A New Day

The summer months are often spent relaxing and enjoying time with your family and friends, but for me it’s a time to begin a new journey. In late May, I was announced and appointed the new school principal of East High School a surprise too many outside my family and close friends. With this appointment comes a new day for not only East High School, but for the Latino community. It is the first time in a very long time that the Rochester City School District has more than one Latino male leading a school. This appointment also puts me, a Latino male in a high public position that has direct access to the city's community. It is my hope that with this position I can help bridge the gap with many families who don’t see a direct association with our public school system. In particular, the Latino families who often feel underrepresented, uninformed and misguided by our school system.

As I write this article, I have been at East High School for two and half weeks and what I have seen is extremely promising. I have seen students engaged and orderly throughout the school. I have seen staff and teachers working closely with students to ensure they succeed. I have also experienced award ceremonies that recognize the hard work and dedication of students, student- athletes and the families that support them. I have also been able to interact with phenomenal programs that exist within the school walls at East High School. School programs such as the Firefighter Training Program that provides high school students an opportunity to gain employment in the Rochester Fire Department after successful completion. In fact, five graduates of East High School were just inducted into service. East High School also has an array of National Academy Foundation programs that focus on business, information technology, culinary arts and hospitality and tourism. Too compliment those programs there is also a Teaching & Learning Institute that prepares and exposes high school students to what is required to become a school teacher. Once more, these are just some of the many positive programs often not recognized by the media that exist at East High School.

With that being said, there are still many areas of improvement for my new school and moving forward to next year it is my hope to continue to build upon the successes currently at East. It is my goal to surround myself with dream builders that understand the challenges we have ahead of us. It is also my goal to continue to foster and build upon the strength of the Rochester community. I look to challenge and enhance the current partnerships with local colleges and universities, to ensure they are truly doing their part in educating our children. I look to enhance the educational experience of all my students. I look to create a high performing environment that fosters high expectations for all students regardless of their socio-economic background. Additionally, my goal is to create a school with a top-ranked staff that competes academically, athletically and artistically with those from more affluent environments. The task will not be easy; in fact it will be arduous. I often have to remind myself that the great pyramids of Egypt were not built over night but stone by stone.

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¡Viviendo el Sueño! (Living the Dream!)
Mr. Anibal Soler, Jr.
http://www.anibalsoler.com
http://anibalsoler.blogspot.com

Summer Vacation

The weather has finally changed for the better and May’s flowers are now in full bloom. Another school year will come to a close and there will be thousands of youth looking for things to do. There will be another group of youth who would have completed the kindergarten through twelfth grade journey and will now be entering college or the workforce.

Let me be the first to say that just because school is out that doesn’t mean learning has to stop. For the group of students who have not graduated and are still enrolled in school there are plenty of opportunities for you to engage in academic summer programs throughout the city and county. As parents we have to make sure we go out and get access to every opportunity available for our children. Often times it is just a matter of signing up. It is significantly important that we do not allow our students to take a break academically because more often then not our students spend the summer months engaging in little-to-no academic behavior. As a parent or guardian it is your job to continue to hold your child to the expectation that they will continue to learn new things even when school is not in session. Parents must look for summer programs that continue to promote and expose their child to high levels of literacy and math. Particularly important is the exposure to literacy as many of our youth do not read or write enough during the summer months, which often places them behind at the start of the following school year. Even as an adult and college graduate literacy is still my weakest area, which is why I continue to read and write as much as possible. I know I will never be the best at it, but it won’t be due to a lack of effort. If your child is not enrolled in a program, then take him or her to your local community library and have them sign out a book or two of interests that both of you could read together. I can’t think of a better way to improve your child’s reading ability while still spending time together.

Now, for those students who are completing high school let me be the first to congratulate you on your upcoming graduation. Congratulations you made it! For many of you, you are the first in your family to obtain a high school diploma. Enjoy and treasure this moment but don’t get overly excited because your work is far from over. In today’s economic condition it is critically important that you prepare yourself for college or trade school. I encourage you to not necessarily take this summer as a break but to use it as a transition period to prepare yourself for the “real world.” What you do this summer will setup your path down the road of life, therefore make sure you take advantage of every networking and academic opportunity available. If you are going away for college make sure you spend this summer with friends and family while still engaging and learning new things. In retrospect I wish I had prepared myself better for the rigor of college and spent some time reading more about my major or about topics that intrigued me.

Lastly, summer time has been meant as a time to break away from the normal challenges of the school environment but given the poor educational achievement of many that break can no longer be afforded. I challenge you and your parents to make the most of your summer and my hope is that by the end you would have become more knowledgeable then when it began.

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¡Viviendo el Sueño! (Living the Dream!)
Mr. Anibal Soler, Jr.
http://www.anibalsoler.com
http://anibalsoler.blogspot.com

Latino Advocacy: Migente Please Stand up!

The majority of my life has been spent here in Rochester, N.Y. and during all my years I have barely seen or heard a large voice speaking for the Latinos within this community. In my opinion, the focus has always remained predominantly on the needs of the African American community, and the media has contributed to this deficit by continuing to paint the issues in black and white. To the credit of the African American community they have realized the importance of being at the table and have positioned themselves in various political functions, which although not perfect has extremely increased the sponsorship within that community. The same cannot be said of the Latino community.

Whenever an issue is presented in this community whether it’s violence, education, or economic we have no public voice. As a community we have not found ways to advocate for our betterment. As a community we continue to sit back and not realize that we have a role in this community, in fact we have a large voice that is yet to be heard. The issues and concerns of Latinos will continue to remain invisible until we begin to understand the importance of advocacy. The only way we will begin to change this unfortunate circumstance is to come together as one. To create unified partnerships with other Latinos and Latino based organizations. We must begin to work more efficiently, and find ways to ensure that we are always a part of the agenda. We must understand that advocacy must begin within our community. We must be willing to go out and support each other in public forums, to stand up for what is right not only for all of those within our neighborhoods, but especially for Latinos. We must begin to understand the role of education in all we do, and especially in it’s role of advocacy.

Advocacy starts with knowledge, and as Latinos we must remain informed as a community. If we are not, we will remain and continue to be marginalized by society. Education, and in fact literacy has been the tool that has helped so many other ethnicities break through barriers within this country. It is the same tool, which has allowed many activists such as Malcolm X, Frederick Douglass and currently President Barack Obama to unite a group of people and bringing about change within their community. Simply put, through education all is possible. It is being informed and having access to different venues that has allowed myself to navigate the system, and it is the same tool that has allowed me to advocate for others and my family. I grew up in a single-parent household in the North Clinton area of Rochester. I was a Latino, who attended city schools who wasn’t supposed to amount too much, but through the advocacy of my mother and grandparents who had ingrained in me from the very onset of my educational experience, that schooling would open new doors for my Latino community and myself. That even though the road would be arduous what would come as a result would be far greater then any of the difficulties that I have faced, it is with this body of knowledge that I am now able to advocate for my community.

Finally, what we need now is a unified coalition of Latinos within this community, a grassroots type effort of Latinos who will work together to ensure that Latinos do not remain invisible or silent. A group of Latinos who will encourage future generations to maximize on their educational experiences for the advancement of the Latino community and themselves, a distinct group of Latino advocates who will ensure that we have a voice and are present when it comes to issues of poverty, violence, joblessness and most importantly education.

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¡Viviendo el Sueño! (Living the Dream!)
Mr. Anibal Soler, Jr.
http://www.anibalsoler.com
http://anibalsoler.blogspot.com

Latino to Watch

Recently I was selected by a new publication here in Rochester, New York as a "Latino to Watch." The publication focuses on the Latino community and the issues or topics within that community. Check out this month's latest issue here: La Voz download the PDF on the main page.

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¡Viviendo el Sueño! (Living the Dream!)
Mr. Anibal Soler, Jr.
http://www.anibalsoler.com
http://anibalsoler.blogspot.com

The Next President & Education

When our next President takes office in a couple of months he will have a multitude of critical items that will require his immediate attention. One item that I know that is on his short list is the state of education in America. He plans on making some necessary changes to NCLB and implementing a variety of other educational initiatives that will affect P-16 as a whole. If you would like to read more specifically about his plans check out his education agenda on his website, Change.Gov.

Again, I am eager to see what transpires in education under his new administration. I hope he puts the right people in place that would allow for our antiquated educational system to change and meet the needs of the 21st Century student. I hope he looks at focusing and reducing the racial educational achievement gap. The necessary changes will require some tough conversations and difficult decisions by all parties; both of which he is capable of doing. Lastly, education is the essential foundation to changing this country and improving our lives.

Once again good luck and if you need any help I am only an email away!

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¡Viviendo el Sueño! (Living the Dream!)
Mr. Anibal Soler, Jr.
http://www.anibalsoler.com
http://anibalsoler.blogspot.com

MCC Latino Male Retention Program

Yesterday I had the opportunity and privilege to speak to an all male Latino based MCC Retention Program. I was asked by a colleague of mine, if I would come and speak to the class. She wanted me to share my message of education and expose the students to another successful Latino male. As I previously stated, I was honored.

I presented a slide show very similar to what I had shown students at the University of Rochester's event a couple of weeks ago. The theme and message was still relevant to this group of students. Throughout the presentation we had, great "teachable moments" and instances where students were inspired. In particularly when we spoke about getting involved on campus, and making your mark. The students looked at this statement as their opportunity to reignite a club that has diminished over the past couple of years, "Latin Pride." I hope they take up the challenge and reestablish this once existent program. There is a huge void for the Latino student body at MCC, and hopefully these 13 young men will change that for future generations of Latinos who enroll at MCC.

I would also challenge them to recreate the name of the program, as it labels them already as having a deficit with the word "retention." We all know that they don't have a deficit but rather an untapped opportunity!

Ultimately, what I enjoyed the most, was that these students stood before me as a reflection of myself 13 years ago. Most come from various backgrounds and support systems but all have one thing in common, the desire to do great things. They have much work to be done, but with the guidance of Professor Alas, and Professor Quinones-Rosado they will be just fine.

Good luck and keep Living the Dream mi hermanitos! Adelante!!

Mr. Anibal Soler, Jr.
www.anibalsoler.com

Hispanic Heritage Month

I hope this post serves as a reminder to many of you. This time of the year often gets over look by those in the hegemonic group, from September 15-October 15 it is National Hispanic Heritage Month. A time to stop, think and celebrate the various cultures that are present within our Hispanic and Latino communities.

Read more about Hispanic Heritage Month here: National Hispanic Heritage Month

Living the Dream!
Mr. Anibal Soler, Jr.
www.anibalsoler.com

Latino Leadership Development Program

Today, I had the privilege and opportunity to present to a room of thirty highly motivated Latina/o professionals. These individuals were participating in the Latino Leadership Development Program which is organized and hosted by United Way of Rochester. My presentation was entitled, "The State of Latino Students and Education In Our Community."

My presentation focused entirely on what I see supported by data and research, occurring in urban public schools. I spoke about the student cultural experience or lack thereof for Latina/o students in schools. I also spoke and displayed some data on our overall underachievement in K-12 schooling, which supported and clearly stated we are the worst of the big three demographic groups with the highest percentage of failure. I finished the presentation with a variety of various reccomendations that I believe could help alleviate and address the issue of inadequate success by Latina/o's.

The presentation, as all of them do, went quickly. We had a great panel conversation that followed my piece. A couple of days later I receieved various emails and facebook messages, letting me know how much they enjoyed what I had to say along with my overall presence. It is definitely great to hear these type of things, especially when you believe in so much in what your doing!

As I told the participants listening to my presentation, "Make Your Mark!"

Living the Dream!!
Mr. Soler

Keynote Speaker at Noche De Fuego

On April 11, 2008 I was honored to be the Keynote speaker at Noche De Fuego, a benefit dinner being held by Senoritas Latinas Unidas, Sigma Lambda Upsilon Sorority, Inc. The event was held at the Clarion Riverside Hotel. This was my first public speaking engagement, and below is my speech. Thanks again to all of those who attended. It was for a worthy cause.

Noche De Fuego Speech
Ladies and Gentleman, Damas y Caballeros, let me first start out by saying thank you! Thank you, for attending, Noche de Fuego and supporting the lovely Hermanas of Senoritas Latinas Unidas, Sigma Lambda Upsilon Sorrority, Inc. I want to also thank the Hermanas for giving me this opportunity to come before you today, and deliver my message. I am very humbled and honored to be here.

When the Hermanas asked me if I would be the keynote speaker tonight, I was thrilled. I didn’t hesitate for a moment at this opportunity, the opportunity to address the future leaders and difference makers of our world. The opportunity to address students, professionals and colleagues who come from a multitude of cultural backgrounds that need to hear, and know, that we are all we got.

Before I proceed, I want to take a moment to recognize all of you in attendance, all of you who are achieving the dream. You are often what I state amongst colleagues, students and peers, Viviendo El Sueno, Living the Dream! Before I continue please give your self a round of applause!

So who am I, and why am I here?

Well as you previously heard, my name is Anibal Soler, I am currently an Academy Director/ Vice-Principal at Charlotte High School in the Rochester City School District. I am 100% Puerto Rican and very proud of my culture, as I am sure many of you are. I have grown up and lived the majority of my life here in the city of Rochester. I attended city schools up until my junior year of high school, when my parents had finally gained the means to own their own home and we moved to the suburbs.

After graduating high school I attended Daemen College in Amherst, NY on a basketball scholarship. Yeah, us Latino’s can play ball too. During my time at Daemen College, I became an Hermano of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. After becoming an Hermano and obtaining my undergraduate degree in teaching, I came back home to Rochester yet again. I worked full time as an Art teacher at what was called at that time, Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Since graduating from Daemen College I have since obtained two master’s degrees, one from Nazareth College in educational technology and another from St. John Fisher College in educational administration. Currently, I am working on my doctorate at the University of Rochester in educational leadership.

I am sure many of you are sitting here and thinking, boy, that is a lot of school loans! Well you’re right, but well worth the ultimate goal, and we all know that knowledge is power.

Well, that’s enough about me, and let’s to get to why I am here. I need you to take a moment to focus and critically consider the message I am going to deliver tonight. In my line of work, the country is in a state of crisis, some have called it a “silent epidemic.” As I have previously stated I am a high school Vice-Principal in the City of Rochester. I work in one of the five largest school districts in New York. I work in a school district that has approximately a 90% poverty rate. Many of my students come from homes and life experiences very similar to what many of you and I have encountered, except with them, I am losing more then I am gaining. I want you to understand that what the future holds is very critical for us, us as Latinos and us as a country.

Just last week ABC news reported that as a country, we have a national high school drop out rate of 50%. Ladies and gentlemen, that is 1.2 Million students dropping out a year. In Los Angeles the dropout rate is 45%, in Baltimore 34%, Miami 49%, and home to many of you, New York City, 47%. In Detroit 1 out of 4, 9th graders that entered school this year, will graduate. That is 25% graduation rate! People, this has got to change!

Out of all the minorities not graduating, Latino’s are the highest. Latino’s are dropping out of high schools at an even alarming rate and are as much as 75% of the dropouts in America. Here in Rochester we have approximately 10,000 high school students, and if things don’t change here and they continue to follow the current path, we will only graduate 40 percent of those students, that is 4,000 out of 10,000 high school students will be graduating. The majority of those not graduating in my school district are Latino’s. Latino’s in my school district are the highest of any minority group not making it out of high school. Again, the problem is real, and this has got to change!

According to the America’s Promise Alliance, every 26 seconds, one high school student drops out. Based off this statistic alone, by the time I get done speaking to you tonight, we will lose approximately 50 high school students.

In September of 2007, CNN reported that more Blacks and Latinos live in jail cells that in college dorms. The numbers are staggering. More then three times as many African-American people live in prison cells than in college dorms. The numbers don’t get any better for Latinos as there are 2.7 Latino inmates for every Latino living in college housing. The majority of these inmates are also males.
This information also reflects the majority of the students dropping out of high school and not graduating. The bulk of them are also African-American and Latino. They live in poor unfunded inner-cities. They come from homes and environments where they have little to no social support. They come from broken homes that have a single parent or grandparent raising them. The conversations about the value and importance of education are far and few in between in their lives.

For me, as I am sure was the case for many of you, college always felt like an option but only because my mother, and my grandparents made it that way. They were my advocates. As the most educated person in my family, I feel a sense of pride but also a great appreciation. My mother never let me believe that the color of my skin or the amount of money we had would define my future. Instead, I got unfailing support. Now today, I am before students who are going through the same process and our coming from similar backgrounds. By showing and being the example for students that college is accessible, we can set an example for our future leaders. We all know that education is the foundation and the critical component for our success.
The time has changed, and today’s inner-city students need more support then ever, they need advocates and mentors in their lives.

Last year with the help of one of my Hermanos, I orchestrated the first ever free out of town overnight college trip for ten of my senior students at my high school. Ten students who knew the importance of college, but never had the opportunity to experience what it’s like. Ten students, who had never left their neighborhood, were suddenly exposed to a whole new world of possibility. Last June all ten students graduated high school and 8 out of the 10 enrolled in a college for the upcoming next year. This is just one example of what can be done.

I know this sounds crazy, but just today, I had another example of the power and benefit of mentoring. A true example of what can occur if we all get involved in the life a youth. I have been working with a young lady for this past school year. She comes from a broken home and has had many personal struggles throughout her life. She shows up to school every day with a smile and she makes sure that her academics are in place. She also works twenty plus hours at Wegmans, to help make ends meet in her household. Today at around noon I took this young lady for an interview at the St. John Fisher College HEOP Office. An hour later she was accepted, and as she turned to hug me outside of the office, she said, “Mr. Soler, I did it I am the first in my family to go to college, thank you!” After that precious moment I walked her over to the bookstore to buy her, her first college t-shirt. Again, this is another example of why we must all be involved. Before I continue I want to thank Victoria McEachin for helping me out. Thank you Vicki!

You are probably sitting there thinking what can I do to help? Well you have taken the first step. You have come and supported this organization through the purchase of your ticket. You have given a monetary donation that will be used by SLU to help impact the life of a young lady.

SLU’s Ladies program is another example of doing what it takes to make a difference in the life of our youth. Their program has helped each participant gain college level skills, develop professionally, and most importantly learn about their culture. Since its inception in 2001, the program has helped touch the lives of young women. It is helped them realize that college is not inaccessible dream but a reality that they can achieve. Some of the participants are now enrolled at various colleges throughout New York State.

Before I leave you, tonight I want you to remember that your life will be measured not by how long you lived, but by what you have done during that time for others. So please make time to give to organizations such as SLU and their Lady’s Program. If you cannot give financially then please give with your time, heart and dedication to doing what is our civic responsibility, taking care of others. Make sure you go back to your college dorms, your work place and think how you may make a difference in the life of someone younger and less fortunate then yourself. Make sure you become an advocate for those students who are just like you were in high school. Again, this problem is real, and it is all of our responsibility to help.

As one of my all time favorite pieces of writing by Michael Josephson states, “Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice. Choose to live a life that matters!”

Finally, please help our youth, “Live the Dream!”

Thank you!
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¡Viviendo el Sueño! (Living the Dream!)
Mr. Anibal Soler, Jr.
http://www.anibalsoler.com
http://anibalsoler.blogspot.com

Living the Dream: We Are All We Got!!!

The city and suburban residents of Rochester, have to realize one thing, "We are all we got!!" It is not good enough for us to turn away from the problems plaguing the city. We cannot allow for the economic breakdown of class to be reflective of our city and our priorities.

We have to be comfortable enough to speak out when we see wrong. We ALL have a civic responsibility to each other as humans in this world. We must not be afraid to advocate for those in need. We must not be afraid to speak out for inequities that occur in the school system. We must not be afraid to challenge one another to do what is right for our children, students and the world. If we see crimes committed, we have to speak out against them or eventually they will consume and dictate how we live our lives.

Students, educators, school leaders, politicians must remember one thing,...
WE ARE ALL WE GOT!!!

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¡Viviendo el Sueño! (Living the Dream!)
Mr. Anibal Soler, Jr.
http://www.anibalsoler.com
http://anibalsoler.blogspot.com

Brown vs. Board of Education, A Constant Influence on Educational Practice and Priorities, Then, Now and Forever

The U.S. Supreme Court case Brown vs. Board of Education, has been called the turning point in the promotion of educational equality for all students in the United States. “The Brown decision stripped legitimacy from racial segregation in American public education and set in motion the quest to ensure millions of black schoolchildren equal educational opportunity” (Edelman, 1973, p. 33). This case also placed a national focus on providing equal opportunities of success for all nationalities in America in particular African Americans. “The actions of African Americans contributed to the militancy of other groups in demanding equality of educational opportunity and recognition of their cultures in public schools” (Spring, 2007, p. 113). Latino’s and other minority groups have also gained attention to their disparities because of this case. Brown has been and still is criticized and credited for various results in education.

In theory, it allowed students of color to attend schools that were off limits to them, it eradicated segregation legally, but in the current make-up of urban schools, there seems to be a relapse. Since the Supreme Court ruling African Americans and Latino students have never been at the top of the achievement gap. They have always been held in comparison to the White Anglo Saxon population, and been viewed as deficient. If the verdict was truly put into practice, it would allow students who are tied into certain school districts due to the socio-economic status of their family an opportunity to go to any school of their choice, that they deemed appropriate for their success.

The major benefit of the law was that it helps bring national attention to a discriminatory practice of funding. It forced those Whites in power to change some of their practices in order to help alleviate a growing national tension. There answer was desegregation, not the initial intentions of Brown, but the result of it.

Given that desegregation was the policy or tool of choice from the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, it in turn caused major unintended corollaries for various stakeholders of color.

For example teachers of color, exclusively African American teachers loss their jobs as schools were segregated and many White school officials and parents did not want their children to be taught by them. African American educators would often receive letters stating that because of this ruling and the federal mandate that they would have to lose their jobs. School districts placed blame to the ruling in their letters to black teachers, and made it seem that it was the primary reason for losing their job. These teachers were forced to enter other careers and leave a profession that many of them loved and flourished in. Teachers of black students were advocates. Many of them lived in their communities, attended church with them and were viewed by many as pivotal in the success of black students in a desegregated world (Tillman, 2004). Since 1954, we have not recovered from the dismissal of a large African American teaching and administrative workforce.

Abysmal school facilities are another unintended result of Brown. Students in urban educational settings have school buildings that still in theory are segregated by the majority of the students that attend those schools. Most students of color have been forced to live where housing is affordable and the schools are old and worn down. Facilities that often include poor heating, plumbing, roofing problems, unsanitary bathrooms, non-functioning water fountains, characteristics of “ghetto-schools” that were highly attended by Latino and African American students (Lopez, 2002).

Another unintended consequence or benefit of Brown vs. Board, was the creation of Bilingual education. Bilingual education programs are an example of efforts rooted in the principles in Brown. If not for Brown, many Latino children would not have been afforded the right to succeed by being educated in their primary language along with English. This has since gone under some reforms by those who feel that an “English only” education is the right choice.

Parents, in particular African American parents were also affected by the decision of Brown vs. Board. Minority parents were faced with having to send their child to a school, where they would be the minority and may face prosecution by the majority White students. It was not uncommon for students of color to be beaten, abused physically and verbally and humiliated when going to majority white schools.

The Brown case also indirectly did not investigate the role that race plays in our lives as a society. It failed to realize that although desegregating schools was in theory the correct thing to do, it force many individuals to lose their cultural identity and become assimilated to the dominant culture. It also allowed those with the financial resources to get up and leave.
“White Flight” was also an unintended result of Brown. Rather then stay and be forced to learn how to live with other cultures, many Whites migrated to further suburban neighborhoods so that their children would not have to be educated along side minority students. This created new divisive lines between community groups and races that were based on economic resources.

It has been 54 years since the historic decision and there are still many inequities that have yet to be resolved with “deliberate speed.” The issues of equity range from facilities, curriculum, resources, cultural appreciation and recognition, leadership, opportunities, faculty and student expectations.

Urban school facilities have faced and seen a lot of neglect and in very few cases do those same districts have any new school buildings. Most of the educational facilities in urban schools are either buildings that have been around approximately a 100 years, and have been patched up yearly just to get through.

Curriculum has never reflected the cultural interests of students after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision. When schools were segregated they were taught by teachers of color who in term would automatically include culturally significant materials and intertwine it with items they felt would be necessary for students of color to succeed in a “white world.”

Today’s curriculum still lacks major representation for students of color, there are only superficial mentions of historic African-Americans that are embedded in Social Studies textbooks. In terms of Latino’s the mentioning of the Spanish American War and immigration are two of the main topics that only hint about history and role of Latinos in America. Latino’s have very little of any mention of historic political figures and their trials in tribulations through out U.S. History.

The major error with curriculum today, is that it continues to promote the Americanization of students of color. The curriculum rarely if ever speaks from the angle of those oppressed, or most negatively influenced by the majority White American government. Native Americans, African-Americans, Asian Americans, and Latino Americans are all viewed in the curriculum as having gained so much more by the influence of the majority White Anglo Saxon America. Influences such as having been taught English the language of power, and having been shown religious and culturally valued norms, that are viewed as the right and acceptable practice amongst the masses. Curriculum today also continues to be written by those individuals in power, who continue to culturally reflect only a small percentage of the students being influenced by the curriculum.

Brown vs. Board of Education main premise was to fight for the end to legalized racial school segregation and separate but equal opportunities for students of color, in particular in terms of resources. The lack of resources and educational opportunities for school districts that serve a majority of students of color are startling. Today, in urban inner city schools the adequate availability of items such as school field trips, computer technology, assistive technology, student internships, textbooks, athletic equipment is far and few in between. There is a huge disparity between suburban schools that serve a majority of Caucasian students and city schools that serve a majority of minority students, very much, like what existed in 1954.

Since the historic ruling of Brown vs. Board, our national landscape has grown and diversified exponentially. We have a wide variety of minority groups who we now have to be mindful and sensitive to in terms of providing a rewarding adequate and equal educational experience.

Our country now includes the following groups, Arab Americans, Indian Americans, Hispanic/Latino-Americans, African Americans, Afro-Caribbean Americans, Asian Americans, Caucasian Americans and various combinations of the before mentioned groups. We also have a melting pot of religions and cultural influences that have been recognized in the media and through business. We have to create schools that promote diversity, where all children regardless of race and background can see the benefit of coming together, to learn and become part of a global world.

This generation of leaders needs to revisit how schools function, how they are organized, what and how they teach, and how they involve the community. Education though, still has a long way to go in improving the deficiencies that were fought for fifty-four years ago. With the emergence of various cultural groups and the huge disparities they possess financially, the work of “separate but equal” is far from finished.

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¡Viviendo el Sueño! (Living the Dream!)
Mr. Anibal Soler, Jr.
http://www.anibalsoler.com
http://anibalsoler.blogspot.com

Identity

Through out my time as an educator and school administrator, I have often thought about the concept of identity. I think about how this act of self-actualization plays a role in the educational experience of my urban students.

It is often stated that minority students struggle through out school, especially secondary school, because they see no relevance in curriculum and education. They have no connection on why education is important and how they should be using the school experience to open other doors. Is this their fault or ours? I believe it to be our fault and responsibility.

This framework causes me to think about identity and its role in school. When students know who they are, they can begin to fulfill their potential and become viable and productive scholars, but yet schools don't spend anytime on this. Why don’t schools change some of their focus?

Why don't we teach students about their cultural backgrounds to help build their identity and role in the world? Why don't we create academic avenues where students can engage in self-identifying activities? I left high school unsure about what I wanted to become or who I was because my experiences where limited and non-relevant. This lack of practice still continues today.

I highly recommend that educators and school leaders start to change their focus on creating instructional programs that help students see themselves better through work, and through educational experiences. I think it is a huge reason why students struggle with being successful in school. Students see no to little relevance in school and curriculum. They also see little of their identity developing at school.

Let's take the time to focus more on the student and less on the mandated content. I think when you do this you will see the benefits beyond measure.

¡Viviendo el Sueño! (Living the Dream!)
Mr. Anibal Soler, Jr.
http://www.anibalsoler.com
http://anibalsoler.blogspot.com

I have a Dream!

Today is a day that many individuals have off from work and school. Today is a day that has been declared a national holiday by our government.  Today is a day when many individuals especially African-American and Latino students still have no real context to what had occurred just 40 years ago.  The results of Dr. King's work is very evident in the lives of all minorities today. As a Latino I know that I have benefited from his work.

Dr. King had a vision and belief that our world would be much better as soon as we started to treat everyone equal and see individuals for their character and not for their color of skin.  How correct he was indeed! 

Sadly, although a lot has changed a lot has remained the same.  We still have huge racial inequities that exist in our culture. Inequities, that those who are not of color would never experience and may even argue do not exist because they have no true experience with them in their lives.  

In my eyes, the greatest of these inequities exist in the public school system, where schools are still divided by racial lines.  Where schools that are located in inner-cities do not have the same resources as their suburban counterparts. Where the student population is reflective to that of the era of segregation.

My point is that while Dr. Martin Luther King had a dream the work is still not finished. We must all step forward and pay it forward to the next generation. We must educate our youth today and tell them of the great leaders in the past who have paved the way for their future. A future filled with opportunity and choices that may have not been here if it wasn't for the great work of Dr. King. 

Today's students must have a grasp of their cultural roots in order to aspire for great things. Urban schools must focus their energy on reaching the hundreds and thousands of African-American and Latino students that we lose every year.  We all must do our part in the struggle and help show cultural relevance in curriculum and its connection to life.

Gone but not forgotten! 

Dr. Martin Luther King 

1/15/1929-4/4/1968

¡Viviendo el Sueño! (Living the Dream!)
Mr. Anibal Soler, Jr.
http://www.anibalsoler.com
http://anibalsoler.blogspot.com

New Year, New Promises and Renewed Efforts

Happy New Year!

Another year has come to a close and it's now time to sit down and think about what you are going to do different, or better this new year. 

I begin to think about all the items that still need to be done in education to help better meet the needs of my students. I think about my new personal adventure as a father in 2008.  I think about my continuing academic journey in my Doctoral program, at the University of Rochester. 

Before I continue looking forward let me just say that this year was another great year for myself. I have had numerous amounts and opportunities to help students at my school. I have been privileged enough to make connections with other professionals in  education who have the same passion and desire to create better opportunities for students as I do.  My wife and I also had the honor and privilege of receiving my son, Avery into this world. So in retrospect it was a great 2007.  

So what is in store for 2008? I am not sure but I do know that whatever it is I will make the most and best of any situation that may come my way.  Now this leads me to my resolutions for the 2008 new year.  

Here is a quick list of my manageable and realistic resolutions:

• Be the best father I can be and do all the things that were never done for me by my father
• Continue to do well in my doctoral coursework and ultimately get closer to completion
• Continue to become a better school administrator, and continue to reflect and make changes where possible
• Create new opportunities for my students, to help achieve their dreams in and out of school
• Tell those in my family and circle of trust, that I love them as often as possible, and always remember that family comes first

Those are my top 5 resolutions for 2008, let us see how I do.

Have a great New Years Day!

¡Viviendo el Sueño! (Living the Dream!)

Mr. Anibal Soler, Jr.
http://www.anibalsoler.com
http://anibalsoler.blogspot.com

Priorities or Livelihood?

Today was another eventful day at work. I was able to informally walk through some of my teachers classrooms and watch them teach. I was able to see student become engaged and challenged by the different situations and content presented by their teachers. I also had an interesting conversation with one of my schools' more popular and academically stellar students.

She is a senior and has faced a lot of adversity in her life. She comes from a home with two sibling and a single mother. Like many students in my building she has been very transient and has moved often in her 17 year lifetime. Just last year she was kicked out of her home and left at the corner locked out of her home. Her mother had decided that she had enough of dealing with her and she is old enough to be on her own. Yeah, I would't believe a parent could do that but it really happens and it happens a little too much in our society.

Well after being on her own this past summer and living with a group of other young ladies she attempted to come back home. Her mother and her have tried to heal and mend their relationship over the past 5 months. Unfortunately it the situation has occurred again. The student came looking for me once again, asking me what to do? Would I help her find some income based housing? Would I be a reference for her? Here is a 4.0 student who works a part-time job at Wegmans, takes two college level courses, and has now been kicked out of her home.

Those not involved in urban education often forget what our students are face with. They often blame schools for the failures and struggles of children without closely examining the failures of society and parents. Again I wish all of those who are looking from the outside in to spend sometime with those on the front lines before you past judgement on our failures. As you can see from this scenario a lot of times it is items out of the control of the school that hinder our success, but don't worry this child will succeed if I have something to say and do about it.

Living the Dream!
Mr. Soler
www.anibalsoler.com

School Safety

On a daily basis, schools and school districts face a multitude of challenges in keeping weapons, drugs and any other harmful individuals or items out of their buildings.

Most school buildings have a small handful of individuals that deal with safety and preventing items from coming in. It is visually obvious very few schools have enough resources and staff to handle the high need of safety in a school.

I often ask myself, why are school districts so reactive when it comes to safety? Why don't they provide schools with the resources to scan every student, provide doors with alarms on them, airport style bag scanners, or with enough video cameras to monitor school activity?

The fact is without a safe environment no learning can occur. Staff and students will be to concerned with their safety then with teaching and learning.

I challenge all school districts to make sure they provide enough resources to make sure that incidents of violence that involve weapons, do not occur. I challenge school districts to become "Proactive" rather then waiting for an incident to occur.

Another critical element involved in creating a safe school environment is having enough counseling and wellness resources available to students. Counselors need to have manageable size case loads so that they can know students more intimately and hopefully prevent incidents from occurring since they are better informed.

The last and most vital element is parent/guardian-student relationships. We need our parents of our students to talk, listen and respond to their children. We all remember as a child we needed someone we could talk to if we had an issue, or even if we didn't. We all need someone to vent or celebrate with, but we often get caught up in our own lives to take time to listen to our children who need us the most. We also have to encourage our students the importance of telling an adult when another child may be upset, and may cause harm to him or herself or another individual.

I know you have heard it before but I cannot emphasize it enough!
"It takes a village to raise a child!"


Living the Dream!
Mr. Anibal Soler, Jr.
www.anibalsoler.com

A Letter to the Mayor, City Councilman and School Board Officials of Rochester

Dear Mr. Duffy, Mr. McFadden and Mr. White,

As a citizen of this community I want to applaud you on your efforts to
increase the awareness of this ongoing issue of violence and poverty within
our Rochester community. I view this problem as not just belonging to the
City of Rochester, but belonging to the entire community including the
suburbs of Greece, Gates, Brighton and so on. As you know the demographics
of the suburbs are changing as more of us minorities are moving out into
those areas.

I work in the City School District, as a High School Vice Principal and I
love my job and the students I serve. I have spent my entire professional
career in the Rochester City School District as a teacher and now as a
school administrator. I attended elementary, middle and high school in the
city and I would have graduated from them if it wasn’t for my family moving
down lake avenue one street over into a town called Greece, where I completed
high school.

This problem of violence I see as a huge breakdown of the educational system
and what it offers Latino and African American students. Being Latino the
issue of relevance was something that I struggled with while attending city
and suburban schools, relevance was something that was not in place in
curriculum nor in practice.

Today as a school administrator I encourage my staff that they build,
relationship with the students they serve and that they model what is it to
be a positive and productive citizen. That they incorporate strategies
which help show relevance to why it is important to succeed at school,
especially to a student who comes from an environment where school is low on
the list of priorities.

As you gentleman continue to push forward with your various projects that
will affect the students and the community of Rochester please remember to
encourage that the RCSD place a Superintendent that is vested in this
community and wants to remain here to see things through. One who knows
that the true litmus test for any project in the educational system, is
whether the project is truly beneficial to students. A Superintendent who
understands the various influential variables of urban education, a
Superintendent who is truly focused on raising the level of success for our
students.

I also want to remind you that most of the individuals regardless of
nationality in our city school system want to see the students succeed, and
work very hard to make sure that this occurs. All the students I serve do
not care what the color of the teacher is but rather that the teacher CARE
and is there because they want to make a difference, although ethnicity
helps build a connection it is not the ultimate factor in determining
student success.

I often go home from work frustrated and discouraged that more cannot be
done in terms of providing resources and support for the students that I
serve. I do not sleep well at night knowing that statistically half of the
students that enter my school building will not finish high school. This is
a crisis!

As you are all aware it takes a community to raise a child, and education
equals opportunity. I hope the Children’s Zone does come to fruition for
the sake of our students and community.

Once again keep up the great work as we are in a state of emergency to save
thousands of youth! Don’t hesitate to lean on others like myself for
support or help as the success of our city depends on it.

Thank you for your time and have a blessed day!


--
¡Viviendo el Sueño! (Living the Dream!)
Mr. Anibal Soler, Jr.
http://www.anibalsoler.com
http://anibalsoler.blogspot.com

UPDATE: A Call for help...

Thank You!!!

Let me start out first by thanking everyone who donated and responded to my call for help. Jasper has started classes and is all moved in with plenty of materials, supplies and funds to last him for a while. I cannot tell you how grateful I am for your generosity in this time of need.

Through your donations I have secured $500 dollars that have been given to him for food, clothes and school incidentals.

This experience has helped me realize the huge void that exist for "Urban American" high school graduates who do not have much support or experience in preparing for the transition into college. Something must be done to ensure that once students graduate that they take the required steps to get into college.

Once again I am deeply grateful for your help in helping another one of my students, Live the Dream!


¡Viviendo el Sueño! (Living the Dream!)
Mr. Anibal Soler, Jr.
http://www.anibalsoler.com
http://anibalsoler.blogspot.com

To Blog or not to Blog? That is the question.

It has been a while since I have last written something in my blog. As an educational advocate and self proclaimed technological expert I can honestly say that blogs are an excellent tool, but are often not worth anything if no one is reading and collaborating with you. Hence probably why it has been so long since I have posted anything.

This "interactive audience" is an essential piece to a successful blog. Having an interactive audience is key. Without an audience one feels as if they are simply restating mental thoughts to themselves. The "interactive audience" is important because it in-turn helps create an engaged and highly motivated blogger.

Many times in instructional technology arenas there is always the conversation of the importance of creating blogs as part of an instructional approach to embedding technology into the curriculum. The reason most think blogs will be successful is because it would allow others to post comments or create discussions on or about class. Again, the emphasis on the role of an interactive audience.

In theory I think it is a great idea, but I begin to ask myself many questions that often are not discussed or investigated in the educational world, maybe it is because it is assumed that these other items will be in place. I think about the teacher and the role that that teacher has to play after class to make the blog worthwhile. Are teachers today ready to go beyond the traditional work day to connect with students? Are students ready to go home after being in school to log on to their computers and check out their class blog? How do you manage a blog and assign academic credit? and if you don't will students even bother? Are school administrators ready to go digital? Are they ready to continue the role of leadership in an online world? Are they ready to monitor how and what is being discussed?

I have many more questions and many more points of discussion. I hope that someday this blog will contain and have an interactive audience but until then I will continue to write as often as I can. I will also continue to try to comment on items in the world of education and in instructional technology as often as possible.

For those of you who continue to read this blog and comment when possible I thank you!!

Living the Dream!
Mr. Soler
www.anibalsoler.com

Mentoring

Today on the Oprah Winfrey Show, she had a TV special focusing on the National Crisis occurring in our schools, the failure of many urban school children. She also had some influential guests who are making a difference in their areas. They are Geoffrey Canada (CEO & Founder of the Harlem Childrens Zone), Hill Harper (CSI: NY actor, author of Letters to a Young Brother: MANifest Your Destiny), three teachers from California who established the Village Nation, and Susan L. Taylor an Essence magazine executive.

The show was very inspirational and heartfelt. If you could get your hands on a copy of it please do so, and if not email the show and request a copy.

What really struck me about the show was the intention to get 1 Million Mentors signed up. Essence Magazine has launched an initiative, “Essence Cares” that they hope will enroll 1 Million Mentors across the United States. Essence understands the importance of working with today’s inner-city youth who more then likely do not have a positive role model in their life.

I commend and applaud them for going out and stepping up and looking to make this a reality.

Anyone who is out there and is reading this post please go out and sign up and make a difference in the life of a student. Far too many people do not think this problem of failing schools doesn’t affect them, well they are wrong it affects us all, as a city, state and country. We must address this issue now, or later may be too late. As many in education have stated, “Not on my watch!”

Living the Dream!!!

Anibal