2010 NCLB Conference - Chicago - Betances

Joe Stanislao and I attended the Conference this year to help us better understand the mystical universe of Title 1 and NCLB. We had the opportunity to hear Samuel Betances speak. I was impressed. Below are some quotes I jotted down:
"Don't fail students for not knowing what they haven't been taught."
"If [a person] can't be good at being good, [he or she will] be good at being bad, because you've got to be good at something."
"Words are noises that are pregnant with meaning."
"Parents can't give what they don't have...there is no one that can help at home....kids need coaches and mentors because parents cannot give them what they don't have."
"Imagine that for every student you received in your class, that was not at grade level at the beginning of the year, you'd receive $15,000, if you got them there by the end of the year."
http://www.betances.com/content.cfm?id=55

A visit in Feb 2009

VIDEO: National Guardsman returns home to hero’s welcome - Westmont, IL - Westmont Progress

VIDEO: National Guardsman returns home to hero’s welcome - Westmont, IL - Westmont Progress

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My Welcome Home

What a welcome I received when I came home from Afghanistan! I appreciate all of the support from the Mannheim District #83 Community and the hard work of my wife, Warrior's Watch, my family, and friends! I had more than my 15 minutes of fame...I know what it's like to be treated like a Rock Star now, a feeling I wish more of my fellow military brethren had the opportunity to experience. One of the most profound moments was after all of the hoopla when I was standing in front of Mannheim Middle School, saying goodbye to my Family. A man drove up and must have seen me in my uniform. He pulled to the side, got out of his car, and stood near me (totally silent). He was a tall, lean man, that had a Jerry Garcia beard going, wearing nothing that stood out. He reached out his hand, and took mine and held onto it tightly. There was overwhelming emotion in his eyes as they swelled with tears. I said, "thank you" to "Jerry". Without saying a word, he walked away and drove off. Americans do a fantastic job welcoming home her troops now. There are programs in place to help Veterans with so much. Unfortunately, we needed to learn this lesson the hard way, and "Jerry" must have paid that price.
Hopefully more will follow.