FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2012
Contact: Debbie Hyler, The School Foundation
Phone: 843-662-9996
Email: dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org
Dancing With The Stars of Florence Offers Theatre Seating
Florence, SC- On March 29, at 6:30 p.m., local celebrities and their professional dance partners will square-off at SiMT for a chance to win the coveted mirror ball trophy. Florence School District 1 and The School Foundation are thrilled at the response of supporters for this year’s Dancing With The Stars of Florence competition. After just two weeks of reserved table sales, the main ballroom is reserved to capacity. So that everyone in the community has an opportunity to enjoy the show, Theatre Seating will be offered in the auditorium adjacent to the main ballroom. SiMT’s recent investment in sound and video technology in the auditorium is second-to-none in the Florence area. A picture of the auditorium may be viewed at www.florencedancingwiththestars.com.
Guests will enjoy food, beverages, fellowship, and an opportunity to win a Kindle Fire, donated by BB&T. A live-feed broadcast will be presented on the auditorium’s gigantic 30-foot screen. Celebrity and professional dance couples will also be visiting the auditorium throughout the night, raising support for votes.
The auditorium seats 800 guests so there will be plenty of room to watch the competition and socialize. Theatre Seating tickets are being sold at a 20% reduced rate of $40 per person and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Each ticket earns four votes for the holder’s favorite couple.
Fans can vote online for their favorite couple(s) after February 1st at www.FlorenceDancingWithTheStars.com for only $10 per vote. The “People’s Choice” mirror ball trophies will be awarded to the three couples raising the most votes. A panel of judges will name one couple “Technical Skills Winner” based on the contestants’ overall skills. The School Foundation’s board member Ed Love and local celebrity Audra Coble will be master and mistress of ceremonies. The 2011 Celebrities will be back, as well as the KFA Extreme team, providing special entertainment throughout the evening.
About The School Foundation
Founded in 2000, The School Foundation promotes educational excellence in Florence, SC School District 1 through grants for innovative and high-impact programs designed to benefit all children. To learn more about The School Foundation, visit their website at www.theschoolfoundation.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 9, 2012
Contact: Debbie Hyler, The School Foundation
Phone: 843-662-9996
Email: dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org
Local Celebrities “Get Down” in 2nd Dancing With The Stars of Florence
Florence, SC - Once again, local celebrities, coupled with professional dancers, are vying for the coveted mirror ball trophies at the upcoming Dancing With The Stars of Florence fundraiser. This year’s event will be held on March 29th at 6:30 p.m. at SiMT with proceeds benefiting The School Foundation. Fifteen “stars” from the Florence community have been selected to compete in the event, which has been modeled after the popular ABC-TV series.
“Although preparing for Dancing with the Stars required much work and practice, it was very worthwhile knowing our efforts helped raise over $50,000 for The School Foundation,” commented Mike Reichenbach, last year’s Technical Skills winner. “The fact that last year’s event was sold out speaks to the generosity and commitment to helping others that makes our community so special. Charisse and I are proud to support the event again this year because we believe The School Foundation makes a difference in peoples’ lives.”
Reserved tables for 8 are on sale during the month of January for $1,000 (includes 100 votes). Reservation forms can be found on the Foundation’s website (www.theschoolfoundation.org), or can be obtained by calling (843) 662-9996. Beginning February 1st, depending on availability, individual, non-reserved tickets will also be sold for $50 each (includes 5 votes). Fans can vote online for their favorite couple(s) after February 1st at www.FlorenceDancingWithTheStars.com for only $10 per vote. The “People’s Choice” mirror ball trophies will be awarded to the three couples raising the most votes. A panel of judges will name one couple “Technical Skills Winner” based on the contestants’ overall skills. The School Foundation’s board member Ed Love and local celebrity Audra Coble will be master and mistress of ceremonies. The 2011 Celebrities will be back, as well as the KFA Extreme team, providing special entertainment throughout the evening.
Competition is already mounting among the dancers. Who will be the 2012 Dancing With The Stars of Florence winner? You decide!
About The School Foundation
Founded in 2000, The School Foundation promotes educational excellence in Florence, SC School District 1 through grants for innovative and high-impact programs designed to benefit all children. To learn more about The School Foundation, visit their website at www.theschoolfoundation.org.
EDITORIAL: Early ed summit was great… now what?
What will educators, business people do to fix the education problem?
By: The Morning News
Published: November 20, 2011
A child from a disadvantaged family can be 18 months or more behind their better cared-for counterparts in terms of learning development … by the time they’re four years old.
A toddler makes 700 synaptic connections in their brain every second during their formative years. The paths created will serve them – or not – for a lifetime.
While some emotional states, like anger, joy, sadness and fear, are clearly “hard-wired into human brains, many others are learned emotions. Highly valued characteristics like humility, sympathy, compassion, cooperation and even optimism must be taught, usually at an early age.
Attendees at Tuesday’s Early Education Summit in Florence were bombarded with astonishing information about the human brain and the role early, early development can play in preparing said brains for learning by the time school starts. Old stories and new information were trotted out and mixed with a compelling case tailor made for Tuesday’s audience — which was mostly business persons and educators. The bottom was this: early childhood education matters. It might be the only way to really affect change in American education, and for those with the ability to invest in it — like the business types included in the 400 or so who filled the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology (SiMT) building on Tuesday — it is a good venture.
The work of Nobel Prize-winning economist James Heckman was trotted out as evidence of the latter. Heckman, a ground-breaking thinker and researcher, believes early childhood education produces a solid rate of return. Almost incredibly, Heckman and his colleagues have found a way to enumerate the effect. Using what he says is a conservative set of assumptions, he pegs the return on early childhood education investment at 7-10 percent per year.
A corollary to Heckman’s ROI thesis is essential, too: investment at almost any other point in the educational continuum is folly. Writing in American Educator magazine last spring, Heckman said that “schooling after the second grade play only a minor role in creating or reducing gaps.”
This is not really opinion in Heckman’s case, but conclusion based on extensive research; and it brings to light a lot of educational rhetoric and race-based hang wringing, including some by members of local school boards.
Invest in education at the earliest possible age. The alternative — investing at some other point — is not particular helpful. We might as well just save those public dollars for more policemen and bigger jails.
Much of Tuesday’s presentation was fascinating. As several attendees noted, not much of it was counterintuitive. Most people can grasp that kids begin building their brain at a very early age. And the idea that expending more resources on that part of the educational “system” makes sense.
Understanding was the easy part at the summit.
The hard part?
What comes next?
The point of the summit, which was based on a national model that the Pew Institute and other interested parties are trying to propagate, is to form lobbying and funding consortiums across the country who will bring attention to, and emphasis on, early childhood education to the fore on a national scale. It is impressive effort and is populated with enough heavy hitters to make one think it just might work.
But it will not be easy.
School, or more to the point, educational reform is real aircraft carrier work. It will take a lot of effort, for a long time, to get things turned around. That doesn’t bode well. Human beings aren’t great at sustained efforts of this kind. The cause is abstract, and somewhat altruistic. Frustration at unrewarded toil — some of which was on display during question-and-answer sessions the summit — will cause defections. Some who left Tuesday’s event with fire in the belly have doubtlessly already cooled down.
There are some pragmatic issues, too.
While science suggests some methodology, a comprehensive program for early childhood intervention is not readily available. Part of the reason for that is that the necessary intervention is, in a democracy, quite problematic. It may be obvious to all, including the offending parents, that they are not equipped to raise their infant or toddler in a manner that will be conducive to their educational development. That is still their choice in this country (for now, anyway). Forcing parents to accept counseling, home visits and the like … well, it just can’t be done, and it should be noted that there are plenty of people who don’t think it should be.
Unwinding systems, laws and prejudices that create that sort of reality will not be easy.
But, for one day last week in Florence, it did seem possible.
Just barely.
Early education summit set for Florence
By: SCNow Staff
Published: November 14, 2011
FLORENCE, SC -- Hundreds of business leaders and other interested parties from across South Carolina will gather in Florence on Tuesday for the first Pee Dee Regional Business Leaders’ Summit on Early Childhood Investment at the Southeastern Institute for Manufacturing Technology.
The invitation-only event is designed to educate and engage business leaders and key policy makers on the importance of early childhood development and its connection to work-force development, economic growth and business success.
The event is sponsored by Boeing, which is also providing keynote speaker Rick Stephens, its senior vice president of human resources and administration and member of the Boeing Executive Council.
The event was organized by The School Foundation of Florence. The School Foundation Executive Director Debbie Hyler said last week more than 300 people are expected to attend from all corners of the state.
Aside from Stephens, Summit attendees will hear from Dr. Sara Watson, a senior officer at the Pew Charitable Trusts, where she directs the Partnership for America’s Economic Success and advises three other children’s advocacy campaigns; state Sen. Hugh K. Leatherman of Florence; financier Darla Moore, chairwoman of the Palmetto Institute; and others. Watson was in Florence on Monday and spoke at the Florence Rotary Club.
Two panels, including educational, political and business leaders from across the region, also will be engaged to discuss relevant issues.
While the summit is designed to be informative in and of itself, one of its objectives is to form a group of leaders to lead the regional effort in developing strategies to increase school readiness.
“Although our summit is designed as a regional summit, we encourage business leaders from across the state to attend this initial summit, as they will be provided with research that clearly proves the value of investing in early childhood education,” Hyler said. “They will return to their communities with the knowledge needed to create similar initiatives across the state. It is also our hope that this will lead to a statewide business summit in 2012.”
Dr. Tammy Pawloski, director of the Center of Excellence to Prepare Teachers of Children of Poverty based at Francis Marion University, said the summit represents a potential shift in policy. “Community-based leaders and policymakers who embrace this project will be taking action to ensure that all children have real opportunities to reach their potential,” Pawloski said.
For more information, call The School Foundation at 843-662-9996.
Kids Drive Our Future
By Richard Harrington
Published in The News Journal
11/9/11
Morning News
11/5/11
It is a fact that Kids Drive Our Future and the process starts at birth, if not before. How can that be?
The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, in their research on human brain development, has discovered that neural connectors for different functions of the brain develop sequentially and in the first three to four months of a child’s life almost all of their sensory pathways (vision, hearing, etc.) have developed. The majority of their language learning ability develops by the tenth month, and their capacity for higher cognitive functions starts declining after they are three to five years old.
A negative factor that impacts brain development is unrelenting toxic stress which is induced into the child’s brain and caused by extreme poverty, repeated abuse, isolation or severe maternal depression. In the absence of the buffering protection of adult support through intervention, toxic stress becomes instilled into the brain by processes that shape the architecture of the developing brain with little chance of recovery. This could be a significant contributing force to violent crimes committed throughout our nation.
Research proves that even children from disadvantaged circumstances, when exposed to a high quality early brain development opportunity have fewer special education needs in later years and are more likely to graduate with their class from high school. As a result they earn more income, contribute more tax dollars, and become more productive members of their community.
These simple realities have helped place early childhood development as an economic development priority among a growing number of business people in the Pee Dee region, as well as other regions of South Carolina. More business leaders, economists, and policy makers now realize if we do not get child development and education right, it will diminish our potential as a region by negatively impacting our growth and competiveness for economic opportunity. School readiness gives us a jumpstart on improving education. The quality of our graduates will determine the strength and sustainability of our labor force, our economic growth and our quality of life in the Pee Dee Region.
This is why “Kids Drive Our Future” is more than just a slogan, it is a fact. Remember their future is now in our hands, and our future will soon be in their hands. If we are to prosper economically and socially, we must provide our children with quality birth through five education experiences.
On Nov. 15th, there will be a Pee Dee Regional Business Leaders' Summit on Early Childhood Investment. The purpose of the Summit is to have business leaders, policy makers and other community leaders come together so that they might be better informed about the nature and implications of this problem and consider the opportunities that exist to make a difference in our future. The goal is to have each community in the Pee Dee area develop and implement their own community based school readiness plan. Those communities that have previously developed their plans and are effective in their execution are experiencing significant improvement. A study of New Jersey’s Abbott Preschool Program found up to 50 percent less grade retention for first graders who attended at both ages 3 and 4. Graduates of the Chicago Child-Parent Centers had 35% less grade retention and 26% less special education placement than their third-grade peers. They also experienced 30% less child abuse and neglect.
If you are a business person, policy maker or community leader and have not yet registered for the November 15th Summit, do so now by calling Debbie Hyler at 843-662-9996 or e-mailing dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org.
Nooks encourage students' reading at three Florence schools
By: Rebecca J. Ducker
Published in The Morning News: November 01, 2011
FLORENCE, SC -- Reading is getting much more popular at North Vista Elementary School this year as students have the opportunity to use one of the 30 Nooks at the school. Thanks to a grant from The School Foundation, students in third through sixth grade are able to use the Nooks in class to supplement their lessons and can check them out to bring home. The grant totaling more than $30,000 was awarded to North Vista Elementary, Williams Middle and Wilson High schools to help bring technology not only to the classrooms, but also into students’ homes.
While the foundation looks through grant proposals, one item The School Foundation focuses on is the opportunity for collaborations, executive director Debbie Hyler said. “We really liked the collaboration between the three levels of this grant,” she said.
The Nooks are in place at all three schools with the goal of improving not only test scores but also the motivation of the students. “Part of the problem (with the low test scores) is that students don’t like to read,” Katrina Rouse, English/language arts and social studies coach at North Vista, said. “So we thought that by introducing the Nooks, the students would be more motivated to read.”
In the classrooms, students use the Nooks to read stories and complete worksheets about their lessons. Inside Lakiasha Timmons’ third-grade class at North Vista on Thursday, students were reading “The Elephant’s Child” and working on similes and alliteration. With their eyes on their Nooks, the students took time to search for examples in the text.
Timmons said she has noticed a big difference in the student’s willingness to read this year. “For struggling and reluctant readers, this is a great tool,” she said. “It has the school really wanting to read more.”
And reading more can lead to higher test scores and better opportunities for the students in the future. According to the National Institute for Literacy, “A child who has poor reading comprehension will have great difficulty in achieving school success, especially in today's educational environment which emphasizes standardized testing and specific benchmarks that have to be reached in order for children to be promoted to the next grade.”
Both Rouse and Hyler said students who read below grade level are often embarrassed to check out books because they are color-coded by reading level, so everyone knows what level the student is reading at, and sometimes that leads to ridicule from other students. “Imagine you are a big sixth-grade boy,” Hyler said. “But you are reading at a third-grade level … that can be a great source of shame for students.”
With the Nooks, that’s no longer a problem. Although the Nooks just arrived, schook staff and the foundation are seeing a difference already. Hyler was visiting North Vista recently and noticed two students carrying the Nooks. “I stopped and asked about them,” she said. “Their eyes just lit up. They told me about what they were reading, what they have read. They were excited about the reading!”
Rouse has noticed that, too. “I know one student who does not like to read… but every day he takes a Nook home. For him, he’s excited by it,” she said. “It’s cool, it’s technology.” “I really hope to see a dramatic increase in the reading level of the third through sixth grade as the data comes in,” Hyler said.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Debbie Hyler @ dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org or
call (843) 662-9996
South Carolina’s Top Business Leaders Invited to Upcoming Summit on Childhood Investment
Florence, SC - - Top business leaders from the Pee Dee Region and across South Carolina have been invited to attend the Pee Dee Regional Business Leaders’ Summit on Early Childhood Investment.The invitation-only event is designed to educate and engage business leaders and key policy makers on the importance of early childhood development and its connection to workforce development, economic growth, and business success.Sponsored by Boeing, the summit is designed to inform those attending of business-driven, community-based early childhood development.One of the summit objectives is to form a group of leaders to lead the regional effort in developing strategies to increase school readiness within the region.“Although our summit is designed as a regional summit, we encourage business leaders from across the state to attend this initial summit, as they will be provided with research that clearly proves the value of investing in early childhood education.They will return to their communities with the knowledge needed to create similar initiatives across the state.It is also our hope that this will lead to a statewide business summit in 2012,” stated Debbie Hyler, Executive Director of The School Foundation.
The summit will be held on November 15, 2011 at the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology in Florence, SC. and will be hosted by representatives from The School Foundation, Francis Marion University, Florence Darlington Technical College, McLeod Health, Carolinas Hospital System, Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, and Young Professionals of Florence.The summit is also supported by a grant from the Partnership for America’s Economic Success.The Partnership amplifies the voice of business leaders in support of early childhood policies that strengthen our community and workforce.Rick Stephens, Boeing Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Administration, will be the featured keynote speaker.In addition to recognized business leaders who are actively engaged on this issue, the Summit will feature insights from Senator Hugh Leatherman, Darla Moore, state and national experts who will discuss South Carolina’s existing efforts, prospects for future efforts, and the unequivocal link between a state’s commitment to early childhood investment and its long-term economic and social impact.
“A growing body of research indicates that a healthy pregnancy is as important to a child’s optimal brain development as are early childhood experiences.It is also clear that there are critical and sensitive periods, or windows of opportunity, in which the brain is most vulnerable to the influences of stimulating life experiences.Although these best experiences may be simple parent-child interactions such as singing, talking, or looking at books, many children move through the first years without them,” stated Dr. Tammy Pawloski, Director, Center of Excellence to Prepare Teachers of Children of Poverty, Francis Marion University.“The Pee Dee Regional Business Summit on Early Childhood Investment represents a shift in policy.It is an effort to place a community-wide emphasis on the single most important period of development in which the capacities for brain growth are unmatched.Community based leaders and policymakers who embrace this project will be taking action to ensure that all children have real opportunities to reach their potential.”
“As a businessman, the performance data is clear: investing smart in young children and their families is the surest path to global competitiveness, growth and fiscal sustainability,” stated Robert H. Dugger, Managing Partner, Hanover Investment Group, Chairman, Board of Advisors, Partnership for America’s Economic Success.
More information on the summit can be found at www.theschoolfoundation.org or by calling The School Foundation at 843-662-9996.
Susan Jenkins named Teacher of the Year
Published in The News Journal
October 9, 2011
Prior to working in Florence 1 Jenkins worked for 18 years in Orangeburg School District 5 where she served in several capacities including kindergarten teacher, first grade teacher and media specialist. While in Orangeburg 5, she assisted in the implementation of the school district's mentoring program.
"My philosophy of teaching can best be summed up by my belief that it is important throughout one's life to continue learning," she said. "As a college student I had the mistaken idea that once I graduated, all the student and exams would finally end. Now that I have been in the classroom for over 26 years, I have learned that a good teacher is always and forever a student. As teachers, we learn from each other. We learn from our students, and we even learn from our own mistakes," she continued. "I also believe that I must try to instill in my students a love of learning. I believe it is important to create an atmosphere in the classroom where learning is fun. I have found as media specialist that my role is not just to help students find a specific piece of information, but to teach them how to be effective information seekers. I want my students desire to be lifelong learning."
Jenkins was chosen among 20 teachers in Florence 1 who first completed a teacher of the year application packet which outlined, biography, philosophy of teaching, educational history, and staff development activities.
Florence1 school teachers of the year include: Susan Poston, Briggs Elementary; Meagan Johnson, Carver Elementary; Wendy Singletary, Delmae Elementary; Brittney Ayers, Dewey L. Carter Elementary; Joan Shortall, Florence Career Center; Sharon Snipes, Greenwood Elementary; Ronald Oates, Lester Elementary; Kimberly Rezzuti, McLaurin Elementary; Tami Dozier, North Vista Elementary; Susan Jenkins, Julia James, R.N. Beck Center; Royall Elementary; Chasity Brown, Savannah Grove Elementary; April Rouse, Timrod Elementary; Brittany Moore-Wilson; Wallace-Gregg Elementary; Teresa Cole, Sneed Middle; Annie Hinson, Southside Middle; Ellisa Baskins, Williams Middle; Terrell Fleming, South Florence High; Robin Voss, West Florence High; Sandra Wallace, Wilson High.
An outside panel of judges served as the Florence One Teacher of the Year Selection Committee scoring all application packets. Teachers whose highest score were named honor roll teachers. Honor roll teachers in Florence One are: Annie Hinson, Southside Middle School; Joan Shortall, the Florence Career Center; Robin Voss, West Florence: (Voss has since been named Assistant Principal of West Florence High School); Sandra Wallace, Wilson High School; and Susan Jenkins, Royall Elementary.
As a part of the selection process, the teacher of the year selection panel visited and observed teachers at their schools in classrooms, and conducted one-on-one interviews with the four honor roll teachers--criteria which weighed in on the final selection of Jenkins at this year's Florence One 2010-2011 teacher of the year.
Florence One made the announcement of Jenkins as teacher of the year at the annual School Foundation Gala held this week.
Jenkins will now represent Florence One on the state level in the 2012 teacher of the year program.
Education among best local causes for celebration
By: Traci Bridges
Published in The Morning News
September 01, 2011
As we all know, there are more than enough good causes to go around. There are plenty I wholeheartedly believe in and support any way I can, but none more than education. This world has enough problems and worries, but we’re truly doomed if we don’t educate our children. Don’t worry, I’m not going to get all Whitney Houston “Greatest Love of All” on you. But in a time of economic woes, budget cuts and absentee parents everywhere we turn, educating kids is no easy feat. As Hillary Clinton once said, “It takes a village.”
Fortunately, about 10 years ago, a few of Florence’s finest leaders including Debbie Hyler and Tripp Dubard realized the importance of education and put their words into action. They started The School Foundation. The foundation supports educational excellence in Florence School District 1 through grants for innovative and high impact programs designed to benefit all children. They partner with Florence School District 1 with the Opening Doors to the Future initiative, as well as the council of Parent Leaders. In the past decade, the foundation has funded a total of $613,734 to date in grants, including $95,333 for this school year.
How do they do it? Well, with the help of you and others in the community. And it just so happens you’ve got a great opportunity to get involved this month. All you have to do is buy a ticket (or table, for that matter) for the foundation’s annual gala, sit back and enjoy a great time with friends.
This year’s gala is Sept. 29 at the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology at Florence-Darlington Technical College. This year’s Distinguished Graduate is 1980 West Florence High graduate Mark L. Walberg. Calm down, ladies — not the underwear model formerly known as Marky Mark. But still, one pretty accomplished guy in the world of TV. Walberg began his television career as an assistant at Dick Clark Productions and quickly moved in front of the camera as the announcer for the popular game show “Shop Til You Drop” and then as host of “Burnt Toast,” a sports magazine shown on ESPN.
He has hosted and been featured in an array of popular talk, reality and game shows including FOX hits “Temptation Island” and “The Moment of Truth.” He has hosted home improvement competitions “The Mansion” and “House Rules” on TBS, knowledge quiz show “Test the Nation” and the GSN hit “Russian Roulette.” Mark has just completed his seventh season as host of the Emmy-nominated show “Antiques Roadshow,” PBS’ highest rated primetime series for the past 16 years. “I feel so fortunate to have the career I have,” Walberg said.
“No matter where I’ve gone throughout the years or whom I’ve met, my heart has never really left Florence. I know that so much of what has helped me become successful are the skills I learned at Delmae Heights, Moore Junior High and West Florence High School. It is my public school education and life experiences that have taught me the basics I use every day with live audiences, on camera or in the production office.”
Walberg and his actress-wife Robbi Morgan Walberg have been married for 24 years and make their home in Los Angeles. They have two children, a 19-year-old son Morgan and 16-year-old daughter Goldie.
“We are excited and honored to recognize Mark as our 2011 distinguished graduate,” Hyler, executive director of The School Foundation, said. “Not only does he have a successful television career; he is also very passionate about devoting time to create opportunities for young people. He has certainly been instrumental in changing many lives and we are very proud of him.”
I, too, am a product of Florence 1 schools. I am proud of my roots, and we, as a community, should be proud of Mark as well as the many other success stories Florence has churned out. Let’s keep ‘em coming!
Call Hyler today at (843) 662-9996 or email her at dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org to find out how you can make a difference.
School Foundation to honor Mark Walberg at Annual Gala
Published in The News Journal
September 5, 2011
Mark L. Walberg, a 1980 graduate of West Florence High School, will be honored as Florence School District 1's Distinguished Graduate at the 10th Annual School Foundation Celebration gala to be held on Sept. 29.
"We are excited and honored to recognize Mark as our 2011 distinguished graduate," stated Debbie Hyler, Executive Director of The School Foundation. "Not only does he have a successful television career; he is also very passionate about devoting time to create opportunities for young people. He has certainly been instrumental in changing many lives and we are very proud of him."
"The School Foundation validates the success of our public schools by recognizing a special graduate each year. You don't want to miss our celebration of vision and dreams for our students," stated Jean Leatherman, Chairman of the Foundation's Fund Development Committee.
Mark began his television career as an assistant at Dick Clark Productions and quickly moved in front of the camera as the announcer for the popular game show "Shop Til You Drop" and then as host of "Burnt Toast", a sports magazine shown on ESPN. He has hosted and been featured in an array of popular talk, reality, and game shows, including FOX hits "Temptation Island" and "The Moment of Truth". He has hosted home improvement competitions "The Mansion" and "House Rules" on TBS, knowledge quiz show "Test the Nation" and the GSN hit "Russian Roulette". Mark has just completed his 7th season as host of the Emmy nominated show "Antiques Roadshow" - PBS' highest rated primetime series for the past 16 years.
"I feel so fortunate to have the career that I have. No matter where I've gone throughout the years or whom I've met, my heart has never really left Florence. I know that so much of what has helped me become successful are the skills I learned at Delmae Heights, Moore Jr. High and West Florence High School. It is my public school education and life experiences that have taught me the basics I use every day with live audiences, on camera, or in the Production office. I've always felt the support of friends and family "back home" so that makes this honor even more meaningful to me," stated Walberg.
Mark and actress-wife Robbi Morgan Walberg have been married for 24 years and make their home in Los Angeles. They stay busy keeping up with their 19-year-old son, Morgan, a National Navy ROTC scholarship recipient who is in his second year at Virginia Military Institute, and 16-year-old daughter, Goldie, who has just finished attending Houston Ballet's Summer Intensive program on scholarship.
The gala serves as the primary fundraiser for The School Foundation. The Foundation supports educational excellence in Florence School District One through grants for innovative and high impact programs designed to benefit all children. They partner with Florence School District One with the Opening Doors to the Future initiative, as well as the Council of Parent Leaders. Founded in 2000, they have funded a total of $613,734 to date in grants, including $95,333 for the upcoming school year.
The event will be held at the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology (SiMT). It begins at 5:30 pm and will end promptly at 9 p.m. A silent auction will be held and will feature a wide variety of items. Tickets begin at $75 for FSD1 educators and $100 for individuals. Tables of eight begin at $1,000 (bronze sponsorship), $2,500 (silver), $5,000 (gold) and $10,000 (platinum). A VIP reception will be held for contributors of $2,500 or more.
Tickets may be purchased by calling Hyler at (843) 662-9996 or by e-mailing dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org. You can also purchase tickets on the Foundation's website (www.theschoolfoundation.org).
Foundation helps three Florence 1 schools find 'Nooks'
Published in The Morning News
By Elizabeth Lamb
June 2, 2011
FLORENCE, SC -- Three schools in Florence School District 1 plan to use more technology in the classroom, thanks to grants from The School Foundation, which will help fund nearly $100,000 worth of endeavors across the district.
Williams Middle, Wilson High and North Vista Elementary schools will benefit from a $31,946 grant conceived by three media specialists and an English and language arts and social studies coach. The grant will fund a project called “Take a Look at Books on Nooks,” and will provide Barnes & Noble Nook Color e-readers for each of the schools. That’s about 30 e-readers for each school.
Sarah Quin, a media specialist at Wilson High, said she hopes the Nook will help boost end-of-the-year test scores for the district and the state.
“I think it will generate excitement and enthusiasm. It will allow teachers to personalize reading lists for the students more so to give them more flexibility, because books cost a lot of money, but on the e-books, you only have to buy one copy and it goes to six readers,” Quin said.
Katrina Rouse, the language arts coach, works at North Vista and is looking forward to seeing Nooks in the classroom. “(Students) love technology. The cool factor in and of itself will make the kids want to read. The more you read, the more we’re sure that’s going to help us increase our test scores and get us where we need to be,” Rouse said.
The School Foundation also funded similar projects, including a couple others which plan to use Apple’s iPad and iPod to help students learn, and a handful of smaller projects that will benefit students across the district. The schools plan to allow students and teachers to check out books from the media center, just like a book, and return it the following day.
The team hopes to expand the program someday and to ignite a love for reading that Rouse said is waning, thanks to other gaming systems, like Playstations and Wii. “(Students) don’t have to be embarrassed anymore to go get a book from the library, because no one knows what level they’re reading at on the Nook, so that affords them to read at a level that’s comfortable for them,” Rouse said.
The School Foundation, founded in 2000, is a nonprofit organization that helps fund projects for Florence 1 using independent and corporate donations.
Other district programs funded by The School Foundation include programs on recycling, science, writing and illustrating.
Dancing with the Stars' raises funds for Florence schools
The Morning News
By Steffani Nolte
Published: March 31, 2011
FLORENCE, SC -- Florence celebrities shook their booties during Dancing with the Stars of Florence at Southeastern Institute and Manufacturing and Technology on Thursday night. More than 750 people came to watch the sold-out show, which raised more than $50,000 for The School Foundation, executive director Debbie Hyler said. The amount raised will be counted Friday.
The School Foundation promotes educational excellence in Florence School District 1 through grants for innovative and high-impact programs designed to benefit all students. Florence County Sheriff Kenney Boone and Burnadene Kelley, owner of Kelley’s Fine Arts Studio, were among the couples to score a perfect 10 for their rendition of the jive to “Rockin’ Robin.”
Boone said he’s come a long way since they first began rehearsing in January. “I was a little rough at some stages. Matter of fact, I’ve even dropped Burnadene several times. That was tough but we’ve worked those things out,” he said. Boone said he was nervous when he first walked on stage, but once the music began his adrenaline kicked in and they finished strongly.
Dancing with the Stars of Florence Judge Eimile Davis said the evening was great. “Seeing them get up there and try their best is great. It makes me want to dance with them,” Davis said.
Judge Donna Prothro said the overall charisma of the dancers made the evening adorable.
Mindy Taylor, community relations director for Progress Energy, and her partner David Kahn also scored a perfect 10 for doing the jive to “Candy Man.” “It’s been so much fun learning how to dance and being a part of this wonderful fundraiser,” Taylor said. “Thinking about all the money we’re raising for teachers and students of Florence (School) District 1 really makes all the time and effort worthwhile.” Judge Erin Leigh agreed. “Its great to see dance being used in a way where we can have fun, watch the performers and raise money for a good cause at the same time,” Leigh said.
Three “Peoples’ Choice” trophies were awarded to Marion Swink and Krysten Whersell, Frank James and Summer Bacot, Rajesh Bajaj and Desiree Upright for receiving the most votes. Each people’s choice vote cost $10 and votes could be made online, after each performance and in the lobby of the show.
In addition, the judges named Mike Reichenbach and Alexis Kelley the “Technical Skills Winner.” The pair won the dance-off after the judges decided it was a five-way tie between Taylor and Kahn, Boone and Kelley, Reichenbach and Kelley, Cam Melton and Barbara Rodriguez, Laura Wukela and Courtney Dease.
Couples performing at Dancing with the Stars of Florence were Wukela and Dease, salsa to “Ayer Llore”; Reichenbach and Kelley, jive, swing, hustle to “Billie Jean”; Melton and Rodriguez, jive to “Boogie Bumper”; Taylor and Kahn; Victor Webster and Hope Godwin, samba to “Copacabana”; John Keigh and Brandi Williamson, jive/swing to “Great Balls of Fire”; Brent Tiller and Paige Parrott, salsa to “Johnny’s Mambo”; Bajaj and Upright, cha cha to “Love Potion No. 9”; Marion Swink and Krysten Whersell, tango-Argentina style to “Por una Cabeza”; Octavia Williams-Blake and Lloyd Willcox, salsa to “She Bangs”; Steve Embree and Morgan Rogers, West Coast swing to “Sing, Sing, Sing”; Robby Roberson and Rebecca Kelley, Latin combo to “Thriller”; Frank James and Summer Bacot, jive to “Zoot Suit Riot”; Boone and Kelley.
Local celebrities pair up for dance contest
Published in The News Journal
March 24, 2011
The excitement is building for this year's benefit for The School Foundation set for March 31. The theme is Dancing With The Stars of Florence and leaders from local businesses have paired up with professional dancers to compete for the coveted "People's Choice" and "Technical Skills" trophies to be awarded that evening.
Fifteen "stars" from the Florence community have been selected to compete in the event, which has been modeled after the popular ABC-TV series. The dance couples were revealed at a recent Pairings Party held at the home of Senator and Mrs. Hugh Leatherman.
"I am delighted that The School Foundation is bringing this event to Florence," stated Jean Leatherman, chairman of the Foundation's Fund Development Committee. "This will be an exciting, fabulous evening you will not want to miss. We have some talented dancers with competitive spirits who are determined to bring home that trophy."
The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. at SiMT. Tables may be reserved for $1,000 (includes 100 votes) and individual tickets may be purchased for $50 each (five votes). You can cast your vote for your favorite couple(s) at www.FlorenceDancingWithTheStars.com for $10 per vote.
The "People's Choice" trophies will be awarded to the three couples bringing in the most votes. A panel of judges will award the "Technical Skills Winner" based on the contestants'
overall skills.
Audra Coble, Co-host of FXB Fox TV's "Not the News" will be the evening's Mistress of Ceremonies. The Florence Symphony Orchestra will be providing live music, with special entertainment by The KFA Extreme Team.
"I have had so much fun watching these couples learn their routines," stated Debbie Hyler, the Foundation's Executive Director". "The dedication of these couples is so inspiring and I'm thrilled that they are so willing to give of their time to support education in Florence School District One. This event will be fun filled, yet competitive - I can already see the competition building!"
The School Foundation
Founded in 2000, The School Foundation promotes educational excellence in Florence School District 1 through grants for innovative and high impact programs designed to benefit all children.
To learn more about the School Foundation, visit their website at www.theschoolfoundation.org.
Couple practice salsa for School Foundation event
Published in The News Journal
March 24, 2011
Brent Tiller and Paige Parrott will salsa to "Johnny's Mambo" in the Dancing With the Stars Florence competition. Tiller's claim to dancing fame is the shag contest he won at age 11 at J.Michael's Restaurant in Hartsville. Dan E. Lockemy was the judge, he said.
Paige, a dance instructor at Kelley's Fine Arts, choreographed their dance moves. The pair practice weekly for the upcoming benefit for The School Foundation.
"Its a very complicated routine, says Brent. Their dance will include flips, jumps and lots of personality, he added. "It personifies the best of two out-going personalities."
Brent is the market president for Pinnacle Network Solutions and the owner of The New York Butcher Shoppe. He agreed to participate in this fund raiser because of his desire to see betterment for the students in the Pee Dee area. His kids attend public schools and his wife works in the schools.
The Dancing With the Stars of Florence event will be held on March 31 at 6:30 p.m. at SiMT. "People's Choice" trophies will be awarded to the three couples bringing in the most votes.
A panel of judges will award the "Technical Skills Winner" based on the contestants' overall skills.
Individual tickets may be purchased for $50 each and include five votes for the People's Choice trophies. Tables may be reserved for $1,000 (includes 100 votes). Anyone may cast a vote for their favorite couple(s) at www.FlorenceDancingWithTheStars.com for $10 per vote.
Practice makes perfect, says pair
By BRENDA HARRISON
Editor of The News Journal
Published on March 9, 2011
Florence, S.C. - Practice makes perfect, say Laura Wukela and Courtney Dease, and they intend to practice until their dance routine for Dancing With the Stars of Florence is second nature to them. The pair will salsa to the song, "Ayer?Llore" for the upcoming event on March 31 which will feature 12 couples vying for top awards at this benefit for The School Foundation.
Neither Laura nor Courtney have a background of dance training, but other life experiences are helping them on the dance floor. Laura grew up participating in gymnastics and was a cheerleader for Clemson University. Just last weekend, she participated in a marathon at Myrtle Beach, successfully completing the 26.6 mile run. Courtney, a area singer and actor, has performed in many FLT productions. He portrayed Huckleberry Finn in FLT's "Big River" last fall. Interestingly, he took salsa lessons while in Mexico for three weeks studying Spanish as a Francis Marion University student.
Laura is the mother of three boys and the wife of Florence Mayor Stephen Wukela. Courtney is a paralegal with Ben Moore at the Wukela Law Firm.
A drawing was held for the couples to choose the song they would dance to. Even though they were near the bottom of the drawing pool, Laura and Courtney like their song. Katherine Curl helped Courtney choreograph the salsa dance moves. "We spend half of our practice laughing at ourselves and the other half learning our routine," quips Laura. Asked if they talk to any of the other dance pairs, Laura said "no." These dance routines are top secret, she noted with a laugh, adding that the couples have tight lips about what they are doing.
Laura and Courtney admit they are having fun preparing for this event, but the real reason they agreed to do this was to help raise funds for The School Foundation. "This is a great cause. My kids and my friends' kids attend public schools, so we are a big on public education," Laura said. "With the economy and budget cuts, anything we can do to help get money for our schools is worthwhile."
The Dancing With the Stars of Florence event will be held at 6:30 p.m. at SiMT. Individual tickets may be purchased for $50 each which includes five votes for the People's Choice trophies. Tables may be reserved for $1,000 (includes 100 votes). Or anyone can cast avote for their favorite couple(s) at www.FlorenceDancingWithTheStars.com for $10 per vote.
The "People's Choice" trophies will be awarded to the three couples bringing in the most votes. A panel of judges will award the "Technical Skills Winner" based on the contestants' overall skills.
Local celebs prepare for foundation's 'Dancing with the Stars' Published in The Morning News
March 3, 2011
FLORENCE, SC -- Some of Florence’s biggest stars will be in the spotlight once again on March 31 — but this time, they’ll have on their dancing shoes. In an effort to raise money for The School Foundation, 14 local business people have agreed to trade in their daily suits and ties for glitz and glamour as they compete in Florence’s version of “Dancing With the Stars.” The School Foundation Executive Director Debbie Hyler said she had been looking for a spring fundraiser for the foundation for quite some time when Mindy Taylor of Progress Energy mentioned the idea of a Dancing with the Stars event. “Mindy had a counterpart in North Carolina who had participated in a dancing event who kept telling Mindy how fun it had been,” Hyler said. “So Mindy suggested we do something similar here.”
Hyler was pondering the idea when she ran into Florence County Sheriff Kenney Boone at a Rotary meeting. Boone had been taking ballroom dance lessons and participated in Clarendon County’s Dancing with the Stars. “Kenney said he’d like to see us do something similar in Florence and from that conversation, the ball just started rolling,” Hyler said. “We started looking into it, and realized it wouldn’t be nearly as labor-intensive as the gala and would be relatively inexpensive to do. It’s something fun and fresh and different, so we thought it would be a great way to raise money for the foundation.”
In January, celebrities and local dance professionals from Kelley’s Fine Arts were paired during a special launch party. Soon after, routines were choreographed to chosen music and practices began. Victor Webster, one of the stars, said he was more than happy to dedicate his time to the cause but doesn’t think he’ll be going professional anytime soon. “I’ve learned that God didn’t put me on earth to be a dancer,” Webster said, laughing. “But it’s for a great cause, so I didn’t mind sacrificing myself on stage. It’s been a lot of fun, though, and I’m glad I was given the opportunity to learn something new.”
Hyler said the evening promises to be a fun one. The dance pairs each will perform a 90-second routine. Throughout the evening, attendees will be able to cast as many votes as they’d like for their pair of choice. Votes are $10 each. People who want to give to the cause can begin now by voting for their favorite dancers online at www.florencedancingwiththestars.com. A panel of judges will rate the teams on their technical performances. The team with the highest score will win. Those with the most audience votes will be awarded the People’s Choice Award.
All proceeds will benefit The School Foundation. The foundation was established in 2000 to raise private donations in the form of grants to support the 15,000 students at 23 schools in Florence School District 1. The money raised is not used for operating expenses, but instead for enhancement expenses. The money is used for student academics, citizenship, teacher quality, school safety and district leadership.
Hyler said the foundation would like to make Dancing With the Stars an annual spring event. “All of these participants are busy, busy people, and I can’t thank them enough for taking the time to do this,” she said. “Everybody seems to be enjoying it, and I already have other people in the community saying, ‘I want to be a celebrity dancer next year.’ So we’re hoping people will come out, enjoy a great evening and help us make this a yearly tradition.”
Press Release February 2, 2011
Local celebrities pair up for Dancing With The Stars of Florence
Florence, SC - - Leaders from local businesses have paired up with professional dancers to compete for the coveted “People’s Choice” and “Technical Skills” trophies at the upcoming Dancing With The Stars of Florence to be held on March 31st. Proceeds from the event will go to benefit The School Foundation. Fifteen “stars” from the Florence community have been selected to compete in the event, which has been modeled after the popular ABC-TV series. The dance couples were revealed at a recent Pairings Party, which was held at the home of Senator and Mrs. Hugh Leatherman. “I am delighted that The School Foundation is bringing this event to Florence,” stated Jean Leatherman, Chairman of the Foundation’s Fund Development Committee. “This will be an exciting, fabulous evening you will not want to miss. We have some talented dancers with competitive spirits who are determined to bring home that trophy.”
The event will be held at 6:30pm at SiMT. Tables can be reserved for $1,000 (includes 100 votes) and individual tickets can be purchased for $50 ea. (5 votes). You can cast your vote for your favorite couple(s) at www.FlorenceDancingWithTheStars.com for $10 per vote. The “People’s Choice” trophies will be awarded to the three couples bringing in the most votes. A panel of judges will award the “Technical Skills Winner” based on the contestants’ overall skills. Audra Coble, Co-host of FXB Fox TV’s “Not the News” will be the evening’s Mistress of Ceremonies. The Florence Symphony Orchestra will be providing live music, with special entertainment by The KFA Extreme Team.
“I have had so much fun watching these couples learn their routines,” stated Debbie Hyler, the Foundation’s Executive Director”. “The dedication of these couples is so inspiring and I’m thrilled that they are so willing to give of their time to support education in Florence School District One. This event will be fun filled, yet competitive - I can already see the competition building!”
About The School Foundation
Founded in 2000, The School Foundation promotes educational excellence in Florence, SC School District 1 through grants for innovative and high impact programs designed to benefit all children. To learn more about the School Foundation, visit their website at www.theschoolfoundation.org.
FSD1 Parent Leaders learn benefits of 501(c)(3) tax advantages during Council of Parent Leaders Meeting.
Jack Muench addressing audience.
Local attorneys, Ed Love and Jack Muench with the Willcox Law Firm addressed parent leaders on parent led fundraisers at a Council of Parent Leaders meeting held at the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation Library on November 16, 2010. Approximately 50 guests were in attendance. Mr. Muench explained both the positives and negatives of filing for a 501(c)(3) status, as well as liability issues, board/member structure and IRS tax filing issues.
Heather Gaston helps student in U.S. History class.
Florence School District 1 names top teacher
Published October 5th, 2010
The Morning News
FLORENCE — Students at South Florence High School hit the books this school year, but not without guidance from one of Florence School District 1’s finest teachers. Heather Gaston, who teaches U.S. history courses at the high school, was named the district’s teacher of the year earlier this month. Gaston credits her six years of teaching at an American Indian reservation in Montana with changing her perspective on teaching. “The most exciting thing about teaching U.S. history is it’s who we are. This is where our connection is to the past and it really helps us inform who we are and who we can become,” Gaston said.
Gaston has taught at South Florence for five years, and her students said it’s her interactive teaching style that can help drive home a point. “She’s one of the best teachers I have. We do a lot of activities and we do stuff that none of my other teachers have ever done,” said Ashleigh Singletary, one of Gaston’s students. Gaston said her students help keep her motivated and involved as a teacher. “When I see what I do making a difference in their lives, it makes me want to do more. I’m never satisfied with it being just enough—I want to be better," Gaston said.
She said seeing a student understand the material is a wonderful moment for a teacher. “You can literally almost see light bulbs popping up and kids making connections. It just jazzes you because you realize this plan I put into motion months ago is now starting to come into fruition,” Gaston said.
Gaston hopes that light bulb moment will go beyond the classroom and help students become well-rounded adults. “It’s a moment of personal joy in that I’m doing something effective, but it’s also a shared joy, because they’re finding something of value in what we’re doing. It’s not just a credit to graduate, it’s something they can believe in and do something with,” Gaston said.
Singletary said Gaston’s positive attitude helps keep class enjoyable. “When I come in, she’s always smiling, she’s always happy and she’s really funny. She’s a really good teacher,” Singletary said.
Gaston will vie for the South Carolina Teacher of the Year award early next year and represent the school district.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: S.C. lucky to have policymakers that have created pro-business climate
Published: September 26, 2010
The Morning News
What great examples of public-private partnerships the Pee Dee has seen this month! First, we saw a generous $25,000 gift from AT&T that will allow ScienceSouth to continue and expand its acclaimed science programs for regional school children. This program has been an exemplary public-private operation thanks to the hard work of U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, Sen. Hugh Leatherman, AT&T and many other corporate sponsors.
Then, The School Foundation’s tremendous gala Thursday night brought together hundreds of business, government and education leaders — again including AT&T, Rep. Clyburn’s office and Sen. Leatherman — to strengthen Florence School District 1 and its nearly 15,000 kids.
We all know government can’t and shouldn’t solve all our problems; it is up to each community to rise to its own challenges. Too frequently, though, donors freely give to universities or charities in far-away cities when the most urgent educational need is at their neighborhood school. There, the children they’re counting on to ensure their own and their community’s future quality of life are being educated.
Thank you to AT&T, Rep. Clyburn, Sen. Leatherman, the corporate donors, the small businesses, the volunteers and the parents who realize that — even though our individual contribution may seem small — they can have great impact when combined with all the gifts of a generous community. We are lucky that South Carolina policymakers have created a pro-business climate that encourages investment by the private sector that benefits us all.
Trip DuBard
Executive Director
SC Future Minds
The School Foundation Gala to honor Sanders for accomplishments on, off field
By Traci Bridges
Published: September 05, 2010
The Morning News
FLORENCE — Retired baseball superstar Reggie Sanders never dreamed the fields of Florence would take him to his field of dreams. But they did, and Sanders has never forgotten the community that gave him so much. “I started playing when I was 7 years old,” Sanders said. “Baseball was always a part of my life and a part of my family,” he said. “I went on to play American Legion ball and at Wilson (High School). But I never thought I would end up in the major leagues. When you’re young, it’s hard to say who’s going to be a doctor and who’s going to be a professional baseball player, but no matter what you do, you got to do the work. And if you do the work, it’ll definitely pay off in a big way.” For Sanders, it paid off in the form of a long and successful career in Major League Baseball. During his 17 years in the league, Sanders was part of a World Series Championship team and one of only six players in the history of Major League Baseball to hit 300 or more home runs in his career, while also stealing 300 or more bases.
Early in his career, Reggie formed the Reggie Sanders Charitable Fund, a fund that has touched the lives of many children and families. He and his wife, Wyndee, remain committed to helping the less fortunate. The Sanders have four daughters and currently reside in Myrtle Beach.For his many achievements on and off the field, Sanders will be honored Sept. 16 as Florence School District 1’s Distinguished Graduate during the 9th Annual School Foundation Celebration Gala. “I’m very humbled by the honor,” Sanders said. “Part of what I’ve learned through life is that every place we stop in life, there’s a purpose. And Florence being my hometown and being a part of Florence School District 1 played a vital role in my success. I’ve always been around positive people, and that’s played a big role in making me who I am today.”
Sanders was an easy choice for the honor, Debbie Hyler, executive director of The School Foundation, said. “His accomplishments truly speak volumes about his character,” Hyler said, “and I am extremely proud to claim him as one of our own.” The gala serves as the primary fundraiser for The School Foundation, which supports educational excellence in Florence School District 1 through grants for innovative and high impact programs designed to benefit all children. The Foundation partners with Florence School District 1 ith the Opening Doors to the Future iniative, as well as the Council of Parent Leaders and will be kicking off Ready Children/Ready Schools/Ready Communities this fall as a multi-year effort to insure that all Florence children are adequately prepared when they start kindergarten.
The keynote speaker for this year’s gala will be Donald M. Fehr, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association from 1985 to 2009. Fehr is recognized as one of the most influential people in sports, rising to third overall on The Sporting News’ 1994 list of the 100 Most Powerful People in Sports and the 24th most powerful person in sports in the 20th Century.
The gala will be from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology.
“Excitement is building for the gala,” Jean Leatherman, chairman of the foundation’s fund development committee, said. “We’re excited about our new venue, wonderful food and a great program to honor our distinguished graduate. This is the largest gathering of its kind in the state, and you won’t want to miss it!”
IF YOU’RE GOING
WHAT: 9th Annual School Foundation Gala
WHEN: 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 16
WHERE: Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology at Florence Darlington Technical College
COST: Tickets start at $75 for FSD1 education and $100 for individuals. Sponsorship tables of eight begin at $1,000 and increase in levels to $10,000.
INFO: Call (843) 662-9996 or e-mail dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org.
Florence District One Opening Doors Day Published August 21, 2010 Credit: John D. Russell/The Morning News
FLORENCE—Volunteers and school administrators met Saturday morning at Poynor Adult and Community Education Center in Florence for what has become an annual effort to open doors for students who otherwise might not return to school. Opening Doors to the Future Day is designed to decrease the Florence School District 1 dropout rate.
Florence School District 1 Interim Superintendent Dr. Allie Brooks Jr. has worked with the three-year-old program and said the volunteers’ effort makes a significant difference in the community. “There’s so many things we bring to the table individually and collectively to make this thing work,” Brooks said.
Terrance McClam, whose son relocated to finish his senior year at a high school in Columbia, said he appreciated the community effort. “That shows a great concern for the community because, like I always said, you can’t raise a child by yourself, it takes a community. For [volunteers] to come out to my house on a Saturday morning, that’s remarkable,” McClam said. He said Opening Doors to the Future Day already means a lot to him and he hopes it will have the same impact on his son. “I’m going to express to him how not only I, your mom, your step-mom, your aunts are concerned for you but you’ve got a lot more people that have your back, pushing you in the right direction. That should mean a lot to him,” McClam said.
Debbie Hyler, Executive Director of The School Foundation, helped organize Saturday’s event. Volunteers split up into three teams and stopped by 13 homes to encourage students to return to school. “Ideally this program should put itself out of business because all students return to school the first week of school as they should,” Hyler said. Six schools joined forces to help encourage students to return to school, but Hyler said even if one student returns to school, the effort is worth it. “If we get one child to stay in school then it’s worth it because every child needs to finish school and get an education if they’re going to be a productive citizen in this community,” Hyler said.
Brooks said the day’s event is a team effort and would remain so for years to come. “You come in and work with your heart,” Brooks said.
Florence 1 plans annual 'Opening Doors to the Future Day'
Published: August 17, 2010
FLORENCE — Florence School Interim Superintendent Dr. Allie E. Brooks Jr. has announced plans to continue to work toward decreasing the school dropout rate in Florence’s schools during a one-day outreach event, now in its third year. On Saturday, volunteers will knock on doors and encourage its middle and high school dropouts to return to school through an effort known as Opening Doors to the Future Day, which is designed to improve students’ chances of having a successful life.
The volunteers will meet first 8:30 a.m. at Poynor Adult/Community Education Center, 301 S. Dargan St.
Poynor, which serves as headquarters for the event, will be open and, from there, telephone calls will be made to the homes of Florence 1 dropouts. The dropouts then will be visited by volunteers and invited to return to the Opening Doors to the Future Day headquarters.
Brooks said in a Florence 1 press release that when the students arrive at the headquarters, they will be greeted by specialists who will work with them to decide which programs would be best for them, choosing from options such as homebound services, adult education, the teen parent program and virtual learning (computer-based education). “All of these options are under the Graduate Florence umbrella,” Brooks said in the release. “We’re working toward a goal of a graduation rate of 100 percent.”
Brooks said Graduate Florence has many components including smaller learning communities, through the ninth-grade academies at the three high schools; faith-based mentoring; after school tutoring, parent seminars and several other programs.
Major partners of Graduate Florence are the S.C. Department of Education, the National Dropout Prevention Center, the Mayor’s Coalition to Prevent Juvenile Crime, BB&T and The School Foundation.
Published in The News Journal
May 26, 2010
School Foundation gives $101,703 in grants
Trisha Caulder, chair of the Grants Committee of The School Foundation’s Board of Directors (TSF) announced the foundation will distribute a total of $101,702.92 in grant awards to schools in Florence School District One (FSD1) for 2010 – 2011. The announcement was made at a reception for grant writers held at the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation Library on Tuesday, May 18. The Foundation voted to award four major grants, with amounts ranging from $10,000 to $42,000. Ten mini-grants were awarded, ranging from $463 to $500.
The Grants Committee reviewed 23 applications requesting a total of $356,678. Of the 15 applications for Mini-Grants (projects up to $500), 10 were funded for the upcoming year. The projects include such diverse projects as designing, building and flying model rockets; teaching math through the use of educational math games that engage, motivate, and make learning fun; and enhancing the American Revolution social studies lessons while integrating reading, music, physical education and science standards in interactive experiences. Of the 8 applications received in its Major Grants Category (projects of $10,000 or more), four applications were funded.
“We were delighted by the number of grant applications we received this year. These teachers spend endless hours researching and compiling data necessary to write these grants. Their students can only benefit by their hard work and dedication,” stated Trisha Caulder, Grants Committee Chair. Debbie Hyler, Executive Director of the Foundation said “I am excited that many of this year’s grants address the three learning styles: Visual, Auditory and Tactile/Kinesthetics. For effective teaching to reach each student, all three styles must be addressed.” Dr. Floyd Creech, who received $42,000 for his grant stated “The purpose of the Ready Children/Ready Schools/Ready Communities is a city wide campaign to assist children, parents, caregivers and business leaders as they support children’s school readiness. Primary activities of the campaign are Parenting Classes, Child Care Provider Training, School Readiness activities at local elementary schools, community and business support for children. A taskforce representing early childhood professionals from every area of Florence will lead and guide the campaign activities.”
This is the seventh year of funding for FSD1 by The School Foundation. To date, more than $517,906 in funds have been distributed by TSF to FSD1. The School Foundation promotes educational excellence in FSD1 through grants for innovative and high impact programs designed to benefit all children and is the largest K-12 public education endowment in the State of South Carolina.
For additional information, contact Debbie Hyler, Executive Director, at dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org or call (843) 662-9996 or visit their website @ www.theschoolfoundation.org.
Published in The News Journal
May 12, 2010
Community asked to honor teachers
Mayor Stephen J. Wukela, along with The School Foundation, proclaimed May as Teacher Appreciation Month during a press conference at West Florence High School last Thursday. The proclamation asks that all residents of the community join them in honoring the teachers of Florence School District 1 as well as teachers throughout the state. "I can remember the names of nearly every teacher that taught me throughout my years as a student in FSD1, said the mayor. "Each had an important impact on my life and deserves recognition as the professionals they are."
"Teaching is an honor. Teaching is a challenge, but when the parents, the community and especially our political leaders give their support, teaching is a pleasure!" stated Johnny Chard, Florence School District 1's District Teacher of the Year.
The School Foundation believes that great teachers make great schools. They are continuing this campaign to honor those special teachers who have made an impact on our lives. Visit the Foundation's website at www.theschoolfoundation.org/and print a donation card that can be personalized and returned to their office for distribution to the educator(s) you desire. Personalized comments will also be posted on their website and FaceBook page. Cards may be purchased at local banks and businesses.
"We would like to see the entire Florence community come together as a whole to show their appreciation to the educators in Florence School District 1," stated Debbie Hyler, executive director. "Most people remember a favorite teacher/educator who really touched their lives and this is the perfect opportunity to show your appreciation to that individual."
Business owners are encouraged to show their appreciation of FSD1 educators by displaying a thank-you slogan on their exterior sign during the month of May, and/or by offering educators a discount during Teacher Appreciation month.
For additional information, please call Mrs. Hyler at the Foundation's office (843) 662-9996.
Mayor Wukela addressing audience at Mayor Wukela thanking Jeff Helton, School
West Florence High School. Foundation Board Chairman, for the
Foundation's support of FSD1 teachers.
JohnnyChard, FSD1 Teacher of the Year
Published in The News Journal
May 6, 2010
Math Masters contest held at Delmae School
Approximately 60 third grade students from Florence School District 1 came together for a Math Masters of the Pee Dee competition last Thursday, April 29, from 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the cafeteria at Delmae Elementary School. There were 15 teams from approximately 12 different schools. During the competition, students were tested individually and as teams on specific math skills related to numbers and operations, geometry, measurement, data analysis and probability. Students used SMART Response Systems funded through a grant from The School Foundation. Each student was given a handset with buttons that corresponded with answer choices. As the teacher provided electronic standards-based problems, the students in turn were able to simultaneously use their handsets to record answers. The answers were tabulated through the system and reported back in seconds.
The grant, making collaboration among teachers and purchases of needed technology available, has had a direct impact on student achievement. Individual winners were Alice Lee (Briggs), first; Emily Cooper (Royall) second; and Logan Jenks (Greenwood) third. Team winners were first place:Group 11 (Fierce Factors)-Alice Lee (Briggs), Logan Jenks (Greenwood), Brillesa Felder (Lester), Kamryn Park (Timrod). Second Place: Group #8 (The Fireflies)-Micaela Jack (Greenwood), Jamie Parker (McLaurin), Reagan Dunnam (Royall), Madison McKimmey (Timrod). Third Place: Group 15 (The Math Squad), Jake Brandt (Briggs), Kaitlyn Cimney (Carver), Donta Shannon (North Vista) and Sam Tindall (Royall).
Debbie Hyler, Executive Director of The School Foundation, said, "It's also a great opportunity for students from different schools to come together. Each team has children from different schools, and this teaches them to work with one another." Delmae Instructional Coach Ginger Baggette applied last year for the funding. "So far it's gone really well. It's great for all of these students to reach across the lines and learn together," she said. Delmae Principal Roy Ann Jolley said, "I don't think there is any program that we have in place that better engages students or speaks to the reluctant learner who prior to the use of the systems would not have been an active participant in the class."
For additional information on The School Foundation, please visit their website at www.theschoolfoundation.org.
Ginger Baggette, Math Masters instructional coach, explains
to contestants how the SMART Response System works.
Published in The News Journal
January 20, 2010
Wachovia Wells Fargo makes gift to School Foundation
Florence, SC – The School Foundation recently received a $5,000 donation from the Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation.The funds will be used to promote educational excellence in Florence School District One through grants for innovative and high impact programs designed to benefit all children.
“We are honored that Wachovia Wells Fargo has chosen to support The School Foundation with this generous donation,” stated Debbie Hyler, Executive Director of the Foundation. “By supporting public education, they are investing in our children.Children are our nation’s future and their development affects us all.Our entire community benefits from their strong leadership.”
“Wachovia is extremely proud to have been a supporter of The School Foundation since its inception and see the tremendous growth in the organization with its positive impact on education in Florence,” stated John Bankson, Pee Dee Market President, Wachovia Bank, N.A.
The School Foundation, which supports all students in Florence School District One, is the largest endowment for any public K-12 school system in South Carolina.For additional information on the Foundation, please visit their website at www.theschoolfoundation.org.
Florence, SC – The School Foundation Board of Directors has approved $101,927 to be awarded to FSD1 educators in grants during the 2010 – 2011 school year. The Foundation is seeking grants that promote excellence in academic achievement, build community involvement, or encourage innovative leadership. In an effort to assist educators in preparing their grant applications, the Foundation is sponsoring a grant writing workshop for Florence School District One educators on Tuesday, January 12th. The workshop will be held in the West Florence High School Auditorium from 2:00 – 4:30pm. There is no cost for FSD1 educators.
Dr. Duane Rupert will be conducting the workshop. Dr. Rupert is a grant proposal writing and project evaluation consultant. His client base includes public schools, colleges, state agencies, and national organizations. He has presented grant writing workshops for several national organizations and has responded to dozens of very competitive grant programs with winning proposals.
“We are delighted that Dr. Rupert will be conducting our workshop again this year. His expertise is invaluable and I’m sure our educators will benefit greatly from his unlimited knowledge,” stated Debbie Hyler, the Foundation’s Executive Director. “With various state and federal economic stimulus monies available, the knowledge gained from this workshop will certainly benefit our educators if they apply for these grants as well.”
To sign up for the workshop, e-mail dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org. For additional information on the Foundation or to view the grant application packet, please visit www.theschoolfoundation.org.
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Debbie Hyler
The School Foundation
(843) 662-9996
dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org
www.theschoolfoundation.org
The School Foundation’s Major Grant Recipients attend SCATA Conference
Florence, SC- Math Masters of the Pee Dee team leaders recently attended the annual South Carolina Association of Title I Administrators (SCATA) conference, which was held in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Educators from Delmae Elementary School including Ginger Baggette (Instructional Coach), Melissa Marsik (3rd grade teacher), Lisa Young (4th grade teacher) and Carol Pinckney (4th grade teacher) attended the conference to make a presentation on the SMART Response system, which was funded by The School Foundation.
The Fall Professional Development Conference “A Passport to Learning”, was held October 27 – 30 at the Kingston Plantation. This is the first time a team from Delmae has been invited to the conference to make a presentation. Attracting education professionals from across the state, this was a big honor for the Delmae team, especially because only six presentations were given at this year’s conference.
Lisa Young stated, “As an educator, being able to network with other teachers and administrators in the state is an awesome opportunity and the SCATA conference allowed our district to share what we, Florence One and The School Foundation, are doing to meet the needs of our students. The event was top notch and Lorna McBride and the SCATA personnel are to be commended for such a fantastic conference.”
"The presentation to teachers, administrators, and district personnel went very well. Participants enjoyed being able to experience what students experience during the simulation, using the SMART Response systems. In addition, most were in awe of the data the systems could provide to teachers and administrators” stated Ginger Baggette.
Every year The School Foundation awards one major grant and several mini-grants. This year’s major grant winner will impact all of Florence District One’s third grade students through the use of SMART Response Systems that engage students and provide timely feedback to teachers. Every third grade will receive a handset that looks like a television remote.
SCATA was founded 42 years ago to promote the exchange of ideas on programs and activities in the various districts, communicate with other professionals, and encouraging priority students from South Carolina high schools to further their post high school education.
For additional information, please visit www.sctitle1.org or contact Debbie Hyler, Executive Director of the School Foundation at dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org or call the office at (843) 662-9996.
Letter to the Morning News Editor by Ed Love, School Foundation Board Member
Florence School District 1 Board gets praise for fiscal policies
Published: October 20, 2009
Dear Editor:
I write to recognize and applaud the efforts and dedication of the Florence School District One Board of Trustees and Superintendent Larry Jackson. In the past 10 years, our schools have seen a population increase of more than 2,200 students, yet not a single new facility. Rather, the district has been forced to teach our students in mobile units.
We all know about the Corridor of Shame that has become synonymous with schools along I-95 and the Dillon Public School System; however, what we in Florence fail to realize is the reality of our own corridor of shame.
The average age of our schools is 41 years, with seven of those facilities being more than 50 years of age. The school maintenance department functions as best it can, but when a ceiling caved in and the district was forced to pay $400,000 to repair it, as was the case in 2006, not much could have been done by the maintenance department.
Because of a very low debt load maintained by Florence 1 schools, the ability exists to pay for the schools as they are built. This approach equates to a real property tax increase of $52 for a homeowner with a $100,000 home, and it alleviates the need for general obligation bonds which would cost the taxpayers $100,000,000 more in interest than the pay-as-you-go approach recently considered by the board.
It is our responsibility as a community to ensure the integrity of the infrastructure for our public schools which will then cause economic prosperity. No longer should our children have to eat lunch at 10 a.m. because of overcrowded and inadequate facilities as they do at Delmae Elementary School. No longer should our children be forced to learn in facilities that are unsafe and not conducive to their educational needs. No longer should our hard working educators be forced to work in an environment that is inferior to the environments in which we work.
Because the Florence 1 Board’s request from the taxpayer is nominal, and because our board has a history of fiscal responsibility, not only do I approve of the plan for facility upgrades, but I also applaud the board for finding a way to provide funding for these improvements. I hope the rest of the community will support this effort which will benefit the 15,856 children in our schools.
Ed Love
Florence School District 1 Parent
Florence
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
October 13, 2009
Florence, SC –The School Foundation announces this year’s first meeting of the Council of Parent Leaders of Florence School District 1 on Tuesday, November 10th. The meeting will be held in the Carver Elementary multi-purpose room at 6:00pm. The Council represents members of the APT’s (Association of Parents and Teachers) and SIC’s (School Improvement Council) in each of the District’s 23 schools. The goal of the Council is to allow active members of the school community to create greater communication with and development of parent leaders within the school district.
With the creation of the Council of Parent Leaders, the Foundation has pledged to convene roundtable discussions; provide parent leaders with the opportunity to network with other parent leaders; develop a communication structure for parent leaders; arrange for the Council members to meet with FSD1 Superintendent Larry Jackson several times a year; and sponsor speakers of interest for parent leaders.
“The Council is a strong advocate for quality education in Florence School District One and I am looking forward to working with these parent leaders to enhance the educational opportunities our children receive throughout the school year,” stated Debbie Hyler, Executive Director of The School Foundation. “I truly believe that active and involved parents make a huge difference, not only in their children’s education, but in the community as a whole.”
The evening’s topic will be the newly acquired SMART response systems, as well as data driven instruction. The Foundation’s ’09-’10 major grant (Math Masters of the Pee Dee) is a program that will impact all of the district’s third grade classrooms through the use of these SMART response systems. Specifically, in each math class, students are given a student specific handset, or clicker, that resembles a remote. As the teacher provides electronic standards-based problems similar to those on state testing or in texts, students are in turn able to simultaneously use their handsets to record answers. The answers are tabulated through the system and reported back in seconds in ways that not only display student data but analyze it to give teachers information on each and every student’s strengths and weaknesses.
For additional information, contact Debbie Hyler, Executive Director of the School Foundation at dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org or call the office at (843) 662-9996.
Florence natives were truly able to reach for the stars
Thom Anderson
Published: October 4, 2009
A couple of Florence girls some years ago got jobs in Washington and left to reach for the stars, so to speak. They later found themselves knee deep in stars, but more about the stars later. Patsy Smith and Landess McCown finished college and came back to Florence, but they wanted to move on. “I knew I didn’t want to teach school,” McCown said. She asked her father, principal of McClenaghan High School, if he knew anyone in Washington. He did know Congressman John L. McMillan. After some conversation, the girls had jobs in Washington.
There were a couple of young men in the picture, McClenaghan classmate Charles Bagnal and Frank Kelso from Fayetteville, Tenn.
As it turned out, Bagnal was a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and Kelso a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. They wound up married, Bagnal to Smith and Kelso to McCown.
The other night, years later, the four were in town as Bagnal was recognized at the annual School Foundation Celebration Gala as Florence School District One Distinguished Graduate. He is also, I am confident, the highest ranking military officer ever to come out of Florence. Bagnal credits Ira Rainwater and Roy Graham, Florence men for whom he as a kid had great respect, with acquainting him with the possibilities of a West Point education.
Coming out of McClenaghan High School, he took the battery of exams for a possible appointment to the Military Academy and passed them. He was one of a those that McMillan appointed that year, and it came through in a funny way.
“I got a telegram on June 29 saying I had been accepted,” he said. It gave him instructions on what to bring with him and to be there on July 1. That made a rush job of grabbing a train out of Florence, getting another train from New York and winding up on the West Point campus on July 1.
Bagnal had known Patsy Smith and Landess McCown at MHS, and he says it took a little trickery to get Smith to go out with him. She apparently was reluctant, and he credits Laurence McIntosh with misleading her into the car with him. Anyway, it went well, and when the girls worked in Washington, Smith took weekend bus trips with a bunch of young women to West Point and spent time with Bagnal. McCown frequently went to nearby Annapolis to spend time with Kelso, the boy from Tennessee. When not going to West Point, Smith sometimes went to Annapolis with McCown to dances including midshipmen. Bagnal claims they paid admission for the privilege, but I’m not sure of that. The cadet and midshipman graduated and were commissioned about the same time, and the two couples quickly married, one wedding at West Point and the other in Florence and on the same day. Kelso said they have sometimes celebrated anniversaries together.
They weren’t sure about careers at first, but one found a home in the Army and the other a home in the Navy. And what homes they turned out to be. Bagnal became a lieutenant general and Kelso became an admiral. That was when the Florence girls found themselves knee deep in the stars that their husbands were wearing.
Bagnal, among a string of important assignments, served for several years as deputy superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy. His final assignment was as commander of U.S. Army forces in the Pacific with headquarters in Hawaii. After retirement in 1989, he got a law degree from the University of South Carolina and practiced law in Columbia for 10 years before retiring again. He and his wife, Patsy, now live in Columbia.
Kelso after commission went into the submarine service and moved up to become commander of the Atlantic Fleet. In the 1990s, he served as Chief of Naval Operations, a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Part of that time he was acting secretary of the navy. He is a little outnumbered by McClenaghan alimni when the four of them get together, but he said back in Tenneessee his wife is a lone MHS alumna.
When Bagnal was honored by School District 1 the other night, the Florence girls got together again with all of their stars.
Lt. Gen. Bagnal worthy of being local role model
MORNING NEWS Published: September 28, 2009
Lt. Gen. Charles W. Bagnal was hardly a household name in Florence before last week’s School Foundation gala at Florence Civic Center. Bagnal left Florence more than 55 years ago after graduating from McClenaghan High School in 1952. He graduated from West Point and earned a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from Georgia Tech. He served in Vietnam and was a decorated aviator who commanded all U.S. Army forces in the Pacific. And after retiring, he completed a law degree and practiced in Columbia for 10 years.
After being honored as a Distinguished Graduate from Florence School District 1, we hope Bagnal continues to be held high as a role model for students in every local school. The eternally optimistic Bagnal was an excellent choice for the honor because of his achievements, positive attitude and love for his hometown and state. “People ask me, ‘General, why are you so positive?’” he said. “I tell them, ‘Because I decided to be.’”
Those powerful words came from a beloved man who visited local history and ROTC classes while he was in town and impressed students, teachers and administrators with his knowledge, expertise and dedication. But beyond his wisdom, we were struck by Bagnal as the model for courage, bravery and dedication. He married the former Patsy Smith, a Florence woman he first met in the second grade, and he lived the life of a dedicated protector of America’s freedom around the world.
Bagnal’s world view brought a unique perspective in the speech he delivered to the crowd of 900 people at the event, which raised about $100,000 for the foundation.
As a warrior who studied World War II at West Point and fought in Vietnam, Bagnal knows about the preciousness of freedom. The Nazis and Japanese threatened the world when he was a boy in the 1930s and 1940s. Communists tried to undermine the American way of life in the 1960s and 1970s when he was raising his own family. Still, as difficult as it was to prevail in those battles, he said the threat of terrorism provides a new challenge.
“The war against terrorism is just as important as World War II,” Bagnal said. “And in some ways, it’s more important.” Bagnal believes military service is important in creating a strong America and patriotism. And after listening to him talk about the advantages of military discipline, it’s tough not to endorse a return to mandatory service.
Gen. Richard Myers, the former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff under President George W. Bush, came to honor Bagnal and said: “You could not find a better citizen in this country than Gen. Bagnal.” Bagnal’s path to success was built on strong morality and intense purpose. He knew how to develop a game plan and execute it.
The lesson for today’s students are immense. “It’s an honor to serve your country,” as Bagnal said Thursday night, “and that extends to community service, not just military service.” America’s future depends on finding dependable strategists and fighters like Gen. Bagnal.
This country faces daily security threats from terrorists, unstable governments (Iraq and North Korea) and zealous dictatorships (Hugo Chavez in Venezuela). Who will be there to answer the challenges? Better, smarter and more sophisticated students will make for a stronger America.
The School Foundation has raised more than $420,000 to date for programs in Florence School District 1 — innovative programs and teachers inspire students.
To see Bagnal return to Florence and accept this lifetime achievement award was inspiring as the general’s career itself. In the future, when Florence students hear his name, the legacy will be one of honor, pride and a strong example for all who follow.
District 1 honors alumnus Bagnal
By Conan Gasque
Published: September 24, 2009
Through nearly 40 years in the military, Charles Bagnal rose all the way to the rank of Lieutenant General. But his success started right here in Florence as a graduate of McCleneghan High School in 1952. Thursday night, it continued as he was named Florence School District 1’s most distinguished graduate for 2009. “It makes me feel very proud,” he said. “And I committed about 37 years of my life to the military, and I’m especially glad that they are recognizing the United States military.”
Bagnal was honored with the award by The School Foundation at its Gala on Thursday . The Gala is an event that raises money for grants in the district. “There are so many needs in the schools that money from the state just cannot cover everything that we need to have done,” said Debbie Hyler, executive director of the School Foundation. “And so we like to be able to provide innovative grants that are above and beyond what the district can fund.”
Hyler helped choose Bagnal as the distinguished graduate. She says School Foundation leaders chose him because he was the highest-ranking military officer who has graduated from a Florence 1 school. “What a role mode,” she said. “He was able to speak to all the high school ROTCs (Wednesday and Thursday), and you can’t find a finer role model.”
But Bagnal knows he wasn’t the only one qualified to be honored. “I had many other classmates from high school that went on to college and did exceptionally well,” he said. And he knows the money raised during Thursday’s Gala will lead many more Florence 1 students to success, as well.
The School Foundation hosts the event every year. For the price of a donation, leaders offer dinner and entertainment to those who attend.
About 900 people attended this year’s event. Organizers say they hoped to raise at least $100,000. Former Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers was the keynote speaker at the event.
Students, district, community benefit from The School Foundation
Morning News
Published: September 1, 2009
The School Foundation was created in 2000 with the idea of improving the quality of education in Florence School District 1. Local business leaders raised $1 million in seed to fund and support innovative ideas from school district employees. Through the generosity of its benefactors, students in the school district have benefitted from more than $420,000 in funding for innovative ideas with a clear mission: Promote excellence in the district through grants for innovative and broad-ranging programs.
The School Foundation has been such a success, it has grown into the largest K-12 public education endowment in the state. By creating extraordinary experiences for students, it has made a difference in handing out major and mini grants to teachers for everything from state-of-the-art SMART Response wireless remotes that help children with math to puppets for a creative Lester Elementary teacher to teach children theatrically about germs.
As groundbreaking and exciting as the work at The School Foundation might be, it must raise money beyond its $1 million perpetual fund to keep the momentum and inspiration going. On Sept, 24, former Chief of Staff Richard B. Myers will be the keynote speaker and Lt. Gen. Charles W. Bagnal, a Florence School District 1 graduate, will be the guest of honor at The School Foundation’s eighth annual gala at the Florence Civic Center. We encourage you to buy tickets by calling (843) 662-9996 because the energy behind The School Foundation represents the kind of energy and ingenuity we need in Florence. Economic development pros see The School Foundation as a positive resource when they talk about relocation possibilities with companies big and small.
The School Foundation’s executive director, Debbie Hyler, is a tireless advocate for better schools who helped create “Graduate Florence” in collaborating with school district personnel. “Graduate Florence” encourages students to stay in school and earn their high school diploma. The gala provides more than half of The School Foundation’s $200,000 yearly budget. More than $100,000 will be generated from ticket sales. Tickets range in price from $75 (for District 1 employees) and $100 for individuals to $1,000, $2,500 and $5,000 for corporate sponsorships.
We think Bagnal and Myers were good choices for special guests and know it will be a special treat for guests to meet them. Bagnal, a 1952 graduate of McClenaghan High School, is the highest-ranking military leader to come from Florence School District 1. He will be honored as the Distinguished Graduate in a program focused on a military theme.
Myers was the military’s highest-ranking military officer when he served in President George W. Bush’s administration. He took over shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America. He helped plan and execute the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Both are uniquely qualified to talk about achieving results and inspiring people with their stories of hard work and teamwork.
The foundation has been an effective partner with the school district, while maintaining its independence. Since it uses its money wisely in finding opportunities to reward good ideas, the gala deserves your support.
The School Foundation gets $35,000 BB&T donation
Published: August 25, 2009
FLORENCE — The School Foundation has received a $35,000 donation from BB&T. A portion of the funds will be used to sponsor the VIP Reception for a former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, who will speak at The School Foundation’s annual fundraising gala Sept. 24 in Florence.
Gen. Richard Myers, 67, will join in honoring Lt. Gen. Charles Bagnal at Florence Civic Center, The School Foundation Executive Director Debbie Hyler said. Bagnal, 75, grew up in Florence and graduated from McClenaghan High School in 1952.
The remaining funds will assist the foundation with its operating budget.
The School Foundation, which supports all students in Florence School District 1, is the largest endowment for any public K-12 school system in South Carolina. It promotes educational excellence in the district through grants for innovative and high impact programs designed to benefit all children.
“BB&T continues to be a dedicated community partner by supporting The School Foundation’s efforts,” Hyler said in a press release. “They recognize that a strong public school system helps the entire community. BB&T is definitely a strong leader in the Florence community and the entire community benefits from their efforts.”
Nearly 1,000 people are expected to attend the gala, which serves as the primary fundraiser for The School Foundation. Tickets begin at $75 for teachers and $100 for individuals. Tables of eight will go for $1,000 (bronze sponsorship), $2,500 (silver), $5,000 (gold) and $10,000 (platinum).
“Education is the most powerful weapon which can be used to change the world. It is also a fact that our community’s economic results are significantly impacted by the success of a single word. That word is education,” B. Frank James, senior vice president and city executive at BB&T, said in the release. “BB&T understands that our contribution to The School Foundation will not only promote the pathway to excellence in education, but also, contribute to the growth and well-being of the Florence community which BB&T serves.“
Tickets for the gala can be purchased by calling Hyler at (843) 662-9996 or by e-mailing dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org .
Volunteers, educators visit students who didn’t report to school
By Jamie Rogers
Morning News Reporter
Published: August 22, 2009
FLORENCE — Florence students who didn’t report to school this week likely had school teachers and volunteers show up at their homes Saturday. Smiling educators and volunteers met at Poynor Adult Education Center early Saturday and packed into private vehicles to reclaim the lost students. The event is called Opening Doors to the Future Day and is designed to improve students’ chances of having a successful life, Florence School District One spokeswoman Pam Little-McDaniel said.
Future Day is an initiative of Graduate Florence, a district-wide program designed to decreased the dropout rate.
Long-time educator Allie E. Brooks Jr. said the whole community benefits when a child goes to school, obtains an education and graduates.
That’s why volunteers went out and searched for those young people who didn’t show up for classes at the district’s middle and high schools. “Our responsibility is to go to that home, talk to that person and the parents and encourage them to come to school,” he said. This week, about 35 students did not report to schools in the district, Brooks said.
While that is still a concern to district officials, it is a notable decrease when compared to last year when as many as 118 students did not report to class during the the first week of school. Many volunteers who participated in a similar event held by the district last year noticed the decrease and viewed it as a sign of improvement. “Maybe they got the word this year that someone would be coming to their house early Saturday morning,” said Wallace James, a volunteer and Florence County Sheriff’s deputy.
Retired teacher Evelyn McIntosh-Jones said she proudly volunteered and was honored to be able to help children in some way. She read about last year’s effort and inquired about how she could get involved, McIntosh-Jones said. “I’m so excited to get young people back to school,” she said. “That’s the only way we can make progress ... to bring them back in school and to educate them.” McIntosh-Jones said she retired after teaching special education classes in the Philadelphia school system for 32 years. “It was time to retire, to give it up and to do some volunteer work,” she said. “I wanted to continue to work with young people so they can continue our legacy as educators.” Brooks, McIntosh-Jones and two other volunteers went to the home of a Wilson High School student who did not come to school this week.
Even though no one was at the residence, the volunteers left information about registering for school on the door. School officials will follow up with students who couldn’t be reached Saturday, Brooks said. If the student he called upon doesn’t want to return to Wilson, then he can talk about his other educational options with school officials, Brooks said.
If a student does decide to continue their education, trained specialists will work with the students to decide which programs would be best for them. Several options are available including homebound services, adult education, the teen parent program and computer-based education.
“All of these options are under the Graduate Florence umbrella. We’re working toward a goal of a graduation rate of 100 percent,” Florence School District One Superintendent Larry Jackson said in a press release.
Florence School District 1 seeks help to ‘open doors to future’
By Shireese Bell
Morning News Reporter
Published: August 6, 2009
Florence School District 1 is in need of volunteers to help with its “Opening Doors to the Future” campaign, a community outreach program designed to encourage youth to return to school after dropping out. “Opening Doors to the Future” is one component of the district’s Graduate Florence initiative. There are 16 projects that fall under the umbrella of Graduate Florence, which is being implemented with the support of community and school organizations.
The goal of the Graduate Florence is to increase the graduation rate by 5 percent during the next three years. Seventy-one percent of the district’s students graduate within four years. “Opening Doors to the Future” is a chance for schools and the community to connect with students who have not registered for high school or middle school within the first week of classes, according to the district.
The campaign is a partnership between Florence 1, The School Foundation, the state Department of Education, the National Dropout Prevention Center, the Mayor’s Coalition to Prevent Juvenile Crime, the Florence Police Department/Florence County Sheriff’s Office/S.C.Department of Juvenile Justice and BB&T. The campaign was launched last year and targeted high school students. Thirty-two students were registered for either high school or the district’s GED program. This year, the campaign has expanded to include students of Henry L. Sneed, Southside and Williams middle schools, Debbie Hyler, executive director of The School Foundation, said. Hyler said last year’s event was very successful and she hopes that a large number of volunteers will participate again this year. “I think it was great way for the community to get involved in supporting public education,” Hyler said. “I think that the volunteers who participated last year really got a lot out of it. “We hope that we’ll have a large number of volunteers and we appreciate the community involvement in this project,” she said.
On Aug. 22, a team of three or four volunteers will visit students who have not registered for school from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Students have a chance to register on site or at their home school the same day. Each team is made up of a law enforcement official, a high school educator, and at least one community volunteer. To become a volunteer, one must attend one of the training sessions at 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at Poynor Adult/Community Education Center, 301 S. Dargan St. A volunteer application can be found at Florence 1’s Web site, http://www.fsd1.org, or on The School Foundation’s Web site, http://www.theschoolfoundation.org.
For more information, contact Hyler at (843) 662-9996 or Jim Shaw, Florence 1’s coordinator of health and physical education, at (843) 673-1128.
On the Web
Florence School District 1, http://www.fsd1.org
The School Foundation, http://www.theschoolfoundation.org
Former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman to speak at gala
By James Bennett
Published: June 13, 2009
A former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman will speak at The School Foundation’s annual fundraising gala Sept. 24 in Florence.
Gen. Richard Myers, 67, will join in honoring Lt. Gen. Charles Bagnal at Florence Civic Center, said The School Foundation Executive Director Debbie Hyler.
Bagnal, 75, grew up in Florence and graduated from McClenaghan High School in 1952.
Myers was the military’s highest-ranking military officer when he served in President George W. Bush’s administration, taking charge shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. He helped plan and execute the 2003 invasion of Iraq and served in that role until 2005.
“We are honored that Gen. Myers will join us as we recognize Lt. Gen. Bagnal as our 2009 distinguished graduate,” Frank James, treasurer of The School Foundation, said. “Having the 15th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff serve as this year’s keynote speaker is a testament to Lt. Gen. Bagnal’s character and exemplary service to the military. This gala certainly will prove to be Florence’s premier event of the year.”
Nearly 1,000 people are expected to attend the gala, which serves as the primary fundraiser for The School Foundation. The foundation supports education in Florence School District 1.
Tickets begin at $75 for teachers and $100 for individuals. Tables of eight will go for $1,000 (bronze sponsorship), $2,500 (silver), $5,000 (gold) and $10,000 (platinum).
“The School Foundation gala is vital to our success as an organization,” fund development chairwoman Jean Leatherman said. “The dynamics of having almost 1,000 supporters in the Florence Civic Center, cheering for public education, is thrilling.
“Our children, teachers and faculty need that show of affirmation,” she said. “The financial support from this event and our wonderful contributors and corporate supporters are the core of our existence.”
Bagnal was chosen as the honoree because he rose to the highest rank in his military career of all Florence School District 1 alumni. Lieutenant general is the equivalent of a three-star general. Others who served in the military also will be honored.
Bagnal lives in Columbia with his wife, Patsy. The former Army aviator and Vietnam veteran is chairman of the West Point Society of Columbia.
BB&T will sponsor a VIP reception in Myers’ and Bagnal’s honor, Hyler said.
Tickets can be purchased by calling Hyler at (843) 662-9996 or by e-mailing dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org . They’re also available at http://www.theschoolfoundation.org.
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 27, 2009
Contact Debbie Hyler @ dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org or (843) 662-9996
THE SCHOOL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $54,000 IN GRANTS FOR 2009 - 2010
Major grants winners with Roy Anne Jolley (Principal of
Delmae Elementary) and Debbie Hyler, TSF Executive Director
Florence, SC – Trisha Caulder, Chair of the Grants Committee of the Board of Directors of The School Foundation (TSF) announced the Foundation will distribute a total of $54,198.20 in grant awards to schools in Florence School District One (FSD1) for 2009-2010. The announcement was made at a reception for grant writers held at the Drs. Bruce and Lee Library on Wednesday. The largest grant award of $50,000 was made to a group of teachers from Delmae Elementary School. The project entitled “Math Masters of the Pee Dee” is a program that will impact all third grade students in FSD1 through the use of Classroom Performance Systems (CPS) that engage students while providing timely feedback to educators. Specifically, in each math class, students are given a student specific handset, or clicker, that resembles a remote. These handsets have buttons that correspond with answer choices. As the teacher provides electronic standards-based problems similar to those on state testing or in texts, students in turn are able to simultaneously use their handsets to record answers. The answers are tabulated through the system and reported back in seconds in ways that not only display student data but analyze it to give teachers information on each and every student’s strengths and weaknesses. The technology will allow the educators to target specific small groups for remediation, re-teaching, or challenge.
The Grants Committee of the TSF Board of Directors reviewed 22 applications requesting a total of $365,687. Of the 14 applications for Mini-Grants (projects up to $500), 9 were funded for the upcoming year. The projects include such diverse projects as a project to enable students to respond to literature using flip video cameras to produce video productions; using temperature probes and easy link cables to perform mathematical experiments; and learning math by creating activities using gas pressure probes. The attached contains summaries of all projects funded and contact information for all grantees. Of the 8 applications received in its Major Grants category (projects of $10,000 or more), 1 application was funded.
“We were very excited by the number of applications received and the tremendous time, effort and research the teachers spent to compile these grant applications” stated Grants Committee Chair Trisha Caulder. Debbie Hyler, Executive Director of TSF said “It is exciting to see the dedication teachers in FSD1 have for their students. Our students can only excel from the innovation and creativity displayed by these teachers who are committed to helping their students excel.” Jeff Helton, Board Chairman stated “Math Masters took it to the next level by submitting data to support their position. This was actual data from their classrooms, not data from others’ research. They show how this program can be expanded throughout FSD1 and we feel this will truly benefit the students by increasing their math skills as well as test scores. We congratulate the Math Masters team and thank all the others for taking the time to prepare their presentations. We look forward to continuing our work with FSD1 to make this and all the programs a success and encourage the community to get involved as well.”
This is the sixth year of funding for FSD1 by The School Foundation. To date, more than $391,000 in funds have been distributed by TSF to FSD1. The School Foundation is the largest K-12 public education endowment in the State of South Carolina.
3 Florence 1 students earn mechatronics certification
By Shireese Bell
Morning News Reporter
Published: May 28, 2009
FLORENCE — Three students from Florence School District 1’s Florence Career Center are the first to receive certification in the Mechatronics Core Curricular from the National Center for Construction Education and Research. Jason Zheng and Rajagh Harrison, both of South Florence High School, as well as Sheldon Ford, a student at Wilson High School, all have been certified in the areas of safety, hand tools, power tools, blueprints, rigging, communications and job seeking skills, said Jim Johnson, a mechatronics instructor at the center. Students received a diploma, a certification card and transcript after completing eight written and hands-on exams. The certification is a voluntary process and doesn’t impact the students’ grade for the course, Johnson said. The mechatronics curriculum uses specialized equipment to enhance instruction in electrical wiring, circuit breakers and fuses, hydraulics, pneumatics, robotics, electrical blueprints and other topics.
Zheng, who was the captain of Florence 1’s Florence Technomancers robotics team, said the mechatronics course is more than just an average high school course. He said the skills he learned in the class not only helped him on the robotics team but helped him prepare for a career in engineering. “You learn it and you actually get to use it,” Zheng said. “That’s the fun part as opposed to a lot of other high school courses that you take.” Zheng said obtaining the certification was just a natural step in his progression to become an engineer. “It’s like a bonus,” he said. “It doesn’t hurt to have it. It’s just something we decided to do.”
Zheng is a senior and has plans to attend Clemson University to major in mechanical engineering. He has also attends Florence-Darlington Technical College through its dual-credit program. Both Ford and Harrison agreed the certification will help give them an edge when seeking future employment. “I knew it would be good to get certified,” Ford said. Ford said he enjoyed the mechatronics course, especially lessons on CNC machining. Ford, a 2009 graduate, will attend Clemson University to major in computer engineering. He was also a member of the district’s robotics team.
Harrison said the mechatronics course exposed him to the field of robotics and helped increase his curiosity for wiring and electricity. With the certification, Harrison said he thinks he could get a better paying job than if he just took the course.
Harrison is a rising senior and has plans to major in electrical engineering at either the University of South Carolina or the University of Miami.
The National Center for Construction Education and Research is a not-for-profit education foundation created to develop industry-driven standardized craft training programs with portable credentials and help address the critical work force shortage facing the construction industry, according to its Web site, http://www.nccer.org.
On the Web
Florence Career Center, http://www.fsd1.org/careercenter
The National Center for Construction Education and Research, http://www.nccer.org
Rajagh Harrison, at back, smiles as teacher Jim Johnson helps students in the electricity/mechatronics class study for final exams during class Wednesday at Florence Career Center. Harrison is one of three students to receive Mechatronics Core Curricular Certification from the National Center for Construction Education and Research.
Foundation seeks to honor teachers
By Shireese Bell
Morning News Reporter
Published: May 5, 2009
This week is National Teacher Appreciation Week, and The School Foundation is calling for the community’s support in honoring local educators and acknowledging the contributions they make in one’s life. Debbie Hyler, executive director of The School Foundation, said the foundation believes that great teachers make great schools and that this one way to show their appreciation for the dedication and service of educators. “We would like to see the entire Florence community come together as a whole to show their appreciation to the educators in Florence School District 1,” Hyler said. “Most people remember a favorite teacher or educator who really touched their lives and this is the perfect opportunity to show your appreciation to that individual.”
The School Foundation has created a donation form where one can pledge a minimum of $10 in honor of their favorite teacher. All pledges are tax-deductible. Note cards that can be personalized also are available for one to write comments about the teacher who made a difference. Both cards can be found on the foundation’s Web site, http://www.theschoolfoundation.org. Comments from the note cards will be posted to the Web site and delivered to the educators. Donation forms and note cards can be returned to The School Foundation, 320 W. Cheves St., Suite 175, Florence, SC 29501. Cards can also be purchased at local banks and businesses, Hyler said.
In addition to community recognition, Florence 1 also honored its teachers as well as others in the district that were recognized on the state and national levels. Florence 1 had its 6th annual Honors and Awards Program at Francis Marion University Tuesday, which was Teacher Appreciation Day. The banquet recognizes Teachers of the Year, Honor Roll Teachers, the District Teacher of the Year, National Board Certified Teachers, as well as any grant recipients, state and national award winners, and anyone who have published articles during the 2008-09 school year. Outstanding school achievements also will be recognized. This year’s guest speaker was Jenna Hallman, South Carolina’s State Teacher of the Year for 2008-09. Hallman is a science specialist at Calhoun Academy of the Arts in Anderson.
On the Web
The School Foundation, http://www.theschoolfoundation.org
Florence School District 1, http://www.fsd1.org
National Education Association, http://www.nea.org
Monster gives $5,000 to The School Foundation
From local reports
Published: April 2, 2009
The School Foundation recently received a $5,000 donation from Monster Worldwide Inc., the parent company of Monster, an online job recruitment and careers resource. The funds will be used to enrich LEAP (Florence School District 1’s Language Enrichment Acceleration Program), a pilot program founded in 2005 which originally supported intensive reading programs for all first-graders in three district elementary schools. Because of its success, all elementary schools in the district have implemented the program. LEAP is the first grant given by The School Foundation.
Monster announced in late June it plans to invest $28 million and create 750 jobs over five years through its new customer service center in Florence. Officials from Monster and local dignitaries gathered Dec. 2 to break ground for the center at Pee Dee Electric Cooperative’s Touchstone Energy Commerce City.
The School Foundation promotes educational excellence in Florence School District 1 through grants for innovative and high impact programs designed to benefit all children. For more information, contact Debbie Hyler at dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org or (843) 662-9996 or visit the foundation’s Web site at http://www.theschoolfoundation.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2009
Contact Debbie Hyler @ dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org or (843) 662-9996
PRESS RELEASE
THE SCHOOL FOUNDATION RECEIVES $5,000 DONATION FROM MONSTER WORLDWIDE
Florence, SC -- The School Foundation recently received a $5,000 donation from Monster Worldwide, Inc., the parent company of Monster, the premier global online employment solution. The funds will be used to enrich LEAP (Florence School District One’s Language Enrichment Acceleration Program), a pilot program founded in 2005, which originally supported intensive reading programs for all first graders in three district elementary schools. Because of its success, all elementary schools in the district have implemented the program.LEAP is the first grant given by The School Foundation.
“We are very excited and honored that Monster has chosen to support The School Foundation and Florence School District One with this generous donation” stated Debbie Hyler, executive director of The School Foundation.“Monster is a valuable addition to our community and we are delighted they are so supportive of our district and the 16,000 students it serves.”
“Reading provides the academic foundation critical to a student’s success,” said Vic Burgess, Monster’s director of Customer Service. “We are pleased to join The School Foundation in ensuring every elementary student in Florence has the opportunity to develop this important skill.”
The School Foundation promotes educational excellence in Florence, S.C.School District One through grants for innovative and high impact programs designed to benefit all children.For more information, please contact Debbie Hyler at dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org/(843) 662-9996 or visit their website at www.theschoolfoundation.org.
About Monster Worldwide
Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: MWW), parent company of Monster, the premier global online employment solution for more than a decade, strives to inspire people to improve their lives. With a local presence in key markets in North America, Europe, and Asia, Monster works for everyone by connecting employers with quality job seekers at all levels and by providing personalized career advice to consumers globally. Through online media sites and services, Monster delivers vast, highly targeted audiences to advertisers. Monster Worldwide is a member of the S&P 500 index. To learn more about Monster's industry-leading products and services, visit www.monster.com. More information about Monster Worldwide is available at http://corporate.monster.com.
Vic Burgess (right) presents check to Debbie Hyler (center) and Larry Jackson, FSD1 Superintendent (left)
By Shireese Bell
Morning News Reporter
Published: March 25, 2009
The Florence Area Stay at Home Moms as well as Florence Mayor Stephen J. Wukela and his wife, Laura, will host a fundraiser event to benefit The School Foundation. Mom Prom, a night where adults can dress up, dance and enjoy good food and entertainment, will begin at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Wukelas’ home. The black-tie optional event is for invited guests only. Any donations from those who attend the event will be donated to The School Foundation.
Laura Wukela, who is a member of the Florence Area Stay at Home Moms organization, said she wanted to make this year’s event a night where guests could have fun and contribute to the schools in Florence School District 1. “We’re young mothers (and) we have children who are entering the public school system, or who are currently in the public school system,” Wukela said. “There was no better choice than to give the money that we raise to The School Foundation. “They strive for excellence in Florence School District 1, where all of our children will attend or are already there,” she said. “I know The School Foundation will have good ideas about how to use that money especially since there have been so many budget cuts in the public education system.”
The School Foundation’s mission is to promote educational excellence in Florence 1 through grants for innovative and high impact programs designed to benefit all children, according to its Web site http://www.theschoolfoundation.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Debbie Hyler @ dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org or (843) 662-9996
March 31, 2009
PRESS RELEASE
’09-’10 GRANT APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE
The School Foundation is accepting applications from Florence School District One educators for the 2009-2010 grant cycle. The Foundation will consider funding grants that promote excellence in academic achievement, build community involvement, or encourage innovative leadership.
The School Foundation has partnered with Florence School District One in an effort to determine key drivers for educational success. They contracted with the Strom Thurmond Institute of Government and Public Affairs at Clemson University to provide a Needs Assessment that would guide the Foundation’s grant-making over the coming years so the Foundation can provide funding where it has the potential to make the greatest impact on student success. “Determining key drivers for educational success is vital to our district’s growth, so we are proud to have been a part of this process” stated Debbie Hyler, Executive Director of The School Foundation. “Identifying these drivers will allow us to focus on areas where our grant dollars can have the most impact”.
A total of $55,000 has been allocated to pay for grants approved by the Foundation’s Grants Committee; $50,000 for Major grants (>$10,000) and $5,000 for Mini-grants ($200-$500). Major grants should seek to have a broad impact across the entire school district and help prepare students for success in a worldwide economy. Mini-grants should seek to bring innovative learning opportunities into individual classrooms. In general, high value criteria include innovation, creativity, educational value, student involvement, and project director commitment. Additionally, those applications that clearly and concisely describe the project and anticipate positive benefits for students in the form of achievement, motivation and character development will be favored during the evaluation process.
The School Foundation’s Grants Committee will evaluate the applications and make a recommendation to the Foundation’s board of directors. The review process will take approximately thirty (30) days. The Foundation will notify the grant recipients by letter shortly thereafter.
Each applicant must submit the original grant plus nine (9) copies. Applications are available on the Foundation’s website, www.theschoolfoundation.org, and the district’s website, www.fsd1.org. Completed applications for Major grants should be received in the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction’s Office at 319 South Dargan Street, Florence, SC. Mini-grant applications should be received at the Office of The School Foundation, 320 West Cheves Street, Suite 175, Florence, SC. All grants must be received on or before 4:00pm on April 24, 2009.
For additional information, contact Debbie Hyler at The School Foundation (dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org) or call (843) 662-9996.
Event raises awareness of education petition
By Shireese Bell
Morning News Reporter
Published: March 5, 2009
Shame, hard work, hope, change and inspiring are the words that rang loud and clear from those who came out Thursday to learn about the “Goodbye Minimally Adequate” petition, an effort urging a constitutional amendment to require high-quality schools in the state. The event, which was held in West Florence High School’s auditorium, was aimed at educating the community about the need for high-quality education in South Carolina and the urgency to address a “flawed educational system” in order to give the state’s poorest children a louder voice.
The program began with a viewing of the documentary “Corridor of Shame: The Neglect of South Carolina’s Rural Schools,” which chronicles the conditions of some of the state’s most rural school districts and the battle for equal funding for all students. Bud Ferillo, producer and director of the “Corridor of Shame,” said the film was a “heroic story of the courage of 36 school districts” that were fighting for equal funding through the Abbeville County School District et al. v. The State of South Carolina.
“This was a special opportunity to tell a story to America,” Ferillo said. “We had no idea at the time that it would catch fire and become an emblem for the conditions of schools and rural America in the way that it has.” Ferillo said the formulas to fund schools are “almost indecipherable to financial experts” and that what’s “happening in rural communities of America, is not acceptable in 21st century America.” He said the fight for equal funding and high-quality education isn’t over and that people in the community can make a difference by signing the “Goodbye Minimally Adequate” petition. A million signatures is the goal, he said. Legislation to change the state constitution from “minimally adequate” to “high-quality” must be passed by a two-thirds vote of the Senate and House of Representatives in order to put the amendment on the general election ballot for public vote in November 2010.
Benton Wise, a senior at West Florence and founder of the student organization S.C. Advocates for Rural Education (project SCARE), said he hoped those who attended the event sign the petition in order to help make a difference in education. Wise said he hopes everyone learns it will take a great deal of hard work to make a difference in the education. “... don’t let it rest,” Wise said. “This is your responsibility as a citizen of South Carolina.”
After the documentary, a panel discussion was held addressing the advancement of public education in the state. Florence 1 Superintendent Larry Jackson said the conditions of the state’s rural schools didn’t happen overnight. “We can’t use the economy as an excuse for why we are where we are,” Jackson said. “We sat and (did) nothing. “The funding system in this state has been inherently broken for a long time,” he said. “I think it’s a travesty that a child’s education is determined by a plot of land by which their parents happen to live on. We (should) be embarrassed by it. “Slavery was the South’s greatest shame 200 years ago. The lack of appropriate educational funding is now our new shame.”
The event also was sponsored by The School Foundation.
By Shireese Bell
Morning News Reporter
Published: February 27, 2009
S.C. Advocates for Rural Education (project SCARE), a student organization founded by West Florence High School senior Benton Wise, and The School Foundation is inviting the public to learn about the “Goodbye Minimally Adequate” petition, an effort urging a constitutional amendment to require high-quality schools in the state.
The event will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at West Florence High School Auditorium, 221 N. Beltline Drive, Florence.
There will be a screening of the documentary “Corridor of Shame: The Neglect of South Carolina’s Rural Schools” preceding a panel discussion addressing the advancement of public education in the state. Panelists include Bud Ferillo, producer and director of the “Corridor of Shame,” Jena Hallman, the state’s 2009 Teacher of the Year, as well as Florence School District 1 Superintendent Larry Jackson and Angela Slagle Huggins, principal of Rains-Centenary Elementary School in Marion School District 7.
Wise, a Marion native, established project SCARE in 2008 after attending the Emerging Public Leaders summer program at the Riley Institute at Furman University. Wise said those who attended the program were charged with creating a local community service project. He said he wanted his project to focus on the students of the documentary and that he has been working since September to bring attention to their plight. Wise said he hopes those who attend Thursday’s event will leave inspired to make a change in their communities.
“I hope that their eyes will be open to the horrible conditions that South Carolina children have to face every day whenever they go to school,” he said. “I hope that they will be inspired to go back to their own communities and spread the word, and make a collective effort to right this wrong by circulating a ‘Goodbye Minimally Adequate’ petition.”
Debbie Hyler, executive director of The School Foundation, said she wanted to co-sponsor the event because people needed to be made aware of what’s going on in public education. “Even though the ‘Corridor of Shame’ does not have any Florence School District 1 schools in it, it’s our backyard,” Hyler said. “It’s our state and I just think that the times now really suggest that people pay more attention to public education. “To me, it’s just one of the foundations for our whole society,” she said. “It (education) belongs to the people and I think people need to be aware of what’s going on.”
For more information on Thursday’s event, contact Hyler, at (843) 662-9996 or dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org.
IF YOU’RE GOING
WHAT: Awareness event for the “Goodbye Minimally Adequate” petition sponsored by S.C. Advocates for Rural Education (project SCARE) and The School Foundation
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday
WHERE: West Florence High School Auditorium, 221 N. Beltline Drive, Florence
INFO: Contact Debbie Hyler, at (843) 662-9996 or dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 2, 2009
Contact: Debbie Hyler @ dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org or (843) 662-9996
The School Foundation Joins National Network of Nonprofit Organizations Working to Ensure a Quality Public Education for All Children
Florence, South Carolina) – Signaling its commitment to improve public education for all children in Florence School District One, The School Foundation today announced that it has joined Public Education Network (PEN), the nation’s largest association of community-based organizations working to ensure that all children benefit from a quality public education. The School Foundation joins 81 other local education funds in 34 states including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and 5 countries Peru, Mexico, the Philippines, Tanzania and South Africa that operate in unique partnership with their public schools and their communities.
“Our membership in this national network will help us as we pursue our strategies to improve our local public schools for all children in Florence,” said Debbie Hyler, Executive Director of The School Foundation. “We’ll certainly learn from the experiences of diverse communities throughout the nation.”
Public Education Network is dedicated to improving public school quality for all children, but especially for those in low-income communities nationwide. “Our members help the public understand that each and every one of us is responsible for the quality of public education in our communities,” said Wendy D. Puriefoy, president of Public Education Network. “Organizations like The School Foundation play a critical role in helping the public act on their responsibility by promoting strategies that lead to increased student achievement, so that every child, and every community, gains the benefits of quality public education.”
“Strengthening our schools is the responsibility of our entire community,” Jeff Helton, Chairman of The School Foundation board said. “Here in Florence, community-based organizations, the school district, teachers, students, families, and the business community must work together to ensure a quality system of education for all our students.”
About The School Foundation
The School Foundation promotes educational excellence in Florence, S.C.School District One through grants and innovative and high impact programs designed to benefit all children.
About Public Education Network
Public Education Network (PEN) is a national association of local education funds (LEFs) and individuals working to advance public school reform in low-income communities across our country. Our network of LEFs operates in 32 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, serving 11 million students—that’s 22 percent of America’s public school population—in 16,000 schools in more than 1,600 school districts in low-income areas. In addition, PEN's international affiliates serve over 7,000,000 children in Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Tanzania and South Africa.
PEN seeks to build public demand and mobilize resources for quality public education for all children. PEN believes community engagement is the missing ingredient in school reform, and that the level of public involvement ultimately determines the quality of education provided by public schools.
For more information on PEN and the work of local education funds across the country, visit www.PublicEducation.org or call PEN at 202-628-7460.
For more information on The School Foundation, visit www.theschoolfoundation.org or call 843-662-9996.
Florence 1 parent council to meet on school budget
From local reports
Published: February 6, 2009
The Council of Parent Leaders of Florence School District 1 will meet Tuesday to discuss the district’s school budget, among other topics. The meeting, sponsored by The School Foundation, is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in room 2A of Poynor Adult/Community Education Center, 301 S. Dargan St., Florence.
Florence 1 Superintendent Larry Jackson and Luther Rabon, the district’s chief financial officer, will discuss budget concerns for the district. Debbie Hyler, Executive Director of The School Foundation, also will discuss The School Foundation’s Online Community and introduce those who attend the meeting to the council online discussion group.
Snacks and light refreshments will be served. To RSVP, call Hyler at (843) 662-9996 or e-mail her at dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org .
Educators visit homes to help bring students back to school
By Jamie Rogers
Morning News Reporter
Published: August 23, 2008
FLORENCE —More than 100 students that didn’t show up for class at three area high schools ended up having school teachers and administrators show up on their doorsteps Saturday.
Florence School District 1 educators didn’t show up at student’s doors to question them about their whereabouts but to encourage them to finish their education, said Fred Elmore, a West Florence High School math teacher. Elmore, along with other volunteers, visited the homes of about 118 students as part of the Graduate Florence, Opening Doors to the Future Day.
Graduate Florence, a district-wide initiative designed to lower the dropout rate, was implemented this year by Florence School District One superintendent Larry Jackson.
Currently, 7 out of 10 students in the district graduate — and that number is unacceptable to some.
This is why volunteers took a direct, face-to-face approach to let students know they cared.
Volunteer teams set out Saturday morning with registration paperwork in tow so students could be fast-tracked back into school. Volunteers were placed in several car groups and given the names and a
addresses of students who had not registered for school.
“We came this morning because we missed you, and we want you to come back,” West Florence High teacher Johanne Gibson said as she stood at the door of one student.
Gibson, Elmore and their teammates were given the assignment to find and encourage three West Florence students who hadn’t showed up for the first week of classes.
Two were already enrolled in other schools while the other was planning on coming back after completing a stint in alternative school.
“I think it was successful. I think we are getting the word out in the community ... District 1 does want these kids in school, and we will do whatever we have to to enrolled them and get them back,” Gibson said.
Students drop out for many reasons, but those reasons don’t really matter, Elmore said.
“The reason they’re not there is small— the important thing is what can we do to get you back,” he said. “When you ask ‘why,’ there’s that opportunity to become judgmental and make them feel lessened in some way.”
Sometimes it’s not even the student’s choice not to be in school, Gibson said.
West Florence High Assistant Principal Mark Fraiser said he encountered a student with those circumstances Saturday.
“ ... They had one check coming in the house. She was about to be evicted, but (the child’s) mother managed to raise the money and pay the rent for that month,” Fraiser said. “The child is not in school because the child doesn’t have any clothes ... the mother said she was praying, and she was asking God what to do.”
Fraiser said the group managed to get the child registered for ninth grade and made arrangements for clothing and supplies through his fraternity.
Most students in the district drop out in the ninth grade, Elmore said.
“When you first think about it, it seemed awfully strange that they would dropout that young, but in a ninth grader’s mind (they’re saying), ‘Oh, I’ve got to go four more years,’ and they’ve already been frustrated with school for some reason.”
A dropout’s annual salary is $9,200 less than that of a high school graduate, and dropouts cost the public $24 billion annually in crime and welfare benefits, Jackson said.
Additionally, recruiting new businesses to the area is easier when there is an educated work force there to greet them, said B. Frank James, a Graduate Florence volunteer and senior vice president of BB&T.
“The moral fiber of the community would be so much better ... So many more doors are opened with an education,” James said.
James said understands not everybody is designed to be a college graduate but that some residents might have other fruitful ambitions. That’s why schools need vocational programs, he said.
“Schools should provide something that is of interest to the kid, something that motivates him to return to school,” James said.
Graduate Florence is a partnership with the School Foundation, the S.C. Department of Education, the National Dropout Prevention Center, and the Mayor’s Coalition to Prevent Juvenile Crime.
For additional information, click here to view A Look at What's Happening this week in Florence School District One for the week of August 25, 2008.
Thumbs up to Honda of South Carolina Manufacturing, Inc.
Debbie Hyler, Executive Director of The School Foundation, gives a thumbs up to Honda of South Carolina Manufacturing, Inc. for giving $25,000 to the foundation on July 10 as part of Honda's 10th anniversary celebration. Honda also gave the same amount to Florence School District 4 and the Timmonsville Public Library. The donation to the foundation isn't designated for a specific program, Hyler said. Some of it will help the foundation's grants program for Florence School District 1. The School Foundation, which supports all students who attend public school in Florence School District 1, is the largest endowment for any public K-12 school system in South Carolina. The money raised by the foundation doesn't go toward normal district operating expenses; rather, it targets student academic achievement and good citizenship, teacher quality, school safety and district leadership and impacts quality through grants of $10,000 or more. "Honda continues to be a dedicated community partner by supporting The School Foundation's efforts to promote educational excellence in Florence School District 1," Hyler wrote. "They recognize that a strong public school system helps the entire community by both preparing students for the work force and attracting new industries to the area."
Florence One Superintendent on a mission to re-claim and graduate dropouts
Education News
FlorenceSchool District One
319 South Dargan Street
Florence, SC29506Contact:Pam Little-McDaniel
Director of Public Information
(843) 669-4141
For Release:July 28, 2008
Re:Jackson:Let’s Open Doors to the Future and Graduate Florence;
Florence One Superintendent on a Mission to Re-Claim and Graduate Dropouts
Florence School District One Superintendent Larry Jackson unveiled plans to decrease the dropout rate in Florence Schools.On Monday, he outlined the details of what he called Graduate Florence.
According to Jackson, the graduation rate in Florence One directly correlates to economic development in the greater Florence community. “Empty desks that are vacant belonging to students who have dropped out have an adverse affect on the community.” Jackson said, “I want Florence to be aware that a dropout’s annual salary is $9,200 less than that of a high school graduate; that nationally, dropouts cost the public $24 billion annually in crime and welfare benefits; and that recruiting new businesses in Florence is easer with an educated population base.”
Jackson said for these reasons, he is committed to a one-day outreach event where volunteers will literally knock on doors and encourage its high school dropouts to return to school. He said Graduate Florence is designed to improve the students’ chances of having a successful life; educate the community about the impact dropouts have; reduce the social and economic impact of dropouts; enhance economic development; and increase the graduation rate.
He called the one-day outreach event of Graduate Florence,Opening Doors to the Future Day, which he announced will be held on Saturday, August 23rd beginning at 8:00 a.m. when all three high schools will be open. Jackson said on that date phone calls will be made to homes of a listing of eligible students (dropouts); the dropouts will be visited and invited by volunteers to return to school.
“We’ll be ready to go door to door and welcome the students back to school with open arms,” said Jackson.“If the students agree to re-enroll, on-the-spot transportation will be provided to any one of our three high schools: South Florence, West Florence or Wilson.”
Jackson said that when the students arrive at the high schools, they will be greeted by specialists who will direct them to begin to re-open the doors to their future.According to Jackson the idea of the door-to-door invitation of dropouts to return to school has received the attention of State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex who has indicated that if his schedule permits, he plans to visit Florence and join Jackson and the volunteers who will participate in the one-day outreach event on the 23rd.
“The plan makes perfect economic sense,” said Jackson. “Students who graduate have better earning potential, become contributing members of society, and improve their own personal health and longevity.”
When asked about the difficulty some students may have in returning to school, Jackson said, “We do understand that educating many of our students who have dropped out is going to take some special effort on our part to meet their needs and for these students, we are prepared.”He said the trained specialists will work with the students to decide which programs would be best for them. He pointed to several options that will be offered to the students on Opening the Doors to the Future Day including:Homebound services; Adult education; The teen parent program; Virtual learning (computer based education).
“Our goal is to drastically decrease the dropout rate. The latest South Carolina Annual School Report Card indicates that Florence One’s graduation rate is 68.5% with comparable districts graduating students at a rate of 72.9%. “We’re working toward a goal of a graduation rate of 100%,” said Jackson.“All students should graduate!”
He said school faculty and staff members are working hard to ensure that students do not drop out of school by providing smaller communities (through the 9th grade academies at the three high schools); faith based mentoring; after school tutoring, parent seminars and several other programs.
According to Jackson, major partners of Graduate Florence are the South Carolina Department of Education, the NationalDropoutPreventionCenter, the Mayor’s Coalition to Prevent Juvenile Crime, and The School Foundation. He said persons who wish to volunteer to participate in reclaiming students on Opening Doors to the Future Day on August 23rd should call Debbie Hyler at 662-9996 or Jim Shaw at 673-1128 or visit the websites at www.fsd1.org or www.theschoolfoundation.org. Volunteer training for the “Opening Doors to the Future Day” will be held on August 12th and 14th at 6:00 p.m. at the PoynorBuilding, located at 301 South Dargan Street. Volunteers may attend either session. To download the Opening Doors to the Future Volunteer Information sign-up sheet, click here.
The School Foundation Broadens Outreach with Newly-Formed Council of Parent Leaders of Florence School District 1
School Group Aims For Better Links Between Parents
Parents, teachers and principals of Florence School District 1 recently attended the inaugural meeting of the Council of Parent Leaders of Florence School District 1 for an opportunity to network and develop stronger communicational ties among parent leaders.
The School Foundation announced the formation of the council, which represents members of the Association of Parents and Teachers (APT) and School Improvement Council (SIC) in each of the district’s 23 schools.
Debbie Hyler, executive director of The School Foundation, said the council’s goal is to allow active members of the school community to create greater communication with and development of parent leaders within the district.
Hyler said The School Foundation will convene roundtable discussions; provide parent leaders with the opportunity to network with other parent leaders; develop a communication structure for parent leaders; arrange for the council members to meet with Florence School District 1 Superintendent Larry Jackson several times a year; and sponsor speakers of interest.
The council’s first meeting was held Tuesday at the Poynor Adult/Community Education Center and featured Charles “Chuck” J. Saylors, the 2007-09 national president-elect of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), as the group’s first guest speaker.
Saylors is the group’s first male national president-elect.
“I’m very pleased (with the attendance),” Hyler said. “You could feel the energy in the room by the end of the night.
Saylors discussed best practices in parent organizations, Hyler said. Saylors highlighted four areas: finance, programs, membership and communications.
He also discussed the importance of involving men in these parent organizations.
Tom Snider, 2008-09 president of Carver Elementary School’s APT, said the council’s formation will help parent organizations become better.
“The more ideas you get together with other people, the more you can put together and maybe build something better,” Snider said. “It was a great thing.”
Hyler said the meetings will be held quarterly, and she will survey participants to get information on future topics and possible meeting dates.
For more details on the council, contact Hyler at (843) 662-9996 or dhyler@theschool foundation.org
From The Executive Director....
This past year has been a successful one for The School Foundation.I hope you will take a few moments to review our Annual Report.It is encouraging to see the support of many businesses and individuals who have partnered with us this year for the first time either as a donor or a volunteer.
Some of the most satisfying experiences this year were interactions with students and teachers.In addition to the grant funds provided for the FlorenceCareerCenter’s Mechatronics curriculum and equipment, we were able to arrange for them to tour Wellman, Inc.For perhaps the first time, students were able to see real career opportunities, and how the skills they are learning in the Mechatronics class are relevant in today’s competitive workplace.This valuable experience energized the students!
Time was also spent time at the CareerCenter with students benefiting from The Foundation’s support of the Health Science curriculum.The students are thriving in this environment, which, with much of the necessary equipment and supplies, provides a rich, hands-on learning experience.These students are excited about making a difference in the lives of others by becoming health care professionals!
We encourage you to capture some of our excitement and to become involved with educating the future workers of Florence!We look forward to partnering with you in the coming year.By bringing the business and education communities together to become actively involved with public education, each of us can make a dynamic difference in the education of the students of FlorenceSchool District 1!
Best Wishes,
Debbie Hyler
Southside iMac Update
Students continue learning iMac Technology...December, 2007
Drama I students are producing commercials for products that don’t exist. Students write, videotape, and then edit the commercials on the iMac. Copies of the commercials will be burned to DVD for each member of the group using the iMac.
Drama II students are recording a “Lone Ranger” radio drama using Apple pod casting. The dramas will be pod cast on the drama website with district approval.
In Chorus at Southside we have been learning IMac Technology by making memories of our Winter Concert. In this project, students helped to create a DVD of the Winter Concert by:
• Video taping the concert (FNN students taped for us).
• Importing the video using a firewire.
• Added markers to make a scene selection.
• Typed in names of the songs for each selection.
• Added photos from IPhoto to a themed scrapbook. (We added this to the end of the concert video).
• Made a title page with a picture background (chorus on stage)and starburst title.
• Shared the creation with IDVD.
• Brought in blank DVD’s to make a copy of the concert to take home.
We also listened to seasonal music on ITunes. Students:
• Made a playlist
• Imported a CD to add to ITunes.
Gloria Turner
Teacher, Southside Middle School
Are you a Florence District 1 Graduate?Planning a class reunion or just thinking about one?The School Foundation can help.We’re not just helping current FSD1 students, but former students as well.With a little help from our website, planning your class reunion just got easier.Contact Debbie Hyler at dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org and she will be happy to post your upcoming reunion.We can even help you search for and add former classmates; and when its time for the next reunion in five or ten years, we’ll have all the contact information you need.
It’s not too late to make a year-end gift to The School Foundation.You can donate securely online using your credit card at www.theschoolfoundation.org or send your check directly to The School Foundation, 320 W. Cheves Street, Suite 175, Florence, SC29501.
Lt. Gen. Charles W. Bagnal was hardly a household name in Florence before last week’s School Foundation gala at Florence Civic Center. Bagnal left Florence more than 55 years ago after graduating from McClenaghan High School in 1952. He graduated from West Point and earned a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from Georgia Tech. He served in Vietnam and was a decorated aviator who commanded all U.S. Army forces in the Pacific. And after retiring, he completed a law degree and practiced in Columbia for 10 years.
After being honored as a Distinguished Graduate from Florence School District 1, we hope Bagnal continues to be held high as a role model for students in every local school. The eternally optimistic Bagnal was an excellent choice for the honor because of his achievements, positive attitude and love for his hometown and state. “People ask me, ‘General, why are you so positive?’” he said. “I tell them, ‘Because I decided to be.’”
Those powerful words came from a beloved man who visited local history and ROTC classes while he was in town and impressed students, teachers and administrators with his knowledge, expertise and dedication. But beyond his wisdom, we were struck by Bagnal as the model for courage, bravery and dedication. He married the former Patsy Smith, a Florence woman he first met in the second grade, and he lived the life of a dedicated protector of America’s freedom around the world.
Bagnal’s world view brought a unique perspective in the speech he delivered to the crowd of 900 people at the event, which raised about $100,000 for the foundation.
As a warrior who studied World War II at West Point and fought in Vietnam, Bagnal knows about the preciousness of freedom. The Nazis and Japanese threatened the world when he was a boy in the 1930s and 1940s. Communists tried to undermine the American way of life in the 1960s and 1970s when he was raising his own family. Still, as difficult as it was to prevail in those battles, he said the threat of terrorism provides a new challenge.
“The war against terrorism is just as important as World War II,” Bagnal said. “And in some ways, it’s more important.” Bagnal believes military service is important in creating a strong America and patriotism. And after listening to him talk about the advantages of military discipline, it’s tough not to endorse a return to mandatory service.
Gen. Richard Myers, the former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff under President George W. Bush, came to honor Bagnal and said: “You could not find a better citizen in this country than Gen. Bagnal.” Bagnal’s path to success was built on strong morality and intense purpose. He knew how to develop a game plan and execute it.
The lesson for today’s students are immense. “It’s an honor to serve your country,” as Bagnal said Thursday night, “and that extends to community service, not just military service.” America’s future depends on finding dependable strategists and fighters like Gen. Bagnal.
This country faces daily security threats from terrorists, unstable governments (Iraq and North Korea) and zealous dictatorships (Hugo Chavez in Venezuela). Who will be there to answer the challenges? Better, smarter and more sophisticated students will make for a stronger America.
The School Foundation has raised more than $420,000 to date for programs in Florence School District 1 — innovative programs and teachers inspire students.
To see Bagnal return to Florence and accept this lifetime achievement award was inspiring as the general’s career itself. In the future, when Florence students hear his name, the legacy will be one of honor, pride and a strong example for all who follow.