Talk Priority Schools

By Princess Moss, NEA Executive Committee

No one said that transforming schools would be easy work.  It is not.

Rancho High School, the largest high school in North Las Vegas, has more than 3,000 students.  Of the 3,000, approximately 1,000 attend the magnet school embedded in the high school.  The magnet offers special classes in pre-med, bio-medical engineering, and aeronautics.  The students who attend the magnet go on to attend some of the nation’s most prestigious colleges and universities.  The 2,000 students in the general education program, however, face another scenario.  Seventy per cent of the students there qualify for free and reduced price lunch and only 52% graduate from high school.  Around the corner looms a homeless shelter with a large Rancho student population.  Who would ever imagine that one school could be the home of so many demographic variables?! read more »

By Princess Moss, NEA Executive Committee

Clark County Education Association (CCEA) President Ruben Murillo met the NEA team at 6:30 a.m. Thursday and drove us to Carson Elementary School in West Las Vegas.  At Carson, we met CCEA board members and staff.  The day would be spent talking with teachers, ESPs, building level and central office administrators.

NEA Executive Committee Member Princess Moss Speaks with staff at Carson Elementary before the school day begins.

Krispy Crème donuts and coffee awaited us in the staff lounge. As we chatted about the School Improvement Grant process, we focused on two questions:  What is working in implementing the School Improvement Grant plan and what is not working?  In answering, employees were asked to comment on four areas:  collaboration, professional development and capacity, leadership, and outreach/partnerships.

Collaboration is essential and works.  Billie Rayford, Associate Superintendent, shared with us that in addition to the 3 R’s; there is a 4th – Relationships.  Relationships are so very important.  The relationship between the Clark County Education Association and the administration has been one in which it was obvious that both had the same vision – a great public school for every student. read more »

By Princess Moss

Walking in the shoes of NEA members at our Priority Schools in Washington State.  Free and organic conversation.  This is how my day started and ended on Oct. 5.  It is a day that has forever left an imprint on my heart and soul.

6:45 a.m. – Met with Marysville Education Association President Arden Watson, NEA Director Kim Mead and WEA President Mary Lindquist at the Marysville Education Association headquarters.  Got a briefing on the two schools that we will be visiting today, Totem Middle and Tulalip Elementary Schools.  Both have a significant Native American population. read more »