|
Under Dr.
Durant’s leadership, Toledo Public Schools continues to show
progress and share good news that makes our community TPS
Proud. The district recently shared the details about the
gains made on the State Report Card. Along with that good
news there’s a long list of other noteworthy things that
have occurred since Dr. Durant became Superintendent.
Data shows that TPS students are increasingly well prepared
for their lives after high school. More than 91 percent of
students who followed a Career Tech pathway in high school
either entered employment, enrolled in higher education or
enlisted in the military after graduation.
Career
Technology students gain hands-on experiences during their
high school years and for the most part, have a seamless
transition to college or to a career doing something they
love. Most Career Tech tracks are two-year programs designed
for juniors and seniors, although a few cover four years of
high school and include freshmen and sophomores. Through
Career Technology, TPS truly offers students a balanced
curriculum that gives them realistic options for the future.
The district’s Career Technology students have a higher than
average graduation rate than students in traditional studies
and can qualify for college credit for high school classes
and, can qualify for thousands of dollars in scholarships
for college.
The district continues to serve a diverse population.
Enrollment has grown substantially in the past five years
and now the number of students who are considered
economically disadvantaged has increased to more than 6,000
students.
In an effort to support the needs of the varying segments of
students, the district now has 10 magnet elementary schools,
including Escuela SMART Academy, which became part of the
district at the beginning of this school year. Escuela is a
bilingual school that serves Spanish-speaking, English
language learners and students interested in learning
Spanish in grades Pre-K through sixth.
The magnet high schools sponsored by TPS are open to all
students across northwest Ohio
and include Toledo Technology Academy, Toledo Early College,
Jones Leadership Academy of Business and the Aerospace &
Natural Science Academy of Toledo.
These schools offer focused curriculum in the areas of study
that are producing promising careers for the future. The
next magnet school, opening in the fall of 2020, will have a
pre-med focus. The district is collaborating with ProMedica
Health System on this ambitious project.
Another focus area for TPS is STEMM education - or Science,
Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine. The
district now has four elementary STEMM schools that offers
an
enhanced curriculum that will prepare students for the
in-demand jobs of the future. Students develop important
problem-solving skills, aimed at making them critical
thinkers and life-long learners. Through STEMM, these
schools offer student-led curriculum that engages authentic
learning experiences. Plans include opening a STEMM-focused
elementary school in each learning community.
Along
with a focus on academics, Dr. Durant has worked diligently
to develop strong community partnerships. One of the first
things he did as Superintendent was to form a business
advisory committee. He meets with these leaders on a regular
basis and they provide valuable connections and insight into
the community and possible support for TPS from other
sources.
A notable partnership for Toledo Public Schools is the one
that continues to develop with ProMedica. For example, there
is now a full-time nurse assigned to every TPS school,
thanks to funding from ProMedica. The benefit of having
direct access to a healthcare professional has helped
students and their families.
Another
important partnership that has developed under Dr. Durant’s
direction is with the
Area Office on Aging (AOOA). By working with the senior
citizens in our community, the district has opened several
high school during the winter months so seniors can continue
to exercise by walking the hallways of the schools. The
district and the AOOA have also hosted a Senior Prom for the
past six years. This event is something that seniors look
forward to each spring as they get to dress up and enjoy an
evening of dinner and dancing. A prom king and queen are
also crowned at the end of each event.
Efficiency in district operations has also been a focus for
Dr. Durant. Under his leadership, the administration offices
have relocated to a more energy-efficient building. That
move is projected to save the district more than $1.2
million over five years. Along with that, recruitment of
highly qualified staff is also a priority for the
administration. Representatives from across the district
participate in recruitment events at local, regional and
state colleges and universities. Currently, TPS currently
employs more than 4,000 people and ranks as one of the
largest employers in the City of Toledo.
A major recognition of the quality of TPS staff members came
earlier this year when Mona Al-Hayani, a beloved history
teacher at Toledo Early College and herself a product of
Toledo Public Schools, was named the 2019 Teacher of the
Year for the State of Ohio. She was chosen for this honor by
a panel of her peers who cited her passion for her students
- who call her 'Ms. Al' - and for the victims of human
trafficking who she has worked on the behalf of for many
years. In addition to her teaching duties, Ms. Al-Hayani
advises the National Honor Society and Young Women for
Change, a student-led group at her school. A native of
Toledo, Ms. Al-Hayani earned a bachelor’s degree in
sociology and a master’s degree in secondary education from
the University of Toledo.
As many
people know, Dr. Durant was a football player at Waite High
School and at the University of Toledo. He is the first to
tell people about the importance athletics can have in a
student’s high school experience. Since Dr. Durant became
Superintendent, the athletic program at TPS has been
re-energized. This is evident through the improvements that
have been made at the each of the high school athletic
fields. New turf and lighting have been installed at the
stadiums, making the playing surface safer for student
athletes.
And let
us not forget the two-time state champion girls varsity
basketball team from Rogers High School. In 2018, the Lady
Rams became the first northwest Ohio athletic team to win a
state championship in NEARLY 30 years. Then they did it
again in 2019, becoming the only team in Ohio ever to win
back-to-back state championships.
The
positive momentum that is building across Toledo Public
Schools, thanks to Dr. Durant’s leadership, is something the
community should continue to watch and monitor. From the
accomplishments in the classroom, to the recognitions from
Columbus, the district continues to prove why we should all
be TPS Proud.
|
