Comments on: Lost in America http://www.vanderbilt.edu/magazines/vanderbilt-magazine/2008/03/lost_in_america/ the alumni magazine of Vanderbilt University Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:39:26 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Katherine Vanderpool, Provost, BA’87 (Wayland, Mass.) http://www.vanderbilt.edu/magazines/vanderbilt-magazine/2008/03/lost_in_america/comment-page-1/#comment-80 Katherine Vanderpool, Provost, BA’87 (Wayland, Mass.) Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:44:08 +0000 http://www.vanderbilt.edu/magazines/vanderbilt-magazine/2008/03/lost-in-america/#comment-80 I’ve been so impressed with recent editions. The writing has always been top-notch, but what has inspired me is the depth and breadth of content. I particularly enjoyed the focus on nonprofits/social initiatives with respect to education, including new models for urban schools and the Posse Foundation. I kept the edition to refer back to because I’m considering a career change after 17 years in affordable housing. Thank you, and keep it up! I’ve been so impressed with recent editions. The writing has always been top-notch, but what has inspired me is the depth and breadth of content. I particularly enjoyed the focus on nonprofits/social initiatives with respect to education, including new models for urban schools and the Posse Foundation. I kept the edition to refer back to because I’m considering a career change after 17 years in affordable housing. Thank you, and keep it up!

]]> By: John Merrow http://www.vanderbilt.edu/magazines/vanderbilt-magazine/2008/03/lost_in_america/comment-page-1/#comment-13 John Merrow Mon, 05 May 2008 19:34:15 +0000 http://www.vanderbilt.edu/magazines/vanderbilt-magazine/2008/03/lost-in-america/#comment-13 A year ago we profiled one DoDEA school (on Fort Bragg,NC) for the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on PBS. We found precisely what the author describes. Frankly it was one of the best schools I have visited or reported on in nearly 35 years on the job. If you would like to see the 11-minute piece, go to pbs.org/merrow and search for "Lessons of War." A year ago we profiled one DoDEA school (on Fort Bragg,NC) for the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on PBS. We found precisely what the author describes. Frankly it was one of the best schools I have visited or reported on in nearly 35 years on the job.
If you would like to see the 11-minute piece, go to pbs.org/merrow and search for “Lessons of War.”

]]> By: Maryellen Pienta http://www.vanderbilt.edu/magazines/vanderbilt-magazine/2008/03/lost_in_america/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Maryellen Pienta Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:34:56 +0000 http://www.vanderbilt.edu/magazines/vanderbilt-magazine/2008/03/lost-in-america/#comment-14 Not coincidentally, the DoDEA schools also have had AVID in place for fifteen years. In fact, DoDEA was one of the first districts outside of California to adopt AVID. It has proven to be highly effective in accelerating students into rigorous courses, especially honors and AP, and in ensuring transitions to stateside schools and college. Not coincidentally, the DoDEA schools also have had AVID in place for fifteen years. In fact, DoDEA was one of the first districts outside of California to adopt AVID. It has proven to be highly effective in accelerating students into rigorous courses, especially honors and AP, and in ensuring transitions to stateside schools and college.

]]> By: Claudette Harris http://www.vanderbilt.edu/magazines/vanderbilt-magazine/2008/03/lost_in_america/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Claudette Harris Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:35:40 +0000 http://www.vanderbilt.edu/magazines/vanderbilt-magazine/2008/03/lost-in-america/#comment-15 Love this article! As a third grade teacher with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDS)system in Germany I am proud of the work my colleagues and I do on a daily basis. Our teachers come from school systems all across the US and I believe that is another reason why we are so good at what we do. We share ideas on a daily basis in order to make our students successful. We also have high expectations for our students. I find that the administration I've had the pleasure of working with have been very supportive of the work we do. Professional development is a large part of what we do here in the DoDEA system. Currently I have a class of 20 students. 16 of the 20 have one parent in Iraq and one student has both parents in Iraq. Dealing with the stress of deployment and trying to educate these children is a daily challenge. My father served in Korea and Vietnam. I have shared my experience with my students and parents. I find that the parents appreciate the fact that I have gone through a similar experience as their children and my students feel they can relate to me on some level. Although I have shared my experience, I still have high expectations for my students. I also have the support from a great group of parents. One of the things I enjoy about the DoDEA system is the multi-cultural aspect of the job. As an African American I felt it necessary to work in this school system so African American students could see someone like themselves. I have come to appreciate the vast cultural differences in my classroom and we celebrate those differences everyday. As a school we also celebrate cultural diversity. Regardless of your political viewpoint, I don't think people understand exactly what this war is doing to the children of the men and women who serve our country. The professional teachers of DoDDS (overseas schools) and DDESS (stateside schools) do understand what these children are going through but we also understand that they need to be educated and try to keep their focus on academics as much as possible. Their safe place is the schools. Love this article! As a third grade teacher with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDS)system in Germany I am proud of the work my colleagues and I do on a daily basis. Our teachers come from school systems all across the US and I believe that is another reason why we are so good at what we do. We share ideas on a daily basis in order to make our students successful. We also have high expectations for our students. I find that the administration I’ve had the pleasure of working with have been very supportive of the work we do. Professional development is a large part of what we do here in the DoDEA system.

Currently I have a class of 20 students. 16 of the 20 have one parent in Iraq and one student has both parents in Iraq. Dealing with the stress of deployment and trying to educate these children is a daily challenge.

My father served in Korea and Vietnam. I have shared my experience with my students and parents. I find that the parents appreciate the fact that I have gone through a similar experience as their children and my students feel they can relate to me on some level. Although I have shared my experience, I still have high expectations for my students. I also have the support from a great group of parents.

One of the things I enjoy about the DoDEA system is the multi-cultural aspect of the job. As an African American I felt it necessary to work in this school system so African American students could see someone like themselves. I have come to appreciate the vast cultural differences in my classroom and we celebrate those differences everyday. As a school we also celebrate cultural diversity.

Regardless of your political viewpoint, I don’t think people understand exactly what this war is doing to the children of the men and women who serve our country.

The professional teachers of DoDDS (overseas schools) and DDESS (stateside schools) do understand what these children are going through but we also understand that they need to be educated and try to keep their focus on academics as much as possible. Their safe place is the schools.

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