Page 10 - Florida Sentinel 4-14-17

School Related
HABSE Members Meet With Superintendent To Discuss Concerns
Recently, members of the Hillsborough Alliance of Black School Educators (HABSE) met with Jeff Eakins, Superintendent of the Hillsborough County School District. Ms. Mary Dance is the president of HABSE.
During the meeting, the group addressed several top- ics of concern. Those topics included: addressing equity. Members felt the need to dis- cuss the racial equity policy and the need to establish rules to help the district at every level within the dis- trict. They also talked about the resources in favor of eq- uity and leveling the playing field with equity as its center.
While discussing hiring, the organization expressed the need to create staff at all levels that reflects the stu- dent population. They also said the processes in place
JEFF EAKINS Superintendent, Hillsborough County
School District
pertaining to hiring must be challenged to create diversity and to remove barriers.
Their final suggestion for hiring was to ensure that business partners and stake- holders obtain business and analyze barriers within those policies.
The next topic of discus-
MS. MARY DANCE President, Hillsborough Alliance of Black
School Educators
sion pertained to leadership. The organization shared with Superintendent Eakins that they have partnered with USF in order to estab- lish bonds with Principals. They have also partnered with the University of Tampa to establish cohorts with as- piring Assistant Principals.
They feel the district should embrace those who want to lead and the district should build sustainability in the district to prevent future “hiring by word of mouth.”
Their suggestions for high needs schools included creat- ing a pipeline to develop ad- ministrative leaders for those schools as well as offering a Pathways Program. That program would provide 50% of education for 15 teachers who have an expressed inter-
est in teaching at high needs schools.
The final topic of discus- sion between Superintend- ent Eakins and HABSE members was Early Child- hood. The group said the area should have a coalition of leaders, the number of learners who are kinder- garten ready should be in- creased, and that additional resources should be provided to Early Childhood pro- grams.
PAGE 10-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 2017