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Presented by:

Michele Pola, Ed.D.Executive DirectorHouston A+ Challenge

October 21, 2006Houston Community College System All College Conference

A Community System for Education in the 21st Century

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Houston A+ Challenge

Who We Are

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Walter AnnenbergLargest non-profit, public-private partnership dedicated to public school improvement in the Houston areaDevelops and funds programs in schools, leadership and higher education to promote higher academic achievement by all studentsInvested $116 million since 1997 in Houston area schoolsAldine, Alief, Houston, Humble, North Forest, Spring Branch ISDs

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Mission

Empower urban schools to change from within to prepare students to be successful in college or the workforce.

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Imperatives

Increase student achievement through: Quality professional development for teachers

Hands-on experience

Bringing community into education Business, corporate, universities

Making classrooms/schools more personal for students Community-based teachers

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Why Change Education

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“The world our kids are going to live in is changing four times faster than our schools.”

- Dr. Willard DaggettDirector

International Center for Leadership and Education

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Understanding the Global Context

1. Changes in the workplace2. Changes in quantity of information3. Changes in our understanding of the learning

process4. Changes in the requirements of citizenship,

critical thinking, civic engagement, civility5. Changes in students’ life circumstances

© Copyright 2003 Tony Wagner, Harvard University; Alvin Toffler, “Communications Revolution Just Waiting to Happen”.

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Understanding the Local ContextIn Texas, Hispanic and black children are about three times more likely to live in poverty than Anglos. They also are more likely to lag in educational achievement, a key indicator of potential income. (Houston Chronicle, 10-17-06)Unless Texas closes gaps in education, income, health and adapting to culture, the children expected to make up the bulk of the state's future labor force will likely be poorer and less economically competitive than young people across the nation. (Houston Chronicle 10-17-06)

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"If we don't educate our population, we won't be able to attract and retain the jobs that we want, that we need, for people to buy homes, to be taxed, to produce public goods and services we need to sustain the state."

-Professor Robert Stein Rice University

Houston Chronicle10/17/06

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What To Change

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Creating Community Capacity

Sharing knowledge and skillsSetting up the conditions, culture and competenciesHouston has great resources Diversity Wisdom Wealth Passion Mayor’s commitment

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Creating Capacity (cont.)

Transform from isolation to collaboration Long term Purposeful Multiple players Use data Awareness of workforce needs

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What are the Knowledge and Skills?Graduate Profile Culturally aware in global world Effective communicator Proficient problem-solver Knowledgeable of worldwide issues Cooperative team member Efficient technology user Responsible citizen Self-directed worker and thinker

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Evolving Community Capacity

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Examples Convocation on Public Education - American Leadership Forum “Reach Out to Dropouts” Walk – Houston and Aldine ISDsTeacher Externships - Greater Houston PartnershipSummer Science Externships - Baylor Medical SchoolHigh school journalism partnership - Houston Chronicle New high schools – HCC, Asia SocietyGive Kids Good Schools campaign

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HCC PartnershipsP-16 CouncilTexas Higher Education Coordinating Board - field specialistsInternational StudiesCollege ConnectionsAchieving the Dream

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Visionary Leadership

“only when people dream of a better tomorrow, decide they truly want to make it happen, and then act to turn their dreams

into reality….”-Burt Nanus

Visionary Leadership

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1415 Louisiana, Box 9Houston, TX 77002

www.houstonaplus.org