Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 11-24-15 Edition

Features
Activist Feels Board Cannot Hinder District’s Strategic Plan
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Last week, the community was shocked when Vice Chair- person Doretha Edgecomb was passed over for the Chair- manship. However, one ac- tivist said the community must not lose sight of other pertinent issues as well.
As the former president of the Hillsborough County Branch NAACP, Dr. Car- olyn Collins has worked closely with school officials as an advocate for African Amer- ican students. She attended the Hillsborough County School Board meeting last Tuesday and said what took place should not have come as a surprise.
However, she feels there are far too many other perti- nent issues that need to be ad- dressed and that those with the best interest of the chil- dren should be chosen to serve on the Hillsborough County School Board. Cur- rently, four members of the board must seek re-election in the upcoming election.
Dr. Collins said, “There are major concerns before the
DR. CAROLYN COLLINS
citizens of Hillsborough County. Do the citizens allow the misuse of taxpayer dollars to be with the 4-3 vote for an- other decade?
“Here we go again: chil- dren are not educated, staff is underpaid, preferential pro- motions, high drop-out rates, low graduation rates, too many certificates of atten- dance rather than high school diplomas, plaguing these school districts and students of all ethnic groups are suffer- ing.
“The citizens voted for change, change we assumed would be for the better. We have a diligently working Su-
perintendent Jeff Eakins
and staff. But, it appeared at November 17th HCPS Board Meeting that the district school board is in reverse. We cannot help education with a dysfunctional school board.
“We are not in the days of an eye for an eye. We need great school board candi- dates, unbought and un- bossed, to achieve the mission of education for all students.”
She also pointed out, “Su- perintendent Eakins can- not be hindered instituting the five-year Strategic Plan that should have been sub- mitted when the chamber was full Tuesday night, rather than when there appeared to be than less one dozen citi- zens in the audience. The challenges are great enough in a state that changed “Com- mon Core” to “Florida Stan- dards,” and we are not ready to educate with either one.”
In light of the upcoming election, Dr. Collins further said that registered and edu- cated voters are needed to cast ballots for the children and their education in every election.
Tampa Native Oversees Military Cemeteries In Foreign Countries
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
After graduating from Robinson High School in 1979, Retired Master Sgt. Michael Coonce became a member of the U. S. Air Force. But, instead of coming home, M/Sgt. Coonce continues to serve his country in a different way.
Following retirement in September 2003, he became employed with the American Battle Monuments Commis- sion, an organization responsi- ble for the maintenance of cemeteries and monuments outside of the United States. The cemeteries containing the remains of fallen soldiers in France, Belgium, The Nether- lands, England, Italy, The Philippines, Panama, Mexico City, and Tunisia, North Africa.
The final resting place of military members who died during World War I, and World War II. “The remains of approximately 61% of the sol- diers were returned home. However, the remains of the others are buried in the ceme- teries, many at the requests of their families.”
RETIRED MASTER SGT. MICHAEL COONCE
For the past 5 years, M/Sgt. Coonce was assigned to the facility in France. How- ever, a recent promotion to the role of Director has required that he relocate to Normandy American Cemetery And Me- morial.
In his role as Director, M/Sgt. Coonce will supervise a staff of ten employees and will reside on the grounds. He will report to his new assign- ment the first week in Decem- ber.
A Tampa native, M/Sgt. Coonce is the son of the late Mrs. Mae Johnson. He is the father of one son, Michael Coonce, II, and the grandfa- ther of 8-year-old Amiyah. He also has a brother and sister living in Tampa.
Author Hopes Book Will Help Others With Self-Esteem Issues
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
Shondra Mitchell will be the first to tell you that helping someone fix themselves is a lot easier than fixing yourself. Her life experience made her realize that and publish a book called “I Saw The Best In Me.”
Mrs. Mitchell was moti- vated to write the book because for many years she suffered from self-esteem issues, and didn’t like herself very much.
“I found myself going in and out of bad relationships, and I couldn’t expect others to respect me if I didn’t respect myself.
“The brick wall for me was when I started reading the Bible and drawing closer to my husband, who was instrumen- tal in helping me discover my- self, and put myself first.”
Mrs. Mitchell said she grew up without a father, and often walked around in self- doubt.
“Later after people started telling me how confident I looked, I knew I wanted to share my story with others.
“Regaining your self-es- teem isn’t a quick fix. You have to change your thinking and start feeling better about your- self. When I started putting myself before the opinions of others, I started making better decisions.”
Mrs. Mitchell said it
SHONDRA MITCHELL
helps to get rid of your negative thinking, and believe you can accomplish anything.
“You have to conquer your demons and learn that it’s you that need to change, not the opinions of others. Sometimes, you just don’t know how to love yourself.”
Mrs. Mitchell said she used only her personal experi- ences to write the book, and it took her a year to put it all to- gether.
“Being a wife, mother, and student came first.
“I hope that I’ll be able to address these issues in an open forum in the future, because I know there are a lot of people out there who were like me, and just don’t have the guid- ance or strength to turn things around”
Mrs. Mitchell’s book can be fund at www.shon- dramitchell.com, or visit au- thor page@authorshondraam.
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