Partnership District Award Winners - 2007

Seven districts are winners of the 2007 Partnership Awards from the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) at Johns Hopkins University. They are recognized for excellence in developing and sustaining comprehensive, goal-oriented programs of school, family, and community partnerships. The award winners are working to ensure that all families are welcome in all schools, and that programs and practices of family and community involvement help increase student achievement and other indicators of success in school.

The district leaders for partnerships submitted descriptions of district-level activities that increased awareness of family and community involvement, aligned actions for partnerships with other district policies for school improvement, and extended leadership on partnerships. They also submitted evidence of how they, as district leaders, facilitated the work of individual schools’ Action Teams for Partnerships (ATPs) to improve school-based programs of family and community involvement. This included conducting workshops, sharing best practices, evaluating progress, and offering other, on-going support to the schools ATPs.

All award-winning districts received a plaque and one free registration to an NNPS professional development conference. They also are featured in Type 2, Fall 2007, #23, and in an “Honors” column of Education Week. Five districts (noted *) also received a cash prize of $500 to recognize sustained progress in partnership program development. These programs are featured in Type 2, Fall 2007, #23, and in an “Honors” column of Education Week. Some district activities are included in the NNPS collection, Promising Partnership Practices 2007.

		Hampton City Schools, Hampton, VA Chanda J. Epps, Title I Coordinator of Parent Involvement; Dr. Patrick Russo, Superintendent.

		Local District 4, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), Los Angeles, CA William Masis, Coordinator, School, Family, and Community Partnerships; Richard A. Alonzo, Superintendent.

		Local District 8, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), Los Angeles, CA Dr. Juanita Coleman-Merritt, Parent Ombudsperson/Coordinator; Dona Stevens, Superintendent.

		Naperville Community Unit School District 203, Naperville, IL Nina Menis, Director, Office of Community Relations; Karen Currier, Principal, and Terri Stevens, Parent, Co-Chairs of District Core Team; Dr. Alan Leis, Superintendent.

		Pasco School District, Pasco, WA Deidra McCollum, District Parent Involvement Coordinator; Lorraine Landon, Parent Education Center Coordinator; Saundra Hill, Superintendent.

		Saint Paul Public Schools, St. Paul, MN Joe Munnich, Family and Community Involvement Coordinator; Dr. Meria J. Carstarphen, Superintendent.

		Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Virginia Beach, VA Melissa T. McQuarrie, Director of Community Relations; Karen Clevinger, Title I Instructional Specialist; Dr. James G. Merrill, Superintendent.