Award Winners

We know we have great schools with fantastic educators, wonderful charter school programs that we should all be proud of, and tremendous advocates supporting charter public education as a significant piece of education reform in Missouri.   The Missouri Charter School “Excellence Awards” are an opportunity to recognize outstanding charter school individuals and programs in Missouri. For each award we received a number of nominations making the selection process quite a challenge.  We want to congratulate all of the nominees.

 

Charter School “Best Innovative Practice” Award – Hogan Preparatory Academy, Senior Seminar Program

This award is given to the charter school (or campus) that has developed and demonstrated an unusually successful and strategically innovative best practice during the 2009-2010 school year.

The recipient of the Innovative Practice award is Hogan Preparatory Academy’s Senior Seminar.

Hogan Preparatory Academy serves an at-risk population of urban students.  The school discovered that most of their students are First Generation College bound students.  As a result, they and their parents are not knowledgeable about the college application processes and especially the financial aid and scholarship processes. When the school was simply making announcements and posting information on bulletin boards, they found only a handful of students would get around to filling out applications or would be missing critical deadlines.

Their solution was the development of the Hogan Preparatory Academy Senior Seminar; an opportunity for the guidance counselor to meet with every senior during a regular class period every day.  Key features of the course include:

• Student assistance with the organization of their transcripts, applications, and other important documents;
• All college applications are mailed for the students;
• Every senior creates a resume/profile highlighting their accomplishments and a one page biography including their goals and aspirations;
• Students are taken on college visits;
• Hogan alums are invited and encouraged to come to senior seminar classes to talk to the seniors about their college experience;
• Seniors continue to explore career choices and college majors and they do a day of job shadowing 2^nd semester in their chosen career interest;
• Seniors have classroom discussions/speakers concerning college issues such as “how do I become a good roommate”; date rape and safety on a college campus; fraternity and sorority membership; credit cards and school loans; work-study jobs; time management and organization to name a few.

In addition to assisting every senior in the school, this course helps in the recruitment efforts and student retention.

The Senior Seminar course directly impacts every graduate.  Last year Hogan Preparatory Academy graduated 59 seniors.  All of them were accepted to at least one college and the class as a whole was offered $2,400,000 in scholarships and grants for college.

 

Charter School “Advocate of the Year” Award – State Representative Tishaura Jones

This award is given to an individual that has shown exceptional work in advocating for the charter school movement as a whole in the state of Missouri.  This can be a school leader or sponsor, parent, community activist or legislator.

This year’s recipient can often be heard in the Capitol saying that she is a parent first, and a legislator second.  She was elected in 2008 to represent the 63^rd legislative district in the heart of St. Louis City and after the 2010 election was selected by her caucus as the Assistant Minority Leader.  She is the first woman and first African- American to hold this position in Missouri’s history.

During the 2010 legislative session she sponsored the main charter school bill, which expanded where charter schools can locate and sought ways to increase charter accountability.  She navigated the political maze in Jefferson City, passing the bill through the Missouri State House and the Senate Education Committee, ending the session one vote away from reaching the Governor’s desk.  I have no doubt that she will be back in the 2012 session advocating for charter public schools in the Capitol.

Congratulations to this year’s advocate of the year, State Representative Tishaura Jones

 

Charter Schools “Teacher of the Year” Award – Ariel Bonderer, Scuola Vita Nuova, 7th and 8th grade math and science teacher

This award recognizes a Missouri charter public school teacher who believes in and unleashes the potential of students. This teacher will demonstrate remarkable effort and success in ensuring that every child in his or her care learns and grows to the maximum extent possible.

This year’s recipient teaches 7^th & 8^th grade mathematics and science. She has a deep understanding in her content areas and is intrinsically motivated to continue to develop her craft.  She is recognized for creating a safe secure learning environment for all students, constantly seeking best practices, and aligning her instruction with state and national standards.  You often will find her researching and developing curriculum beyond the traditional school hours and during the summer.  According to the school leadership, the main thing that sets her apart from the rest and the reason she was nominated for the Teacher of the Year Award is her passion for each of her students!  She demonstrates this every day by going that extra mile for her students. Her dedication to her craft, her students and the school community is second to none.

Congratulations to this year’s teacher of the year, Scuola Vita Nuova’s Ariel Bonderer.

 

Charter “Leader of the Year” Award – Julie Frugo, St. Louis Charter School

This award recognizes a Missouri charter public school leader who motivates students, parents, staff and communities to create an outstanding school. His or her school models a challenging, nurturing environment where children are the first priority.

This year’s recipient was a founding team member at her school.  She began as a 4^th grade teacher when the school opened.  She has worked as a grade level teacher leader, committee leader, grade level administrator, and was the Head of Professional Development and Teaching and Learning prior to becoming the school’s Executive Director.   She was also instrumental in the development of the school’s character education program.

Over the years, she has presented at several charter schools in St. Louis and at national conferences.  One of her greatest accomplishments, noted by her team, has been her tireless work to implement school-wide traditions now deeply rooted in the core of the school’s culture, most notably a Peace Rally and Multicultural Peace Rally.

To quote members of her school nominating committee, “In addition to character education, she is passionate about individualized learning, developing the whole child and the whole teacher.  Her honesty and compassion has allowed a sense of trust among her team and as a result, teachers are pushed to reach their highest potential.  She is a steadfast believer in the school and the charter movement as a whole, keeping abreast of research and best practices surrounding the charter school movement across the nation, more specifically St. Louis.  She has been called upon throughout the years to represent the school in the media speaking on behalf of not just the school but all charter schools as well.  Her commitment and passion are critical to our academic success.

Congratulations to this year’s leader of the year, St. Louis Charter School’s Julie Frugo.

 

Charter “School of Excellence” Award – Academie Lafayette

MCPSA’s annual Charter School of Excellence Award recognizes outstanding schools that help students make significant academic and personal progress. Charter Schools of Excellence have shown outstanding leadership not only within the charter movement but within our entire educational system.  Winners are chosen based on strong academic initiatives, proof of achievement and practices that have been adopted by or prompted improvement at other schools.

This year’s recipient serves students in Kindergarten through 8^th grade with an enrollment of approximately 565 students.  Their mission is to bring together a diverse community of students and an international teaching staff to develop critical thinkers, global citizens and engaged-learners through immersion in the French language and Francophone cultures.  The school has been recognized in the Kansas City for their excellence and this year was named one of the Missouri State Board of Education’s Schools of Distinction.

Congratulations to this year’s school of excellence award winner, Academie Lafayette.

 

Congratulations to all of our award recipients!  Pictures are coming soon!