directors for the Pittsburgh Public Schools. Please let me reintroduce myself.

I was born in Pittsburgh, have lived on Polish Hill for the past 35 years and recently celebrated my 25th wedding anniversary. I am interested in becoming a school board director because I bring a unique perspective to the table with my experience as a parent of two very different children. My oldest daughter Leah, who is 24, was born with Down Syndrome and was in the special education program in the Pittsburgh Public School System. She was the first student with mental retardation in 1993 to be fully included with her non disabled peers. Leah loves to work and volunteer in the community. My other daughter Ellie recently graduated from the International Baccalaureate program at Schenley High School earning the IB Diploma Certificate and now attends Washington & Jefferson College. As you can see my children experienced very different educational programs within the Pittsburgh Public School system resulting in exceptional outcomes. That is what I hope for all kids in the city.

For the past 14 years I have been helping families navigate the special education system and work with their districts. I presented workshops for families, attended trainings on disability related topics, visited legislators, participated in various rallies for the rights of students and adults with disabilities and spoke in Harrisburg on funding education with the School Reform Network. I have been a member of organizations and committees including PURE Reform, Western PA Coalition of Advocates, VALUE Coalition, Pennsylvania Protection and Advocacy Children’s Team, PA ARC Education Committee, and the Early Intervention Coalition of Advocates. I have received several awards for advocacy efforts throughout the years. In 1994 I received the Award of Excellence: Advocacy Award by The ARC of Allegheny and in 1995 received the Jean Isherwood Advocacy Award by the ARC of Pennsylvania. Most recently I received the Education Law Centers Advocacy Award.

I am extremely concerned about the district’s sincerity as to parent and community input. We need to make sure that parents and community members are heard. Pittsburgh has extremely valuable and informative parents who would assets in helping to create a district that is child focused and embraces parent and community involvement. I want to make sure that parents are taken seriously and are a part of everything the district carries out. Families will have a voice through me.

I would appreciate your support by writing to the pghschoolboard@ city.pittsburgh. pa.us or contacting the Mayor’s office at 412 255-2626.

Thanks so much for your time.

Stephanie Tecza

___

Other candidates are encouraged to submit their information for posting.

___

Letter to Mayor Ravenstahl from Annette Werner

July 11, 2009

Dear Mayor Ravenstahl:

I am writing to urge that in making a choice to fill the opening on the School Board, you appoint a person who has demonstrated a sincere and sustained interest over time in public education in Pittsburgh. The ideal candidate will view this position not as a springboard to other goals, but as fulfilling in and of itself.

I also urge you to appoint a person who will communicate with and be responsive to the citizens he or she represents. I recognize that School Board director is a volunteer position and that directors have other obligations. However, a good candidate will be one who recognizes that communication with residents is a vital part of this position. We need someone who will commit the time and effort necessary to not only attend the many board and committee meetings and read the extensive information provided to directors, but also to respond to phone calls and emails from concerned parents and members of the community.

Applicant Kathy Fine has long been an active, enthusiastic and attentive participant at district meetings, presentations and focus groups. Often she has been one of only a handful of parents at parent engagement meetings. She has a particularly strong interest in early childhood education as a means to provide a sound foundation for student achievement. She also seems to be one of the very few people who are not district employees or committee members to read, thoughtfully consider and make insightful comments about the district’s long and densely written Strategic Plan. Applicant Stephanie Tecza has likewise shown longstanding involvement in and commitment to district matters including a high level of responsiveness to community members in need of assistance. Based on these applicants’ proven records of dedication to public education and public participation, I ask that you give them strong consideration for the district 2 director’s seat.

We look forward to a wise appointment to fill this important position.

Yours truly,

Annette Werner