Page 15 - Florida Sentinel 4-13-18

Local
School District Is Recipient Of National Award
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
The Hillsborough County Public School District was recently honored as the only School Board in the coun- try to receive the RISE Award. A na- tional award, it recognizes school b0ards for their commitment to en- suring an equitable education for all children.
Jeff Eakins, Hillsborough County School District Superintendent, and members of the School Board were on hand to accept the award last week- end. It was presented by the National Black Council (NBC) of the national School Board Association.
An acronym for Recognizing, Inno- vative Strategies in Equality (RISE), the Award is presented to one School District in the nation for excellence in establishing and executing policies and procedures that increase access to quality instruction and improved aca- demic outcomes and career readiness for African American students.
Under the leadership of Superin- tendent Eakins, the district has fo- cused on student success. The graduation rate has improved to an
Hillsborough County School Board Vice Chairperson Tamara Shamburger, Board Chairperson Sally Harris, and Board member Susan Valdes are shown displaying the RISE Award recently presented to the Hillsborough County School District.
of its kind and will serve as a frame- work for similar policies to be imple- mented across the Nation. Eliminating systemic and institutional racism in education and leveling the playing field for our African American stu- dents is critical and is the basis of the work being done with this policy.
“As Equity will become the law of the land in the school district, I am op- timistic that we will continue to see in- creased graduation rates, lower suspension rates, reduction of the achievement gap, and minimal dispar- ities amongst the African American student population.”
The School Board created a new Racial Equity Policy to confront issues head on and work to create opportuni- ties for all students.
In a re-organization, Superin- tendent Eakins added the position of Chief Diversity Officer to ensure students are offered equal and equi- table educational access and activities. In addition, the Human Resources Di- vision started initiatives aimed at in- creasing educator diversity, as well as ensuring that the most effective teach- ers are in front of the district’s needi- est students.
all-time high of 82.9% for the district and higher than the state graduation rate. The District is also closing the achievement gap, with a graduation rate increase in all key areas over last year, including African American stu- dents, Hispanic students, Exceptional Education students, and English Lan-
guage Learners.
Ms. Tamara Shamburger, Vice
Chairperson of the Hillsborough County School Board said, “It is a true honor for the Hillsborough County School Board to be recognized with this national award.
“Our Equity policy is really the first
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