VOL. 53 — NO. 4

DECEMBER 2014

Happy Holidays

Runoff Election for DFT Officers

The DFT Election Committeewill conduct a runoff electionfor the positions of DFT presi-

dent, three vice presidents, treasurerand recording secretary. The Unitedfor Teachers Rights slate won all ofthe 11 executive board positions andthree trustee seats.

Edna Reaves of UTR got 47 per-cent of the vote for president, with487 votes. Steve Conn of the EqualOpportunity Now/By Any MeanNecessary slate got 35 percent of thevote with 365 votes. Mershira Oliverof the Great Educators Movementslate received 18 percent of the votewith 192 votes.

Those elected to the executiveboard are: LaShawn Sims, Lakia Wil-son, Glenda Booker, Marcus Walton,Mark Moroni, Jason Posey, LesleePrzygodski, Terry Strauss, RobinJennings, Quan Neloms and DarneseWilkinson. Lisa Card, Elena Brant-ley-Phillips and Rahjinah Johnsonwere elected as trustees.

There will be a runoff electionconducted in the next few weeks. Ac-cording to the DFT constitution andbylaws, the officers must receivemore than 50 percent of the votes.

The runoff vote will be countedJan. 17. The next president will takeoffice on Jan. 20.

Patrick Burton, chair of the Elec-tion Committee, said the Election

Committee made changes in thiselection.

"We've made a lot of changes forthe better to make things honest andas transparent as possible," he said.

The Election Committee also con-

ducted two debates — a telephonedebate and a live debate at the No-vember membership meeting.

"The phone debate was a real suc-cess," he said. "At one point we hadover 1,400 people listening."

Make Your Vote CountSome 100 ballots in the Dec. 6 DFT Officers Election were thrown out be-

cause members did not sign their envelope. Make sure your vote counts inthe upcoming runoff election.

Be sure to:1. Sign the return envelope.2. Make sure your address is correct.3. If you vote straight ticket, don't vote for individual candidates.

Ballots are sent to the same address as the one on your paycheck. If that'snot correct, change it with the district. The DFT gets all addresses from thedistrict.

"You need to follow the directions and sign the outside of the ballot," saidPatrick Burton, Election Committee chair. "Your name has to be on it to verifyit's your ballot."

The Detroit Teacher is the officialpublication of the Detroit Federationof Teachers, American Federation ofTeachers Local 231, AFL-CIO.Member of the Union Teacher PressAssociation, Inter national LaborPress Association & Michigan LaborPress. Published monthly Septemberthru June.

Editor — Margaret Weertzmweertz@dft231.com

313-875-6776

Page 2 Detroit Teacher December 2014

As I prepare to close out my careeras DFT president, and an educa-tor in the Detroit Public Schools,

in my next two columns I wish to reflectupon my journey as an activist for theunion, and ultimately its president.

The journey begins at Western Interna-tional High School. Richard Wiesniewskiwas the long time building representativeat Western, and a darn good one. How-ever, after about 20 years or so, he de-cided he was ready to concentrate on hisother activities at the school: chair of theEthnic Club, Student Government, fundraising, etc.

As usual, no one wanted the thanklessjob of being the building rep. Several ofmy colleagues approached me, remind-ing me that I never had a problem speak-ing up and speaking out, thus I was"perfect" for the job. Among these col-leagues were Ines DeJesus, who went onto become Assistant Superintendent forHuman Resources, and Kim Gonzalez,currently principal of Clippert Academy.

Reluctantly I accepted, ran, and won. Iimmediately took my responsibilities se-riously, attending DFT membershipmeetings, then conducting meetings atWestern to debrief my colleagues onwhat was happening with our union.

My commitment to our union, mywillingness to raise questions and get in-volved got the attention of Sandra andSamele Ambrose, "The Twins." They en-couraged me to get involved with the

UTR slate, the caucus that representedthe DFT leadership under President JohnElliott and Executive Vice-President (thelate) Carol Thomas.

The Twins taught me about getting in-volved in the union in ways that mat-tered: fund raising, activism,volunteerism, phone banking, and rally-ing. They also taught me how to conductmyself at conventions and the (then)QUEST Conference conducted by theAFT.

I was further guided by executiveboard members such as George Adams,John Butler, Marjorie McWilliams,Sarah HENRY Williams and othersabout the struggles and successes of theDFT and the importance of solidaritywithin the union. Their lessons, experi-ence, and advice would prove to be aninvaluable asset to me as I ascendedthrough the ranks of leadership positionswith the DFT.

The Twins also were instrumental in"putting me on the map" when they en-couraged me to do an interview with AlAllen from WJBK (now Fox 2) duringthe work stoppage in 1992. Mr. Allencharacterized me as "one of the risingstars in the DFT." Little did I know that afew months later my career destinywould take a dramatic turn, and I wouldget thrust into the DFT office as a LaborRelations Administrator.

During the years I was the building repat Western, Janna Garrison, who wouldlater become DFT President, and RickSale were the people I would contact toanswer questions I had about the con-tract, working conditions, or anythingelse. When Rick was selected by Super-intendent David Snead to go to the Of-fice of Labor Affairs, President Elliottselected me to take Rick's place.

While I was honored by the faith Johnhad in me, I wasn't sure I knew enough

KeithJohnson

President’s Report

to succeed Rick. Fortunately, in additionto Janna, I had (the late) Ted Madisonand Marvin Green to train me and guideme on how to effectively represent ourmembers. I watched, listened, andlearned how they did their jobs and theirattention to detail. This was an immeas-urable help to me as I learned to masterthe skill of representation.

These people, and so many more, werean intimate and invaluable componentinto what would become 21 years ofservice in the DFT office. I am so grate-ful to all of them for seeing something inme that made them believe in my leader-ship potential and my dedication to ourprofession and our union.

For those whose names I did not in-clude in this segment, please don't be-lieve that your contribution to myexperience and my service is not ac-knowledged and appreciated. The listseems infinite, as were your contribu-tions to me. Know that I am eternallygrateful to all of you for shaping andmolding me into the type of leader whowas always acting in the best interest ofthose I represented, just the way youtaught me.

REFLECTIONS: PART 1. THE JOURNEY BEGINS

Retirements AnnouncedThe following DFT members have announced their retire-

ments: Elizabeth Gauer and Regina Head. If you have retiredin the last six months and would like it announced, please callthe editor at 313-875-6776.

Getting Students Ready for College

By Rita CarpenterThe College Readiness Plan would like to congratulate Glynda

Hutson, counselor at Noble School, for the outstanding High School,Career Tech and College Readiness Fair held on Nov. 12.

The Fair introduced Noble's 6th-, 7th- and 8th-grade students tochoices of high schools and their academic curriculums. The studentswere engaged and grateful for the opportunity early in the school yearto be able to research the best choices for themselves.

Students got information for their parents about high schools andcollege readiness plans, scholarships, college funding, high schoolcareer technical programs, wellness, health, nutrition, hygiene, den-tal, money management and financial literacy.

The schools and programs that participated in Noble’s fair wereDavis Aerospace, Randolph Technical, Ben Carson, Crockett Techni-cal, Frederick Douglass Academy for Young Men, CommunicationMedia Arts, Detroit School of Arts, Detroit Collegiate Prep at North-western, Golightly Technical, Detroit International Academy forYoung Women, Breithaupt Technical, Martin Luther King, WestsideAcademy and College Readiness Plan.

Noble Elementary Middle School is an example of providing aquality education to our children. Angela Broaden, the principal, La-Toyia Webb Harris, the assistant principal, and Hutson are examplesof great educational visionaries.

College Readiness Plans workshops, career and college fair eventscan be scheduled by calling 313-515-9005.

December 2014 The Detroit Teacher Page 3

Updates . . . It's EvaluationTime AgainIt is the time of year when administrators should be conducting

formal mid-year evaluations, yet many of our members are justnow being observed for the first

time all semester, if at all.In 2011, the state made it manda-

tory that teachers receive an evaluationscore each year, but did not clearly de-fine the process. To date the state stillhas not finalized legislation on teacherand administrative evaluations. But ca-reers are being destroyed because noone is on the same page.

As it currently stands, a principal(or the district) can set you up to failbefore you have an opportunity toteach. How is that possible you mightask? Think about it, when school starts many of our classrooms areovercrowded with upwards of 35 to 45 and in some cases 50 plusstudents. It usually remains that way until well after the fourthWednesday count.

Within that period of time, you are expected to:• increase student achievement (raise test scores)• have excellent classroom management skills (without administra-

tive support)• differentiate instruction• maintain accurate attendance and record books• build a rapport with students, parents and staff• go above and beyond your classroom duties

Each of the above items weighs heavily in the evaluation score.In my opinion, there should be a state mandated cap for class size. Ifthe district exceeds that cap, then the teacher’s evaluation scoreshould be waived.

Currently in our district, your score determines whether you aremoved from school to school or even laid off. Some teachers havebeen moved several times this year alone. Others are new hires, yetthe administrator is charged with issuing an evaluation score formid-semester.

An ineffective or minimally effective rating is a high price to paywhen you have no control over the situation you have been placedin. This district truly needs to take a closer look at what is actuallyoccurring in many of the schools and how it impacts the teacher’sevaluation.

At the very least, the district ought to develop an appeals processso that one might bring forth any unfair or unusual situations thatmay have impacted the process. Until the state finalizes a uniformedevaluation standard, the scores should not be used to the teacher’sdetriment.

Edna Reaves

Compassion for Cancer at RenaissanceRenaissance student senate members Jaylen Bradley, a tenth-

grader, and Yolonda Perry, 1lth grade, (above) spearheaded aschool-wide project in October. The students and staff at Renais-sance High School showed their support of Breast Cancer Aware-ness on Oct. 28 by purchasing T-shirts that said "Fight" on the frontand "Renaissance Cares" on the back.

Supporters had a balloon launch – despite the cloudy and coolweather that day – to show unity and compassion for the fightagainst breast cancer. Proceeds from the sale of the T-shirts weresent to the national breast cancer awareness organization.

Breast Cancer Hits Detroit Teachers

Page 4 Detroit Teacher December 2014

Salute to Veteran’s Day

By Kathy MelocheClipper Academy

On Nov. 11, Clippert Academy hosted its annual Veteran’s Day Celebration. Thisyear the school’s display was even bigger and better than usual, thanks to the DetroitChildren’s Museum. Don Bogart and staff from the museum assembled a large num-ber of artifacts for the display including: a replica of the tomb of the unknown soldier,uniform coats and caps, and even a real shell casing!

In addition, Dominic Bailey, a veteran and special education teacher, brought in hismetals, uniform, and bronzed boots. We honored 50 veterans from our Clippert familythis year. We are so proud of all of the men and women who serve in our nation’sarmed services.

DSO Performs Livefor Carver Students

Students at Carver STEM Academy got the op-portunity to listen to classical music performed bythe Detroit Symphony Orchestra on Nov. 12. Andright in their classroom. A DSO live podcast fromNew York City was streamed into the school for thestudents twice during the day. Carver music teacherM.T. Oldani coordinated this awesome and cultur-ally enriching event for the students.

The Sampson-Webber Academy staff

Breast cancer, like manyhealth ills, hits Detroitteachers just like the generalpopulation. Sometimesteachers keep their healthconcerns private. Othersreach out to teach their stu-dents about an issue that af-fects one in nine Americanwomen.

Jacqueline Blakely, ateacher at Sampson-WebberAcademy, is a two-time sur-vivor of breast cancer andfeels that awareness is themost important work shecan do for breast cancer. Soshe organized a "PositivelyPink" breast cancer aware-ness event Oct. 1 at theschool. She invited a speakerfrom the Barbara Ann Kar-manos Cancer Institute toexplain the disease.

Students dressed in pink, held a parade, and decorated their classroom doors around the theme of learning about the

disease. All of this aspart of the school'sPositive Behavior In-tervention and Sup-port program.

Deveon Gilliard, a13-year-old Sampsonstudent, didn't think itsilly or embarrassingfor the boys to learnabout the disease. Heunderstood that mencan get breast cancertoo. "You can neverknow," he said. "Ittakes time for the cysts to grow."

Katrina Studvent from Karmanos said the disease will claim1,400 lives in Michigan this year. When she asked if anyonehad been affected by breast cancer, several hands of Sampsonstaff went up. Blakely brought the disease — and awareness ofit — out of a textbook and into the students' real world.

Breast Cancer Hits Detroit Teachers

December 2014 The Detroit Teacher Page 5

Sampson teacher Jacqueline Blakelywith students Saniah Anderson andChristian Seals.

The Sampson-Webber Academy staff

Breast cancer, like manyhealth ills, hits Detroitteachers just like the generalpopulation. Sometimesteachers keep their healthconcerns private. Othersreach out to teach their stu-dents about an issue that af-fects one in nine Americanwomen.

Jacqueline Blakely, ateacher at Sampson-WebberAcademy, is a two-time sur-vivor of breast cancer andfeels that awareness is themost important work shecan do for breast cancer. Soshe organized a "PositivelyPink" breast cancer aware-ness event Oct. 1 at theschool. She invited a speakerfrom the Barbara Ann Kar-manos Cancer Institute toexplain the disease.

Students dressed in pink, held a parade, and decorated their classroom doors around the theme of learning about the

East EnglishGets Out the

VotePatricia Eubanks doesn't like what she sees in midterm

elections, so she decided to do something about it. On Nov.3 she and instructional specialist Nadonya Muslim organizeda mock election for every student at East English VillagePreparatory Academy, except the seniors, who could vote inthe real election.

“We want students to be aware,” said Eubanks, the school'smedia specialist. “We see such a lack of civic awareness.”

Eubanks said the Junior ROTC students escorted classesto the polls set up in the atrium. They also registered votersand monitored the voting booths.

East English Village students got voter awareness packetsweeks before. They got lessons on the history of voting andthe women's suffrage movement. They were asked to bringin political lawn signs and make signs of their candidates ofchoice.

This cross curricular activity also included inviting candi-dates into the school to speak — like DFT treasurer MichelleBroughton, a candidate for Wayne County Commissioner.

“This is very personal and very selfish,” Eubanks saidabout organizing the mock election. “I had a problem withthe voice in this city. It's very silent. Regardless of theweather, it's important to go out and vote.”

Eubanks said she wanted to instill in her students the priv-ilege and importance of voting. She succeeded.

“Some of the students who were not old enough came upand asked me if they could vote,” she said. “Why not use thiselection to teach them? Why not let the kids be our voice?”

Mark Twain stu-dent Aiyanna

Moore, principalLinda Whitaker,

student Deon Mor-ris, and teacher

Yvonne Wilson atthe Mesopotamia

exhibit.

Inspired by Teachingand Mesopotamia

Between working on her doctorate, Yvonne Wilson can befound spending long hours at Mark Twain, readying another in-terdisciplinary lesson for her seventh-graders.

Often the school is open late while teachers do work and waitfor traffic to clear.

"You can hear people laughing in the building," she said."There's so much we can do in that time. We can stay around theclock and still have stuff to do."

In November, students were psyched about her unit on ancientMesopotamia, the region that is now modern day Iraq. The stu-dents built projects of life in Mesopotamia, including three landforms, two period buildings, foliage and animals, and correctlynaming and labeling their projects.

They wrote paragraphs and practiced ancient script. All of thisaccording to state standards in Social Studies.

"The professional development we do is based on what we'recurrently doing and trying to implement, it's not just busy work,"said Wilson, a 15-year Detroit teacher. Wilson puts the state stan-dard on every assignment and said she doesn't want her studentsto simply "look for the little grade" but to master the content.

The result was a hall full of masterful projects and studentpride in their work. Students identified the Zagros mountains,the Euphrates and Tigris rivers and other factoids aboutMesopotamia.

Wilson is happy at Mark Twain and it shows in her work withstudents.

"I love it here," she said. "I love DPS. If you cut my wrists, I'mgoing to bleed that blue that's on the door."

Page 6 Detroit Teacher December 2014

Paying the Best Teachers a Little More

I recently had a conversation with an oldfamily friend who said, “I do think we shouldpay the best teachers a little more.” That’seasy to agree with.

I expressed a distrust of the ability to accu-rately identify the best teachers. Her responsewas that somehow the parents all seem toknow who the best teachers are.

This is hard to argue with. The problem isthat the state is trying to establish a process for

grading teachers, and they are not using the same criteria as theparents. Have you ever heard a parent say you should put yourchild in Mrs. Smith’s class because she has the best MEAPscores? I doubt any parent would say, “The difference betweenthe highest and lowest performing students in Mrs. Jones’ classis lower than average, so she must be the best teacher.”

Teachers are inherently distrustful of administrators who cangame the system. If they like one third-grade teacher better thananother, it is easy to skew the results by trading two excellentstudents from one class for two low-performing students withbehavior problems in another class.

I made all these points during our conversation, but after-wards, I realized I had failed to address two glaring problemswith merit pay. I felt like the person who said, “Why is the ballgetting bigger and bigger… and then it hit me.”

First, why is it that in 20 years in education as a teacher, unionofficer, and now union staff member, no teacher has ever askedwhy we aren’t working harder to get merit pay? If this is sucha good idea, why aren’t teachers the ones pushing for it?

But the bigger problem is not with discrepancies within aschool district. We would all like to pay the best teacher in De-troit a little more than the worst teacher in Detroit. But the truecause for concern should be that the worst teacher at some sub-urban district makes 50% more than the best teacher in Detroit.

Even school districts with the same foundation allowancefrom the state and the same local property tax revenue per stu-dent find ways to pay their worst teachers 30% to 50% morethan Detroit’s best teachers.

So for those who are truly concerned about pay equity forteachers, let’s start with a standard pay scale for Michigan Pub-lic School teachers. Given that most of the local school district’srevenue now comes from the state and that we should valueeach child equally, let’s provide equal funding and equal pay.

To ensure equal opportunity for success, we should also havestate mandated maximum class sizes. Lansing has been runningDetroit Public Schools for 12 of the last 15 years. During thattime, they have lowered our pay, increased hours, increasedclass size, and expressed disgust when that failed to producehigher test scores than the surrounding suburbs.

I will be happy to jump on the merit pay bandwagon to re-solve small inequities within school districts once we resolvethe enormous inequities in pay between school districts.

Mark O’Keefe

December 2014 The Detroit Teacher Page 7

Membership Meeting Attendance

SEPTEMBER 2014A.L. HolmesAcademy of the AmericasBates AcademyBewer AcademyBrown AcademyCarstensCarver AcademyCass TechnicalCharles DrewClippert AcademyCody Academy of Public Leadership

Davis AerospaceDavison

Douglas Academy for Young MenDixonDrew Transition CenterEast English VillageSpainEdisonEdward “Duke” EllingtonEmersonField, MosesFisher Magnet Lower AcademyGarvey AcademyHendersonHutchinsonJerry L. White Center John R. King

King HighKeidanMacKenzieMannMarquetteMarshall, ThurgoodMasonNobleOsborn College PreparatoryPriestPulaskiSchulzeVernorWestern International High

OCTOBER 2014Academy of the AmericasBates AcademyBennettBlackwell InstituteBowBreithaupt Career andTechnical Center

MannBrewer AcademyBrown, Ronald Academy CarstensCass TechnicalCharles R. DrewClemente, Roberto Academy

Clippert AcademyCody Academy ofPublic Leadership

CookeDavis AerospaceDavisonDouglas Academy for Young MenEmersonField, MosesFisher Magnet Lower AcademyGarvey AcademyGompersHolmes, A. L.HutchinsonJerry L. White Center

KeidanJohn R. KingMacKenzieMarquetteMarshall, ThurgoodMasonMayburyMunger Pre K-8NobleNorthwestern HighSchulzeSpainThirkellTurning Point AcademyWestern International High

School representatives who were in attendance for the months of September and October 2014 are listed below.

Over $600Edna Reaves

$300 to $399Mark O’Keefe

$200 to $299Michele ArttLois DoniverPatrick FalcusanWanda HoggKeith JohnsonJudith SimsRicardo ThomasMargaret Weertz

$100 to $199Kimberly ArseneaultIvy BaileyRose BonacciPaula Trilety

$50 to $99Gail AlstonNicole Ames-PowellMarionette AndersonFrancisca ArguetaFrances BeemanWilliam BeemanDebra BenyiMary BradfordLynn ChudyJennetta ClarkCheryl HarveyElaine HoffmanAaron KellyValerie KilgoreKeith LapointeDollie LeeShirley McNicholEdward ParrineCharles RobinsonMichael SchenkLashawn SimsApril SmithFrank SqueoGracie Wooten

$25 to $49Theodore AlversonGudrun BabickiShirley BanksJanis BarnhartMeldorae BracyKaren BradfieldInealia DurenEvelyn ForemanTamara FreshJewel GinesRobert GriffieCarnette JohnsonDeborah KirklandCrystal LeeHenry LunsfordWendell MasseyEsther MasseyCynthia MatthewsSandra MurphySteven PortnoyElaine RileyRoslyn RuffinMarcus WaltonJeffrey Wasilewski

Under $25Suzanne AldridgeVanessa AldridgeAngela AlexanderShirley AllenKeshia AllenLisa AlmerantiKaren Al-SaadiMaria AndradeMaria AndradePaul AzzoZona BallwegNancy BaloghLinda Banks-GrastyCarla BeardsleyJulie BeattyMarshelle BeebeGloria BennettKaitlyn BillopsLaura BlackVida BonacciGlenda Booker

Frances BradyMichelle BroughtonCassandra BrownKenneth BrushAntoinette BryanDanita ByrdTonia ByrdCaprice ClevelandMaria CobbPatricia ConnerTina Cooper-TylerNancy CourtrightRichard CrossRegina DavenportMaria DavisNicole DavisAlthea DenardAna DiazKaren EasterlyNadine EgnatiosLenore ElleryLena EllisonAlethia EnglishRachael EvansLisa EverettKim EwingMehnaz FatiwalaRoss FazioPhyllis Frazier-ChillisonKarey FryerEdith GilesAgatha GordonElzbieta GornyCandace GrahamLeslie GravesRachele GreenDelores GuyeQueen HallKarl HartwigAnna HenningRochelle HicksAlecia Hill-WilliamsRhena HolmesMonete HudsonPamela HurstTracey HutchisonRegina JacksonValerie Jakubus

Sharon JamisonRobin JenningsShraddha JhaAna Jimenez-RodriguezAlice JohnsonMaria JonesTracy KingKaren KohfeldtTerri KraftErin KrauseLanell LasenbyEdwina LawsonCrystal LeeKathleen LeveckCarmen LewisTisha LewisMelinda LizakTracy MarinoLawanda MarshallTerrence MartinJohn MartinPatricia MayerJacqueline McCartyAudrey McGrierIngrid McIntyreHelen MiklosKimberly MitchellCarol MooreYvonne MooreLydia MooreNadonya MuslimMona NanceLawrence NeelyWendy NewberryMichelle NimmonsDorene OdomMershira OliverKaren OmalleyVanessa ParnellSherrill PattonThelma PearsonStacey PearsonGwendolyn PeoplesMignon PierceMichele PizzoMaureen PorubskyJason PoseyVito Powell

Linda PrideMaria PurduSusan RamosVanessa RasheedAnthony RobersonLarry RocquemoreLydia RomanoCheryll RopkePatraika RossellMarsha SchaferDarlene SchererLisa ScottLatisha ScottDenise SearsDebbie ShellPatricia SmithCharlene SmithEmily SmithDorothy SteinhartSheila StewartTracey StuckeyCandace SullivanYolanda Tait-SainTerry TateJohn TaylorLinda ThomasMichelle ThompkinsDoreen TurbowMichele TwymonDeanna VanderbiltLaureen VanheseMerel WadeWilliam WardDebra WashingtonRenee WebsterWilliam WeirMichael WeiszbrodCrystal WhiteRodger WillardJanice WilliamsRosemary WilliamsTrece WilliamsVerita WinnEmil WolokDarnise WoodsMarwan WrightLydia YeghiazarianLinda YousifLeonard Zabawski

2014 COPE Contributions

Earhart Student Wins Float ContestEighth-grader Naomi West likes to talk art, drawing and her

dreams of art as a career."There's nothing else I want to do," says the 13-year-old. "Do you

want to see someof my art?"

Naomi wasthe only EarhartSchool studentwho submitted asketch for theThanksgivingParade FloatContest. But artteacher BarbaraNichols said shehad full confi-dence Naomicould win.

"I was notshocked it hap-pened but I wassurprised," said Nichols, a five-year Detroit teacher. Naomi is such anaccomplished artist that she qualifies each year for the DPS studentart exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

"She's an exceptional artist," Nichols said. "She stands out in herwork ethic, completing things and listening to what I'm teaching her."

Naomi has won $1,700 in prizes for her artwork, as well as a 30-foot long float called the Children's Pet Cuddle and Care Club. Shealso won a night at the Marriott hotel before her front and center rideon her float at the parade.

After the press conference with her float emerging from behind ablack curtain, Naomi said the days have been thrilling.

"They literally took a ton of pictures," she said. "My face hurts."

Page 8 Detroit Teacher December 2014

All Meetings start at 4:30 p.m. Dates and times are subjectto change.

January5 Schools Reopen

8 DFT Executive Board Meeting, 4:30 p.m.

DFT Office (7700 Second Ave.)

15 General Membership Meeting, 4:30 p.m.

(IBEW Hall)

19 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.

Schools closed

20 Retiree Chapter Meeting, 11:30 p.m.

(Triumph Church)

We’re on

Facebook! check us out at

www.facebook.com/DFT231

Three Teachers, Three GrantsDrumming Toward Understanding

In September, music therapist Richard Cross, received over $1,000from Donors Choose to buy djembe hand drums. Cross, the well-known

Detroit teacher who composed asong for Lemonade Day, named thisproject "Bully Beat Down ThroughDrumming."

Cross will use the hand drums tostart a drum circle with students atTurning Point Academy, a day treat-ment school.

"Group drumming has many pos-itive benefits for children and ado-

lescents," he said, "including enhanced academic performance, socialskills, as well as mental and emotional health.

"I will be able to use the drum circle to teach students how to workcooperatively with one another," Cross say, "and allow for the love ofbeating a drum with others, both bullies and the victims, and encouragepositive communication."

Memories for Turning Point StudentsAlthough Turning Point, a school for severely emotionally impaired

students, isn't a typical school, Renee Kraus wants her students to havefond memories of their time there. She wants students to have keepsakesfrom the school.

"We do not have yearbooks," shesaid. So she wrote a grant to GoogleDetroit to start a project to capture ayear of experiences in memorybooks. She won a $1,300 grant for adigital camera, Dell laptop computer,cardstock paper, bonding combs andother materials to make the books.

"The students will be able to cher-ish these memory books and photos

for the rest of their lives," she said. "Our students are faced with too muchnegativity on a daily basis and many of our students do not have booksin their homes. They'll be able to use photography and writing as a wayto express their feelings."

Learning the Art of CompostScience teacher Linda Speirs finally will be able to start a com-

posting garden at Turning Point Academy, thanks to a $500 grant fromthe DPS Go Green Challenge Bosch Energy Science and TechnologyCommunity Fund. Her project will create an African keyhole compactpermaculture structure.

In grades three to 12, students willget a hands-on exploration of scienceand math concepts outside of theschool.

"I wanted to do this but didn'tknow how to pull it off because I did-n't have the money," Speirs said. AnAfrican keyhole garden is a smallscale intensive raised bed garden thatis fed through compost. The garden

is made in the design of a keyhole with a basket center that allows waterand nutrients to reach the soil where plants are growing.

"Now our students will learn nutrition and where their food comesfrom," Speirs said. "As we have our lunch, the kids will have buckets toput the discards. The compost will directly feed the garden."

Earhart art teacher Barbara Nichols and float win-ner Naomi West.