Grant funds efforts of union, school district and community

A Springfield partnership bringing together the SEA, community leaders and the school department recently won a $1.25 million grant that will be used over the next five years to help close the achievement gap.

We were selected out of a pool of national applicants based on a plan and commitment between the teachers union and SPS to work together with a focus on professional development and parent and community involvement.

Winning this prestigious grant represents great progress in the building of trust, teamwork and mutual respect between the SEA and SPS administration.

I am looking forward with great optimism to the opportunity to build on this relationship and work together toward the single goal of advancing the academic achievement of all our students.

G.R.E.A.T work students!

Congratulations to all our students who have completed the six-week Gang Resistance Education and Training course at Balliet and Rebecca Johnson schools. These students are now leaders amongst their peers, modeling the kind of behavior that shuns gang involvement.

These students have learned skills that should be valued by all of us, such as conflict resolution and self empowerment.

The Gang Resistance and Education Training (G.R.E.A.T) program is a partnership between Springfield Public Schools and the Springfield Police Department, which is aimed at steering children away from gangs, crime, drugs and violence.

Launched last year, the G.R.E.A.T. program is founded on the mutual commitment of law enforcement and educational agencies to provide children with skills to combat the stresses that set the stage for gang involvement; provide students with accurate knowledge about gang involvement; provide students with the skills necessary to resolve conflicts peacefully; and help them understand the need to set goals.

During a graduation ceremony at Central High School at 6 p.m. today, more than 150 students who have completed this course will be awarded the course diploma they have earned.

These students have stepped up to do their part in helping to keep our schools safe. How will you step up? Here are some simple ways you can help:

1. Get involved with your child’s school. Parental involvement helps schools promote a sense of community
2. Familiarize yourself with and tell your children about Springfield Police Department’s new Text-A-Tip initiative.
3. Work to build open, on-going communication with your child.