Wednesday, May 25th from 2:00 – 3:30pm EDT.
Our first audioconference featured Montgomery County, Maryland’s Summer Adventures in Learning Program. The county’s ELO program grew out of a comprehensive effort to close the achievement gap by focusing resources on Title I schools and by improving the overall quality of education for low-income and minority students, particularly in the early elementary grades. The four-week program first piloted in 17 schools in 2002 and has shown success in improving educational outcomes for participating students. The Summer Adventures in Learning Program was one of five programs profiled in the Council’s new publication, Summer Learning Opportunities in High-Poverty Schools.
District representatives Chrisandra Richardson and Janet Dunn provided an overview of the summer initiative including program origins, structure and administration, funding, content and evaluation, and student participation and discussed how the program fits with the county’s overall approach to school improvement and the role of local school systems in designing and implementing quality extended learning initiatives.
Please download the PowerPoint Presentation and transcript of the call:
Summer Adventures in Learning PowerPoint Presentation
Audioconference Transcript
PRESENTER BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Chrisandra Richardson
Mrs. Chrisandra Richardson is the director of Academic Support, Federal and State Programs for Montgomery County Public Schools in Rockville, Maryland. This division oversees Title I, School Improvement, and 21st Century Community Learning Center grants. Mrs. Richardson has worked in public and private education for 30 years, as a principal, preschool special education coordinator, curriculum specialist, teacher, parent educator, preschool director, and a college professor. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education, a Master’s degree in the Education of Exceptional Children, and certification in curriculum and supervision from the Pennsylvania State University. In addition, she completed graduate courses at Towson University and Marywood University. While principal of Georgian Forest Elementary School, the school was recognized by the International Reading Association as the Exemplary Reading Program in Maryland and by the Council of Exceptional Children for their exemplary special education program. The school was featured in a special education textbook, Teaching Every Child, Every Day. Mrs. Richardson has presented at national and regional conferences, including the International Reading Association conference, the Summer Learning Conference, and the federal Parent Information and Resource Center conference. She serves as the chairperson of Maryland State Department of Education’s Title I Committee of Practitioners and as a member of the Gifted and Talented Advisory Council.
Janet Dunn
Ms. Dunn is the Coordinator of Extended Learning Opportunities for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). She works in the Division of Academic Support, Federal and State Programs (DASFAP). She coordinates the implementation of Extended Learning Opportunities – Summer Adventures in Learning (ELO – SAIL) summer program in 17 federally funded Title I schools in MCPS as well as extended day programs in the same schools during the school year. In addition, she monitors the implementation of the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant in ten of the neediest Title I schools. Ms. Dunn also has oversight responsibilities for the implementation of Supplemental Educational Services (SES) in seven Title 1 schools in MCPS. Ms. Dunn has worked and volunteered in public and private education for 30 years. Prior to joining the DASFAP staff in 2003, Ms. Dunn was an elementary school principal for 8 years in MCPS, an assistant principal, a school based curriculum specialist, an elementary science specialist, a magnet coordinator, and classroom teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Science with dual majors in Biology and Political Science from California State Polytechnic University, a Master’s equivalency in Elementary Education from Claremont Graduate School in Claremont, California, and a Master’s degree in Administration and Supervision from Johns Hopkins in Maryland. She serves on the MCPS Special Education Task Force, and is also project manager for the Year Round School Project Team.
Chiefline
