Baltimore County, MD Hello Baltimore County, 15 Aug 2017

Previous Meeting Next Meeting

⏯

youtube image

►

From YouTube: Meet the new BCPS Interim Superintendent

Description

View a conversation with County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and the new Interim Superintendent, Verletta White on their educational priorities.

A

Welcome to hello! baltimore county., I'm stacie burgess on assignment at the historic courthouse in towson, maryland.

A

We're here with county executive, kevin kamenetz as we welcome our new interim school superintendent, mrs. verletta white.

A

Welcome and thank you for hosting us, sir.

A

well,. Thank you for being here, stacie,.

B

And we're delighted to have verletta white lead our school system.

B

And her success story is really baltimore. County's success story.

B

Because I know that you are a proud graduate of woodmoor elementary school.

B

And woodlawn middle and woodlawn high school.

B

And you've been in our school system in virtually every position, --.

B

As a teacher and as a system principal, a principal;.

B

You know, most recently, chief academic officer., so you're extremely well qualified and well versed in the success.

B

Of baltimore county public schools. and importantly, you have been with us at the table when we've been achieving rising graduation rates.

B

And eliminating that disparity in graduation between black and white students.

B

And all the other academic successes that we're having in our school systems.

B

So, we welcome you and we're very--. We don't have to welcome you because you've been here all along,, but we're just excited that you're now taking the helm and running with it, quickly.

B

Well, thank you for that, and thank you for hosting.

C

And stacie,, thank you also for this opportunity..

C

It's a pleasure to be here.

A

Thank you., it's an exciting new chapter for all of us.

A

How would you describe your educational philosophy.

A

And your process for obtaining student achievement?.

A

Well,, my philosophy is about protecting the classroom.

C

And making sure that teachers and students have everything.

C

That they need to make sure their quality, teaching and learning.

C

Happens every single day., so my philosophy really has to do with the whole child..

C

We have to make sure that we're providing for the academics,.

C

But we're also providing for the social emotional needs of our students,.

C

Making sure that their families are supported so that we have a quality educational program for all of our students.

C

And so, as the county executive said, I've had a wonderful career in baltimore county., it's been a great journey and I've worked with tremendous people.

C

So it has to do about, you know, with teaching and learning.

C

And making sure that we're providing for the needs of all of our students.

A

Great! as the county executive mentioned,, some of your achievements have included closing the achievement gap.

A

And so an increase in graduations rates as well..

A

Is there anything you wanted to say about that?? Well, certainly., I didn't do it alone.

C

This is a team effort,. So when we talk about teambcps,, it truly is a team.

C

From the working with our county officials to working with the wonderful teachers.

C

And staff members, administrators, and the parents and community members as well..

C

We make sure that all of our students are on track for graduation.

C

And so we have early indicators that when they're not on track for graduation,.

C

Then we make sure that we're communicating that to our parents and to our students as well., and then we have programs and processes in place to make sure that we get them back on track..

C

So we have innovative programs to make sure that they're able to take courses on the weekends,, maybe sometimes in the summertime,.

C

So that we can accelerate their performance and make sure that they get the credits that they need, so that they can walk across that stage and be successful when they do so.

A

Absolutely. mr. county executive,, education has remained a top priority for you.

A

As county executive. tell us more about your initiative for our schools for our future program.

A

Well, we're really excited.

B

When I took office in 2010, december of 2010,.

B

I inherited what I considered to be the twin dilemma of rising enrollment and aging infrastructure.

B

In fact,, 80 percent of our schools were more than 40 years. Old.

B

And 90 schools didn't even have air conditioning.

B

So we embarked on this record $1.3 billion investment,.

B

16 new schools, 19 additions and renovations,.

B

And we've taken the number of schools without air conditioning from 90 to just 13 this month.

B

When we just opened up these most recently renovated schools.

B

And we'll continue with the progress until we get the job done.

B

So it's not only important to give our kids and our teachers.

B

And support staff- a modern learning environment,, but we're also with this investment building neighborhoods.

B

And that's what baltimore county's all about.! It's a good return on investment.!

B

That's remarkable.!.

A

Mrs. white,, what are some of your top priorities for this school year and moving forward?.

C

Well, I haven't been shy about those top priorities for the school system,.

C

Literacy being the first priority and certainly making sure.

C

That our students are safe and that they have the benefit.

C

Of a safe and orderly learning environment., so school climate is another priority for me..

C

So when I speak about literacy,, I'm not just talking about.

C

Just fundamentals of reading of writing- --! That's important --.

C

But when I'm talking about literacy,, I really mean literacy across the content. Areas.

C

To be employable in this day and age,, you have to take in information,.

C

You need to be able to synthesize and analyze that information,.

C

And then you have to be able to act upon that information.

C

We do that every day in our jobs that we're required to do.

C

We need our students to be able to do the same thing..

C

So when we speak about 21st century literacies,, our students need to have the benefit of those skills throughout their content areas..

C

So I am expecting students to be able to read and write in non-fiction every single day,, and so that will be something that we'll be working with. Our teachers, on,.

C

And I know that our teachers have been pretty excited about that prospect.

C

Of making sure that our students engage in that type.

C

Of literary work, every single day., and also when I speak about school climate and supporting the whole child,.

C

It's also about making sure that we put in place prevention, strategies,.

C

Restoration strategies as well, as well as logical, consequences.,.

C

So when we speak about prevention,, I'm talking about engaging instruction.

C

Nothing offsets problematic, behavior like making sure.

C

That we have effective, daily, instruction,, effective first instruction.

C

That's prevention. restoration has to do with making sure that everyone in that building, --.

C

Teachers, students, administrators -- feel like they belong and that they're connected to the school environment.

C

And so logical consequences,, that's the third piece of it.

C

It is the final piece, but it is an important piece, that when students do-- cross the line and that they have been--.

C

We've provided that time for prevention and restoration,.

C

That there are logical consequences for problematic behavior as well.

C

So we're working with staff and with our schools.

C

To make sure that we promote literacy and that we have effective.

C

And quality school climates in every single one of our buildings.

A

Excellent! as we move further into the school year, for both of you,.

A

What is the further message that you would want students, or parents, or teachers and faculty to know?.

B

Well I'll just say that education is a priority in baltimore county government.

B

We spend more than 50 percent of our budget on education.

B

And in my opinion, it's the primary goal of a local government.

B

To make sure that we provide that quality level of education.

B

I'm delighted with the progress of our baltimore county school system.

B

I think we're one of the finest in the nation and of course I have living proof right next to me of our work. Product.

B

C

And I would say that I share in that pride..

C

It is such an honor for me to be able to continue the fantastic work.

C

That we've already begun in baltimore county..

C

We have everyone invested in this work, --.

C

From our county officials to our outstanding administrators.

C

And our teachers in our buildings,, as well as our community members.

C

And our parents who invest in our children.

C

So,, it is a wonderful time in education..

C

We are really proud of the work that we're doing, and I just look forward to continuing that. Work.

C

any last words, as we close?

C

just happy to be here and proud to serve as the interim superintendent for baltimore county public schools.

C

Thank you, both.

A

Thank you both for your time and for being here,, and thank you all for watching. Hello! baltimore, county.

A

We look forward to seeing you here next time.

A

same time,, same place. and remember to stay connected to us on all of our social media. Platforms.

A

Thank you so much.