News Article - Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

For Immediate Release
Friday, October 13, 2000
Contact:	Darrell S. Pressley, 781-338-3126

Board of Education Holds Public Forum on Effective Urban Schools, Leaders

Malden - The public is invited to hear six state and national urban school leaders in public education discuss how to make effective schools in urban districts at a public forum Tuesday, October 17 at the Department of Education. The Massachusetts Board of Education and the Department of Education will host the forum on "Effective Schools & Effective Leaders in Urban Districts." The event will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the third floor Board of Education rooms. Panelists for the forum include:

Gregory Hodge, principal, Frederick Douglas Academy, New York, N.Y.
Nancy Ichinaga, former principal, Bennett-Kew Elementary School, Inglewood, Calif.
Nealon Jaynes-Lewis, principal, Liberty Elementary School, Springfield
David Levin, principal, KIPP Academy, Bronx, N.Y.
Kim Marshall, principal, Mather Elementary School, Boston
Donna Rodrigues, program coordinator, University Park Campus, Worcester

Commissioner of Education David P. Driscoll said, "The top priority of the Board of Education and the Department of Education is raising student achievement. The panelists for this forum are extraordinary state and national urban school leaders who through their experience can share with others various strategies in helping children learn in public education." As Massachusetts enters the second phase of Education Reform, along with raising student achievement, of particular importance in this effort is a clear understanding of what effective schools look like and what role leadership plays in the development of such schools. This event is the first in a series of Education Reform forums that will explore these issues. For more information on the public forum, visit the Department of Education website.

Last Updated: October 13, 2000