Dreams Do Come True!

The time has finally arrived.  

I am currently in Indianapolis, Indiana with my wife and my newly born son, Avery Celestino Soler.  We got the call last night from the birth mother that he was born at 7:46 PM and was 8 lbs and 21.75 inches long.  

We left late into the night on Friday and after a short nap in Buffalo, New York  we arrived in Indiana around 3 PM.

The moment just before his arrival felt very surreal, and it became quite emotional for my wife when he was wheeled into the room.   

Let me keep things short, because I need to get off this laptop and go back to being a baby hog. 

In closing, let me once again restate that dreams do come true!

Living the Dream!

Mr. Soler & Avery

The Great Debaters

What does one do over their holiday break from work? Well if it is me, I try to get out and do the things that I often don't have time to do. In particular I went out to see the movie, The Great Debaters with my wife.

Let me start out by saying this movie was loaded with an enormous amount of teachable moments. As I kept watching the film, I kept thinking to myself, my students need to see this film! Since a majority of my students are African American and Latino, I know they could all see similarities from the movie and connections to the struggles in their lives.

The movie was about a college professor who helped establish one of the nations best debate teams at Wiley College. The movie captures many issues of race, inequality, discrimination and the civil rights movement.

Again, I highly recommend all those in education and community service to go out and see this movie. It is as deeply moving to me as Lean on Me and Freedom Writers. It is amazing the power and influence a great teacher has over their students and what can be accomplish with time.

--

¡Viviendo el Sueño! (Living the Dream!)

Mr. Anibal Soler, Jr.

http://www.anibalsoler.com/

http://anibalsoler.blogspot.com/

Becoming a Father

Those of you who read this on a daily or monthly basis know I do not often speak of my own personal life and usually stick to issues of education. This current posting I have decided to speak about what is currently going on in my life. Many of you are aware of my journey on becoming a Father but most of you are not.  If you're like most let me bring you up to speed.

After trying for two years on our own, my wife and I we were unable to have a child of our own. My wife and I decided to go another route to becoming parents, adoption was our choice. In just a short time after finishing our classes and social work visits my wife and I have been selected to adopt our son from Indiana. We are in the final weeks until his arrival. His due date is Jan. 1, 2008. His name is going to be Avery Celestino Soler. He will have the middle name of the most influential male in my life, my Abuelo (Grandfather) Tino. His room is ready to go and all we are awaiting for is his arrival.

We received a call early Friday morning from the birth mother that she was having contractions 3 to 4 minutes apart and she wanted to put us on standby. Well the day went on and it looks like Avery is not ready to come into the world just yet.

Well even though I am not currently driving on my way to go pick him up from the hospital in Indiana that phone call got me to do some more thinking about being a Father.

I thought to myself oh man, I am going to be a Dad, officially now, the pressure is on! I got to thinking how my life will now change as I will have an all new purpose to live for. Looking back at my life I grew up without the daily presence of my biological father. He would visit on birthdays and special occasions but as I grew older those visits became fewer and fewer. I grew up mostly living with my Mother and spending a lot of time with my grandparents and in particular with my Abuelo (Grandpa). He showed me over the years what it meant to be a man and he often disciplined me through words, actions and expectations.

I know think to myself what type of Father will I be? Will I be courageous enough to tell my son, I love him daily. Will I be able to prepare him for success like my Abuelo (Grandfather) did for me? Will I be able to show him that what matters in life most is what we do for others and not the monetary things we possess. I know I will have a lot of challenges ahead of me and I have some great examples in my life that will help me as I enter the world of fatherhood.

Avery, I hope one day you read this. As the days get closer I can't wait until I have you in my arms! I want you to know that I will make mistakes as our journey begins together but understand that I am learning this whole father role. I will do my best to give you all the love and support you need to succeed, and if I don't please let me know. I know you may not agree with the things I do, but remember I am only going to do what is best for you and I have learned a lot from my own experiences. I can't wait to spend time playing basketball with you and hanging out like father and sons do. I may sometimes embarrass you as you can tell in this photo, your father likes to joke around a lot, but son don't take any of it personal.

Lastly, hurry up and come into this world your father is eagerly waiting!

I Love You!

Future Father of the Year!
Your Papi!

Color Matters?

Lately this race and color has been a very hot debate in my school district and community. There have been articles written by various individuals rebutting and supporting the various perspectives.

Here are my thoughts...
I strongly believe that race is not the single determinant of success by minority students in urban education. I beleive that what students of color and non-color want from their teachers are individuals that care and take the time to get to know them for who they are as students. I have a quote hanging on my door in my office that states, "Before a student cares to know what you can teach them, they must know that you care."

As a Latino going through the RCSD there were very few if any Latino educators in my educational experience. Did this doom me for failure? Nope not at all because the teachers that made me successful where those who I remember today as the teachers that took a vested interest in me inside and outside of the classroom. The teachers who attended my basketball games, the teachers who allowed me to stay after school and hang out with the in their room, the teachers who let me come up during lunch to offer me help outside of the normal class day. It didn't matter to me how much math they taught me or what content I was showed but rather the connection we had as student and teacher that encouraged me to work hard for that teacher. My main point here is that having teachers that care is what is most important not the color of the teacher.

I do believe that having more staff and teachers of color is an important thing but to say that it is a reason for higher suspension rates, special education referrals, high school dropout percentages is slap in the face to those who work day in and day out in schools.

My question is why are we not doing national recruiting to help increase the number of diverse highly qualified candidates? This is a national problem that is being felt by school district across the country so why not take a different approach? Why not team up with a local university and create a gateway teaching program that prepares our current student body to enter college become teachers and come back and work in the district that prepared them. Rather then point the finger and make claims offer viable solutions to increase the number of Latino and African Americans available to be chosen in the work force.

In closing let us all offer solutions to change items rather then point out obvious deficiencies being felt across urban school districts nationwide. Some of the greatest leaders in this world learned for a variety of individuals, and if you asked most of them why where those individuals so influential in their lives they would more then likely say because they cared in my success.


Living the Dream!
Mr. Soler

Mr. Brizard, the time is now!

Mr. Brizard,

I want to be one of the first school level administrators to welcome  you to Rochester and the Rochester City School District.  As you are well aware of there are a multitude of problems/opportunities needing to be addressed in our school district. 

I want to tell you that there are a lot of hard working individuals at the building level that need to be recognized for their daily efforts.  These individuals range from custodians, paraprofessionals, teachers and administrative staff. 

From what I can tell you from my own experience the majority of individuals at the school level want a Superintendent who is truly about bringing some drastic positive change with the needed resources, accountability and  commitment to see them through.  We have been in limbo for quite some time now and the time is now to get back on track.

I am sure you have many ideas and initiatives you are eager to get in place when you arrive next month.  I hope you use your New York City experience to help make some real changes to Rochester.   Lastly I truly hope you surround yourself with individuals who are making this job as personal as you are, and understand that everyday we fail we lose more and more youth. 

Good luck! Your time is now!

Living the Dream!

Mr. Soler