Congratulations to Terence Dalbert

Congratulations to Terence Dalbert. This young man has a full 4 year scholarship to MIT.

His story is featured on WJBF in Augusta, GA. Why not WRDW, WAGT, WFXG, Augusta Chronicle, Metro Spirit? If the young man had made bad news, it would be all over every media outlet. This young man is headed to MIT on a 4 year scholarship and he needs everyone's support. MIT is a much different environment than Lucy C. Laney High School, but know that you made it and others are looking to you as an example to follow.

Congratulations Terence. Fraendy Clervaud reports, "Graduating with a 4.0 GPA, and getting an 1850 SAT score, Terence was this year’s valedictorian at Lucy C. Laney High School" (2009).

Lucy C. Laney High School graduation rates.

Check out the story and video on WJBF's website.

Terence, thank you for demonstrating that you do not have to settle or that being a victim of your environment is an expected behavior. If we expected this from all of our students, more students would graduate and move on in the circle of life.

Go to MIT, do great things, and we look forward to updates on your successes, failures, and shared experiences.

Thank you for representing!!!

Community as Curriculum

I participated in David Cormier's Community as Curriculum webhead event today. I would like to defend my dissertation this way. Of course, I understand that I have to eradicate some barriers.

But why shouldn't I have an opportunity to defend my dissertation this way? The degree is Educational Technology Management...I chose the Ed.D degree because I am a practioner, not the researcher wanting to develop a new theory or change existing theory.

Watch this UStream . The chat room was busy, the doodling of responses on the slides was collaborative, so even if you missed something, everything is archived to review later at your own pace and convenience. Once Dave's time was up, the UStream was available.

Don't have time to watch the Ustream? Check out the slides that display everyone's participative comments.

Wiaoc2009 - Nicer version of the slides created by the audience of my community as curriculum presentation

View more Keynote presentations from coarsesalt.

Even if I can't defend my dissertation this way, why not change the options now for future students?

As always, comments are welcome!

Pay cuts, raising locker and parking fees

So the RCSS held the preliminary budget cut meeting. Bottom Line Up Front aka BLUF: Everyone is going feel the pain. If the school board voted to cut $750 from my pay, I would make suggestions until the cows came home.


So go ahead, make a suggestion No names or email required.

AC article on the RCSS budget: Members say options open to make cuts

So today's AC headlines on the RCSS budget: Richmond schools could raise parking, locker fees

Do I know there are people who care? Absolutely. Do I know that the RCSS protocol is siloed? Yes. Do I know people that want to do something but do not know what to do? Yes.

But I have been told, "You can't do that" or"That is just the way we have always done it."

What I am tired of...is everyone doing a great job of griping, groaning, and complaining. If they spent that much effort in trying to do something for a student in RCSS, we might see a change in the "us vs. them" attitude.

As I move from my specialization courses into the Research and Dissertation courses I thought I would give it the old Ed Tech try and prove people wrong who swear that people in Augusta, GA would rather post gripes and groans through the Augusta Chronicle articles than to be proactive with solutions or submit a recommendation that might possibly be viewed as a possible solution to the most recent RCSS $24.5 million budget shortfall.

So what are you waiting for? Fill out the form or just leave a comment on the blog.

Hang in there Dr. Bedden, you inherited the soup sandwich and with your annual salary, some people expect you to produce a feast. Just know, that some of us are out here doing the right thing, supporting students, being involved and engaged adults because the students today are the leaders who will replace us.