Team Selma Welcomes Born Ready University

 Last week’s article focused on Team Selma’s I Love Literacy Campaign.  I cannot express enough to you how important it is for our scholars to grasp early literacy skills.  That’s why, I am elated that we are welcoming our first class of Born Ready University to the Selma community this spring.

 

Born Ready University is an evidenced-based, infant development program for parents with children ages 0-3 years old.  What I love about this program is that it is NOT a parent training class, but rather a series of supports that promote physical, social and emotional well-being and even stress management.  This is done with a curriculum foundation grounded in early literacy and numeracy.

 

Our goal is to support school readiness even before our young scholars attend our Strong Start Pre-K. This 4-week program begins on March 12 and is free to parents.  We are enrolling families now.  Childcare and meals will be provided.  Let us know if you are interested in volunteering or sponsoring door prizes.  Check out our website for more details and please join us!

 

Additionally, Strong Start Pre-K is accepting applications for the upcoming school year.  Please pass the word and let’s get these babies in school and ready to read and learn.

 

As always, I want to address our current situation as it relates to the pandemic. We are working harder than ever to keep our schools open and fortunately the Covid-19 positivity rates are still dropping.  I admit, that I have concerns as the weather warms up.  Now is not the time to relax too much.

 

Our scholars need to stay in school and we will continue to monitor the data and provide safe and healthy learning spaces.  Vaccinations are encouraged and there are many opportunities to get that shot in the arm.  That is our best mitigating factor to decrease positivity rates and also reduce the severity of symptoms.

 

Please check out our social media and website for Covid-19 testing and vaccination clinics. We will also continue to update our reporting dashboard to keep you informed.  Stay tuned for additional routine updates and please reach out if you have suggestions or needs.  For now, I encourage you to continue to engage in our “Doing Our Part Everyday” campaign.  Let’s stop the spread of Covid-19.  Stay safe and be DOPE.

 

In other news, if you are interested in working as a substitute teacher, security officer or bus driver, we may have a job for you.  Interest has been high so please apply soon.  Our human resources team will be glad to share more details about these positions and other vacancies.  We are excited to say that our team members are paid well above the average salary of surrounding school districts.  Come be a part of Team Selma!

 

For more information, please reach out to me at avis.williams@selmacityschools.org.

I Love Literacy

 

Did you know that reading is a great way to reduce stress?  It’s true.  Through reading, your brain can focus on non-stressors and take a literary journey to an entirely different realm.  Reading stimulates the brain which enhances creativity.  It’s like exercise for your brain.  There are many benefits to reading and Team Selma is embracing them and sharing through our Love Literacy campaign that started on Valentine’s Day.

 

Literacy is the foundation for all learning and developing early literacy skills gives our scholars a greater opportunity to be successful in school.  It can make or break the future of our children.  Our students begin school learning to read and progress to reading to learn through mastering early literacy skills. 

 

Early literacy development begins during the first three years of a child’s life.  Yes, even before Pre-K, our young scholars are attaining skills that will help promote greater learning.  In order for our scholars to master math and science, they must be able to read and understand the content.  Team Selma’s teachers, reading coaches and leaders know this and continually focus on creating engaging learning opportunities across all grade- levels and subject areas.

 

Reading is not just for students though.  What are you currently reading?  Do you exercise your brain daily?  Reading daily can improve your vocabulary and even your memory.  We can all benefit from that!  Technology has made us lazy, even when it comes to reading.  Reading daily can counter this by improving concentration and focus. 

 

One benefit that I love about reading is that it gives me tranquility.  Diving into a good book is relaxing.  The on-going pandemic and the many stressors of work and life make reading a wonderful refuge.  It’s a lot cheaper than taking a vacation and it can be done with little or no planning.  Give it a try and join Team Selma as we celebrate and show our Love for Literacy!

 

As always, I want to address our current situation as it relates to the pandemic. We are working harder than ever to keep our schools open and fortunately the Covid-19 positivity rates are still dropping.  Our scholars need to be in school and we will continue to monitor the data as decisions are being made.  Vaccinations are encouraged and there are many opportunities to get that shot in the arm.  That is our best mitigating factor to decrease positivity rates and also reduce the severity of symptoms.

 

Please check out our social media and website for Covid-19 testing and vaccination clinics. We will also continue to update our reporting dashboard to keep you informed.  Stay tuned for additional routine updates and please reach out if you have suggestions or needs.  For now, I encourage you to continue to engage in our “Doing Our Part Everyday” campaign.  Let’s slow the spread of Covid-19.  Stay safe and be DOPE.

 

In other news, if you are interested in working as a substitute teacher, security officer or bus driver, we may have a job for you.  Our human resources team will be glad to share more details about these positions and other vacancies.  We are excited to say that our team members are paid well above the average salary of surrounding school districts.  Come be a part of Team Selma!

 

For more information, please reach out to me at avis.williams@selmacityschools.org.

Celebrating Career and Technical Education

 The ultimate goal of K-12 education is to ensure that scholars graduate from high school college and career ready.  As I see it, every graduate needs a career and college is but one way to achieve this goal.  Many students are successful through career and technical education (CTE) which may or may not include going to college.

 

Career and technical education used to be known as “trade school”.  In a prior era, it was a place where students who were likely not deemed as “college material” could learn a trade that would make them employable. This is no longer the case.

 

I cringe when I hear educators say that “college isn’t for everyone”.  Sure it is!  Even as that is the case, not every graduate wants to or needs to go to college to achieve their career goals.  All scholars should be prepared and knowledgeable of their options.  

 

Some may choose college and others may work towards a credential or certification through CTE.  Fields of study range from medical and engineering to welding and construction.  Career and technical education is designed to serve as a conduit for these and many other career pathways.  Through CTE, we are preparing our graduates for high-wage, high demand careers.

 

Team Selma scholars have access to dozens of opportunities that prepare them for life after high school.  During the month of February, we join the rest of the nation in celebrating and recognizing the impact that CTE has on our young people.  This year CTE Awareness Month is sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders. Be sure to tune into our social media sites to learn more about the advancements that we have made in CTE.  This is not trade school but rather a wide variety of work-based experiences and classes that give our scholars a plethora of options to have the career of their dreams.

 

As always, I want to address our current situation as it relates to the pandemic. We are working harder than ever to keep our schools open and fortunately the Covid-19 positivity rates are dropping.  Our scholars need to be in school and we will continue to monitor the data as decisions are being made.  Vaccinations are encouraged and there are many opportunities to get that shot in the arm.  That is our best mitigating factor to decrease positivity rates and reduce the severity of symptoms.

 

Please check out our social media and website for Covid-19 testing and vaccination clinics. We will also continue to update our reporting dashboard to keep you informed.  Stay tuned for additional routine updates and please reach out if you have suggestions or needs.  For now, I encourage you to continue to engage in our “Doing Our Part Everyday” campaign.  Let’s slow the spread of Covid-19.  Stay safe and be DOPE.

 

In other news, if you are interested in working as a substitute teacher, security officer or bus driver, we may have a job for you.  Our human resources team will be glad to share more details about these positions and other vacancies.  We are excited to say that our team members are paid well above the average salary of surrounding school districts.  Come be a part of Team Selma!

 

For more information, please reach out to me at avis.williams@selmacityschools.org

Teachers are the Real VIPs

 

Thank you is not enough to express the gratitude that I feel towards the committed, driven and compassionate teachers who serve our county and our community.  You give so much and do not get the near the glory that you deserve.  If you no one has told you lately, you are the real VIPs in this crazy space in which we currently live.

 

As I think back over the last two years, it seems impossible that we are still grappling with how to stay in school and how to keep everyone safe.  What I know for sure is that no amount of PPE or sanitizing is enough for teachers to be able to do all that they do each and every day.  So let me just say that I value you and appreciate you.  You matter.

 

I am sorry that you may not always feel the love as leaders, parents, scholars and even elected officials take you for granted and expect you to do the impossible.  Yet you persist.  Your resilience is inspiring to me and I am grateful that our scholars have such incredible examples and role models.

 

If you are a veteran teacher, thank you for staying the course when you could retire and go home.  We still need you.  Our new teachers need you as much as our scholars.  Your contribution to our profession is unmatched.

 

The political climate of our community, state and nation does not always lend itself to kind words and gratitude.  That is so unfortunate. Teachers, you deserve to be celebrated and recognized.  You deserve to be able to work with dignity in safe and supportive schools.  Teachers deserve to feel valued.  Teachers are heroes and are the real VIPs in this crazy space.  Thank you!

 

In other news, if you are interested in working as a substitute teacher or security officer, we may have a job for you.  Our human resources team will be glad to share more details about these positions and other vacancies.  We are excited to say that our team members are paid well above the average salary of surrounding school districts.  Come be a part of Team Selma!

 

With the uptick of positive Covid-19 cases, we are working hard to keep our schools open.  Our scholars need to be in school and we will continue to monitor the data as decisions are being made.  Vaccinations are encouraged and there are many opportunities to get that shot in the arm.  That is our best mitigating factor to decrease positivity rates and reduce the severity of symptoms.

 

Please check out our social media and website for Covid-19 testing and vaccination clinics. We will also continue to update our reporting dashboard to keep you informed.  Stay tuned for additional routine updates and please reach out if you have suggestions or needs.  For now, I encourage you to continue to engage in our “Doing Our Part Everyday” campaign.  Let’s slow the spread of Covid-19.  Stay safe and be DOPE.

 

For more information, please reach out to me at avis.williams@selmacityschools.org.

School Board Members Plant Seeds of Success

 

Each year, educators across the nation pause in January to recognize the contribution that boards of education make to our communities.  Team Selma is elated to do so as well.  This year, the theme is “Planting seeds of success” and that is what our board of education does.

 

School board members exemplify local citizen control and decision-making in education. They volunteer hundreds of hours and an immeasurable amount of energy to assure that our schools are providing the best education possible for the children of our community. Yes, they plant the seeds that allow our schools to advance and our scholars to thrive.  Let’s reflect on some of the reasons we are taking this opportunity to show our appreciation during this School Board Recognition Month.

 

School board members are citizens whose decisions affect our schoolchildren — what they learn, who will teach them and what kinds of facilities house their classrooms.  This has been more crucial than ever in the midst of the pandemic.

 

These are men and women elected to establish the policies that provide the framework for our public schools. They represent the citizens of our community, and they take this responsibility seriously by attending lengthy — sometimes challenging — meetings, conferences and institutes where they broaden their knowledge about education.

 

Team Selma is blessed to have five amazing elected board members.  Do you know them?

 

Johnny “Skip” Moss III is our board chair and he is the man.  I mean, literally he is the only man on the board!  His leadership, steadfast demeanor and unwavering desire to see our schools improve make him an ideal board chair.  Moreover, he is a native of Selma and also a father of children in our district.

 

Danielle Wooten is our District 1 representative and also the vice chair of our board.  She is smart, innovative and has technology super powers.  Like Mr. Moss, she is a parent of school-aged children.  Her three incredible scholars are attending Selma City Schools.

 

Brenda Randolph-Obomanu represents the communities in District 2.  As our veteran board member she brings years of experience and the expertise of a retired educator.  Also a native Selmian, Mrs. O. consistently pushes us to ensure that we are giving our best to ALL scholars.

 

District 3 is represented by Phyllis Houser.  Her calm yet thoughtful disposition is a true asset to our board.  She poses tough questions and always provides a listening hear when she receives questions or concerns from constituents within the community.

 

Finally, District 4 is represented by Dr. Tanya Miles.  We are fortunate to have this smart, professional educator on our board.  I have learned so much from her and appreciate the leadership and support that she provides to our board and to our team.

 

Too often we neglect to recognize the dedication and hard work of the men and women who represent us. The staff and scholars of Team Selma are asking all local citizens to take a moment to tell a school board member “thanks for caring about our children’s education.” They are consistently planting seeds for the success of our district.

 

In other news, please check out our social media and website for Covid-19 testing and vaccination clinics. We will also continue to update our reporting dashboard as positivity rates have continued to rise.  Stay tuned for additional routine updates and please reach out if you have suggestions or needs.  For now, please continue to engage in our “Doing Our Part Everyday” campaign.  Let’s slow the spread of Covid-19.  Stay safe and be DOPE.

 

For more information, please reach out to me at avis.williams@selmacityschools.org.