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
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
A call for help
Dear Family, Friends and Colleagues,
You are all aware of my commitment and passion to serve my students in my role as their Vice Principal at Charlotte High School. I look to instill in all my students the courage, desire and perseverance to achieve their dreams regardless of whatever adversity comes their way.
Today, I encountered a call for help by one of my recently graduated male success stories.
His name is Jasper M. and in 19 years of life, he has encountered a multitude of adversity that so far he has been able to overcome. Although now, he is at a crossroads in his life with no direction or immediate family support to help him and has turned to me, and I am turning to you.
Jasper in the past 3 months has gone from high to low to uncertain. After various matters and hardship during his high school tenure, he was able to complete and graduate. During his final month, he was also able to apply to Genesee Community College and be accepted, although having some learning complexities. Shortly after graduating and being accepted to college, Jasper’s mother who was chronically ill passed away. Jasper is currently working fulltime at a local recreation center but the majority of his college savings was spent on his mother’s funeral, as he is the only other income in the house and his father is also deceased.
As of today, he has $50 dollars towards his college future and a minimal amount of belongings to take with him this Friday, August 24, 2007. This is where your help comes in to play. If you could spare $10 dollars, please feel free to donate at the PayPal site that I have setup for Jasper’s College Fund. Click on the button below; create a PayPal account and pay with a credit card. I would love to present him with a check in the amount of money raised to help him purchase food, school supplies, linens and many other items. Once again he leaves Friday. Thank you!
Living the Dream!
Anibal Soler, Jr.
www.anibalsoler.com
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Addressing our ailing Rochester City Schools
As I was reading the paper this past weekend I came upon a request by the D&C asking community members their opinion of 6 different questions. I have written the questions below and I will answer the questions to the best of my knowledge. Again let me clearly state that these are my opinions and do not reflect any of the organization I work in. I speak for myself and no one else.
1.What is the most positive thing about city schools?
Diversity. The most positive thing about city schools is the diverse population that it serves. We have students that come from a variety of nationalities and cultures that will define the future of America.
2. Is the Children's Zone a good idea?
Absolutely! The Children's Zone, if modeled correctly after Geoffrey Canada's Harlem Children's Zone will address the many social inequities that are often blamed as the single reason why students in Urban America fail. It will create schools that are a one stop shop for families. Schools that will offer social and medical services to families who would not receive it otherwise. Schools that will become 24 hour community hubs that will become pillars in their communities. My only fear with the Rochester Children's Zone is like many new initiatives, it brings huge political games especially with the City of Rochester and the Rochester City School District being managed independently. The other issue will be money, it has been two years since the Rochester Children's Zone was started and we have yet to see anything occur other then meetings and discussions. Our time is precious and the longer we wait the thousands we continue to lose. We need individuals who are passionate about this and have the extreme urgency as Mr. Canada had in Harlem.
3. Should more vocational/technical classes be offered?
Yes. When I was a city school student in Rochester, I was focused on attending Edison Tech because it offered me the option to learn a trade or skill that would allow me to immediately obtain employment. Although I was not excepted to Edison I still found academic programs of worth at East High School. The reason why was because the teachers at East showed me relevance on how their Art program would still benefit me even-though it was not a technical graphic arts class. They showed me relevance in what I was doing and based on a program of rigor allowed me to have the artistic skills to work or attend college anywhere. Vocational education is an essential option that needs to be offered in conjunction with the traditional comprehensive high school.
4. Rank in order of importance, and say why:
*A. School Security
*B. Good test scores
*C. Teachers and Principals who care
*D. Cost-effective administration
My ranking would be: A, C, B, D.
School Security is the most important thing that needs to occur in any institution of learning. Without staff and students feeling safe nothing can occur. No learning will occur in an environment that is disruptive and unsafe. The next essential piece is having a staff that cares. A staff that is truly vested in the success of the students. Staff members who go above and beyond with the students and are not tied to what is said on a union contract or if there is additional pay for doing extending themselves. One of my biggest frustrations with staff is a lot of them have never seen the neighborhoods that are student come from and assume that their role as a teacher or administrator ends when the student leaves the building. In inner city schools a teacher is not just a teacher and an administrator is not just an administrator. They will be mothers, fathers, big brothers, big sisters, friends, social worker, counselors and list goes on and on. With a staff that cares you will begin to get students to change the way they approach their education and in turn get the next choice, "Good Test Scores." The test scores will come once the other two items are in place, without the prior two being established nothing will improve.
My last item of importance is cost effective administration. Salary is usually dictated by established unions or reflective of the job market. I know most individuals have a tough time with the salaries made by central office administration. Here is what my solution would be for that I would require that one day of their work week be sent at a building of high need. This would be a school that is not making NCLB's AYP. This new requirement would place these highly qualified and highly paid experts back at the building level thus reminding them of what is truly the focus of their decision making.
5. Who should run city schools? Explain why.
This is an extremely tough question because there are current examples of a city run school district and an independently run school district throughout our country. Both have their pro's and con's and their success and defeats. My main point here is I think most would agree that we would like to see a consistent, vested and visible leader. A Superintendent who is not going to be here for the traditional 3 year term but one who will see his vision and projects through completion.
6. What's the most important quality of a city school leader?
This is a very difficult question because it is like asking what is the most important ingredient in meat-loaf. You would say that all the ingredients are important. I think a city school leader needs a culmination of characteristics, not one of them being more significant than the other but being equally reliant for an effective school leader.
Here is my list of qualities in no significant order: compassion, humble, visible, integrity, dedicated, passionate, knowledgeable and experienced
Once again let me remind you these are my feelings and opinions in response to the Democrat and Chronicle's article.
¡Viviendo el Sueño! (Living the Dream!)
Mr. Anibal Soler, Jr.
www.anibalsoler.com
1.What is the most positive thing about city schools?
Diversity. The most positive thing about city schools is the diverse population that it serves. We have students that come from a variety of nationalities and cultures that will define the future of America.
2. Is the Children's Zone a good idea?
Absolutely! The Children's Zone, if modeled correctly after Geoffrey Canada's Harlem Children's Zone will address the many social inequities that are often blamed as the single reason why students in Urban America fail. It will create schools that are a one stop shop for families. Schools that will offer social and medical services to families who would not receive it otherwise. Schools that will become 24 hour community hubs that will become pillars in their communities. My only fear with the Rochester Children's Zone is like many new initiatives, it brings huge political games especially with the City of Rochester and the Rochester City School District being managed independently. The other issue will be money, it has been two years since the Rochester Children's Zone was started and we have yet to see anything occur other then meetings and discussions. Our time is precious and the longer we wait the thousands we continue to lose. We need individuals who are passionate about this and have the extreme urgency as Mr. Canada had in Harlem.
3. Should more vocational/technical classes be offered?
Yes. When I was a city school student in Rochester, I was focused on attending Edison Tech because it offered me the option to learn a trade or skill that would allow me to immediately obtain employment. Although I was not excepted to Edison I still found academic programs of worth at East High School. The reason why was because the teachers at East showed me relevance on how their Art program would still benefit me even-though it was not a technical graphic arts class. They showed me relevance in what I was doing and based on a program of rigor allowed me to have the artistic skills to work or attend college anywhere. Vocational education is an essential option that needs to be offered in conjunction with the traditional comprehensive high school.
4. Rank in order of importance, and say why:
*A. School Security
*B. Good test scores
*C. Teachers and Principals who care
*D. Cost-effective administration
My ranking would be: A, C, B, D.
School Security is the most important thing that needs to occur in any institution of learning. Without staff and students feeling safe nothing can occur. No learning will occur in an environment that is disruptive and unsafe. The next essential piece is having a staff that cares. A staff that is truly vested in the success of the students. Staff members who go above and beyond with the students and are not tied to what is said on a union contract or if there is additional pay for doing extending themselves. One of my biggest frustrations with staff is a lot of them have never seen the neighborhoods that are student come from and assume that their role as a teacher or administrator ends when the student leaves the building. In inner city schools a teacher is not just a teacher and an administrator is not just an administrator. They will be mothers, fathers, big brothers, big sisters, friends, social worker, counselors and list goes on and on. With a staff that cares you will begin to get students to change the way they approach their education and in turn get the next choice, "Good Test Scores." The test scores will come once the other two items are in place, without the prior two being established nothing will improve.
My last item of importance is cost effective administration. Salary is usually dictated by established unions or reflective of the job market. I know most individuals have a tough time with the salaries made by central office administration. Here is what my solution would be for that I would require that one day of their work week be sent at a building of high need. This would be a school that is not making NCLB's AYP. This new requirement would place these highly qualified and highly paid experts back at the building level thus reminding them of what is truly the focus of their decision making.
5. Who should run city schools? Explain why.
This is an extremely tough question because there are current examples of a city run school district and an independently run school district throughout our country. Both have their pro's and con's and their success and defeats. My main point here is I think most would agree that we would like to see a consistent, vested and visible leader. A Superintendent who is not going to be here for the traditional 3 year term but one who will see his vision and projects through completion.
6. What's the most important quality of a city school leader?
This is a very difficult question because it is like asking what is the most important ingredient in meat-loaf. You would say that all the ingredients are important. I think a city school leader needs a culmination of characteristics, not one of them being more significant than the other but being equally reliant for an effective school leader.
Here is my list of qualities in no significant order: compassion, humble, visible, integrity, dedicated, passionate, knowledgeable and experienced
Once again let me remind you these are my feelings and opinions in response to the Democrat and Chronicle's article.
¡Viviendo el Sueño! (Living the Dream!)
Mr. Anibal Soler, Jr.
www.anibalsoler.com
NYSCATE Leadership Conference
Leading on Purpose?... This was the title of a NYSCATE sponsored conference I attended in Syracuse, New York which I thought would have had more of a focus on technology. Instead what the attendees and myself received was a revisit back on our educational value system. A look back to why we decided to become educators and leaders in education. We spoke openly about what our purpose and vision is in education.
The conference had its benefits but was no where near the expectations that were set forth from the emailed agenda.
I left the conference a little frustrated that I have yet to attend an Educational Technology Conference that I have learned from. This may be an opportunity for myself to set the tone. Hmm... I will have to think about that for future endeavors.
¡Viviendo el Sueño! (Living the Dream!)
Mr. Anibal Soler, Jr.
http://www.anibalsoler.com
http://anibalsoler.blogspot.com
The conference had its benefits but was no where near the expectations that were set forth from the emailed agenda.
I left the conference a little frustrated that I have yet to attend an Educational Technology Conference that I have learned from. This may be an opportunity for myself to set the tone. Hmm... I will have to think about that for future endeavors.
¡Viviendo el Sueño! (Living the Dream!)
Mr. Anibal Soler, Jr.
http://www.anibalsoler.com
http://anibalsoler.blogspot.com
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
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
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
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Charlotte High School Graduation 2007
Yesterday was my first Graduation as a High School Vice-Principal. It was an overwhelming and fulfilling experience. It had been almost 20 years since the last graduating class had received a high school diploma. The last group from Charlotte High School was back in 1988.
The commencement ceremony took place at the University of Rochester's Strong Auditorium.
As I stood near the stage at my post there were many things that stood out in my mind. First, I began to think of how many of my students where going to become first generation high school graduates. Many of my students come from families who do not have a single high school graduate, much like myself.
The second thing that crossed my mind was the sense of pride all of the staff should have when looking at the current graduates. I wish that all teaching staff members were required to be in attendance. You may ask why? Well, I feel that if staff get to truly see why we work so hard on making sure our graduates get through they will understand or be reminded of their intrinsic responsibilities. The handful of staff members who were there will undoubtedly be inspired and moved for a long while. I look forward to seeing how this translates into next year as we now have our first official year as a full high school grades 7-12.
The other ultimate highlight was being able to take photos with the students afterwards. This is where you get to hug that student who you were nagging on the past nine months. This is also were you get to see how many students you impacted by the amount of photo requests you have.
I was only privileged enough to work and get to know these graduates for the past school year, 2006-2007. I hope during that time I have helped make an impact and demonstrate for them that, today all though a great day is not the end of the road. They need to make sure they continue on forward and live the dream!!
In closing let me say, CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2007!!
Living the Dream!!
Mr. Soler
www.anibalsoler.com
The commencement ceremony took place at the University of Rochester's Strong Auditorium.
As I stood near the stage at my post there were many things that stood out in my mind. First, I began to think of how many of my students where going to become first generation high school graduates. Many of my students come from families who do not have a single high school graduate, much like myself.
The second thing that crossed my mind was the sense of pride all of the staff should have when looking at the current graduates. I wish that all teaching staff members were required to be in attendance. You may ask why? Well, I feel that if staff get to truly see why we work so hard on making sure our graduates get through they will understand or be reminded of their intrinsic responsibilities. The handful of staff members who were there will undoubtedly be inspired and moved for a long while. I look forward to seeing how this translates into next year as we now have our first official year as a full high school grades 7-12.
The other ultimate highlight was being able to take photos with the students afterwards. This is where you get to hug that student who you were nagging on the past nine months. This is also were you get to see how many students you impacted by the amount of photo requests you have.
I was only privileged enough to work and get to know these graduates for the past school year, 2006-2007. I hope during that time I have helped make an impact and demonstrate for them that, today all though a great day is not the end of the road. They need to make sure they continue on forward and live the dream!!
In closing let me say, CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2007!!
Living the Dream!!
Mr. Soler
www.anibalsoler.com
Thursday, May 31, 2007
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
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
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