Foster Grandparent volunteers are role models and friends to children with exceptional needs. For children who are struggling in school, at-risk, neglected, or abused, the support of a foster grandparent can help build confidence and stability. | FHSP
GOLIATH J. DAVIS, III, Ph.D. | Contributor
ST. PETERSBURG — In my articles on the status of education for Black scholars, I have begun to focus on the need for community/parental involvement to improve the process. As recently as Nov. 8, in a column entitled “Hats off to Superintendent Kevin Hendrick,” I commended the superintendent and called for action from community members.
I am pleased to report that grandmothers affiliated with the Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay’s Classrooms answered the call and attended the January Concerned Organizations for the Quality Education of Black Students (COQEBS) meeting. Their attendance was in addition to their usual services for classroom teachers. The Foster Grandparents Program is coordinated by Kim Skrovanek, who attended the COQEB meeting along with Grandmothers Mary Allen, Cynthia Allen, Barbara Burnett, Christine Powell, Sharon Ross, and Janice Sherrieff. Their input and observations were invaluable.
The Pinellas School District was well represented at the meeting as well. School Board Chair Laura Hine and Co-Chair Caprice Edmonds attended along with a host of district administrators, including:
- Deputy Superintendent Stephanie Woodford
- Minority Achievement Officer Kathleen Young-Parker
- Area 1 Superintendent Christen Gonzalez
- Area 2 Superintendent Ann Welch
- Area 3 Superintendent Dr. Dywane Hinds
- Area 4 Superintendent Mike Vigue
- Chief Transformation Officer Lakisha Lawson
- Chief Student Achievement Officer Stephanie Long
- Anna Brown
- Assessment Accountability and Research and School Board Attorney David Koperski
COQEBS members and the grandmothers received a report from the district on Black disciplinary actions, and all engaged in dialogue regarding strategies for reducing/eliminating disruptive behaviors. Long made an excellent presentation, noting an inconsistency in how educators respond to a scholar’s inability to read and an inability to behave.
The salient questions were: What do we do when a scholar can’t read, and what do we do when a scholar misbehaves? The answers are predictable: Teach the scholar to read and punish misbehavior. The correct follow-up question is: Why not teach in both instances? Wouldn’t we get better results by teaching scholars how to behave and read?
The discussion and exchange of ideas and perspectives benefited everyone. Therefore, I will continue to call for greater participation from parents, community groups and organizations to assist in altering the trajectory of education for our Black scholars to close the existing achievement gap.
Parents are encouraged to attend school functions and schedule parent/teacher conferences. COQEBS meetings are open to the community. Everyone is encouraged to attend. The meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month from 9:30- to 11 a.m. at the Enoch Davis Center, 1111 18th Ave. S., St Petersburg. The only exceptions are the second week in January due to the New Year’s holiday and summer vacation when meetings are suspended.
We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting on Feb. 5.
Thank you, grandmothers!
Dr. Goliath Davis is a former St. Petersburg police chief and deputy mayor who advocates for education in Pinellas County, focusing on Black student achievement.
