Loss of Two Students

It has been almost a month since we lost two students to street violence at Charlotte High School, Both students were freshman and their lost was deeply felt by everyone in the building. Read more about what occured here on the Democrat & Chronicle .

The first couple of days back were a little rough with students asking questions of why, and having difficulty dealing with the lost of someone whom they had known.

Looking back, our students were great, they were very open to healthy dialogue on about their emotions and thoughts. They also used various venues to release there emotions such as creating cards, signing the students lockers and leaving messages on the poster hanging in the cafeteria. Many of the students also attended the funeral services of both students.

Still to this date there is no information on who committed this crime and why. A lot of what we have heard is just speculation. Some of the dialogue I had with students in classes was about the importance of reporting whatever they may know. I was mainly trying to address the issue of "snitching." One of the main areas of concerns in school and in urban environments.

One particular dialogue sticks out in my mind. I asked the students why don't students "snitch" or report crimes? The one student who raised her hand first, turned and looked at me and said, "Mr. Soler, we know what's right and what's wrong, but you gotta understand that we live in those neighborhoods and if we tell someone, that person we told doesn't necessarily go back to that neighborhood but we do."

Those comments really pointed to the immense presence of fear that exist in inner-city communities. She was 100% right many of us involved with students in urban schools do not live in the same neighborhoods. I found myself stuck and I didn't really know how to respond to her, other then saying you must use schools and education as the way out to better yourself, and family.

I ended my visit by saying, "All we have is each other!"

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

Living the Dream: Back 2 Back Section V Champs!

Congratulations to the Charlotte High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team! They have accomplished what most student-athletes never get to experience once in their careers, they won back-to-back Section Five Championships.

This team of boys have been together since middle school and their hard work, determination and commitment has paid off. They have help rebuild and make Charlotte High School a powerhouse in boys basketball.

I wish all the Seniors on the team, good luck and we will be looking forward to their college careers.

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

Jordan Major-Scholar Athlete

This week brought some great news to Charlotte High School and in particularly myself. Last year in my first year at Charlotte High School I made a connection with a student, Jordan Major. At the time Jordan was a Junior and I seen an enormous amount of potential in him athletically as well as academically. Since that time I have become his unofficial mentor and advocate.

In two years worth of time I have taken Jordan to various venues, including college visitation trips and AAU basketball tournaments. I have also helped him out financially when things were tough.

Jordan, is evidence that making connections and mentoring students pays off! As a result of his hard work he was chosen as the scholar athlete for Channel 10 news in Rochester. Check it out the news article here.

Congratulations Jordan, I am proud of you!

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

Their words...

Recently on the Rochester City School District, 7th Grade English Language Arts, city wide midterm, the students where asked to write an essay on suggestions what they believe would help them be more successful students and prevent them from dropping out of school.

Here were eight of the most consistent items mentioned. The order of these items has no significance, as all of the items have equal value.

• On the first day of school the principal should introduce him or herself to all of the 7th graders
• Teacher and Administrators should bond with students
• Older students should be assigned as mentors to 7th graders
• Test should be referred to as a celebration of learning
• Students should be grouped in classes according to their ability or level
• Teachers and Administrators should assure students that they are not being given up on, even if this means going to their house and talking to their parents
• Have 8th grade students talk to 7th grade students at the beginning of the year and give them advice on how to be successful as 7th graders
• Try to work with kids instead of just kicking them out of the classroom right away

After reading what the students wrote, I thought to myself, is the district going to look at this information? And if they do are they going to use it? Is this question only on the exam to foster stronger student participation, because students will feel that their voices are going to be heard?

Not sure what, and if the district will use this information, but I know I have come away with some valuable insight that I plan to use to help build a stronger community next year.

Thanks 7th Graders, Class of 2012!

¡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