Extra Credit

Childrens Lighthouse collecting donations from families, public to support West

Childrens Lighthouse Learning Centers in the Metroplex are collecting donations for families in the city of West in the aftermath of the deadly explosions on Wednesday.

They are collecting these items: 

bottled water, toiletries, blankets, diapers, formula, bottles, toys, first aid products, cots, air mattresses, pillows, linens, pet food, pet crates/carriers, medical supplies, alcohol, car seats, boosters.

The Fort Worth-based company plans to send seven vans with the items to West on Friday, April 26, a spokesman said in an email.

Rose Morelock, vice president of operations for Fort Worth-based Childrens Lighthouse issued this statement:

"At times like these, we need to all pull together to help support our neighbors. Our thoughts and prayers go out the victims and their families in West, Texas. We are hopeful the supplies and relief aid we bring next Friday will help ease the burden of losing a loved one." 

Donations can be dropped off at these Childrens Lighthouse childcare centers: 

• 11845 Alta Vista Road, Fort Worth
• 1001 Point Vista Road, Hickory Creek
• 5025 Teasley Lane, Denton
• 2029 W. Hebron Parkway, Carrollton
• 4095 Eldorado Parkway, McKinney
• 3420 W. Risinger Road, Fort Worth
• 6250 Matlock Road, Arlington
• 4636 Texas 360 South, Grand Prairie

Jessamy Brown

Starting pay for early childhood teachers in San Antonio's pre-K program is $60K

Months after voters gave the nod for a new pre-kindergarten program in San Antonio, officials are coming to the Metroplex looking to hire teachers and other employees before the program launches in August, according to a news release.

The City of San Antonio is holding a job fair in Dallas on April 4. They are seeking to hire more than 100 positions, including master teachers (who will start at a $60,000 annual salary), teacher assistants, nurses and professional and administrative staff. It's an informational job fair, so resumes and applications are not being accepted at the event.

The "Pre-K 4 SA" program gained national attention when voters approved it in November 2012. Four "model education centers" are planned to provide prekindergarten instruction for 2,000 four-year-olds. Staffers are being hired for the first two centers, scheduled to open in August.

Master teachers must have: at least three years of early childhood teaching experience, a teaching certificate with endorsements to teach early childhood education from any state's educator certification department and the ability to get Texas certification.

DFW job fair details:

• 4 to 7 p.m. on April 4
• Dallas Public Library, 1515 Young St., Dallas.
• Program overview presentations: 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Jessamy Brown

Fort Worth trustees begin interviewing superintendent candidates

It was a short-and-sweet open session when the Fort Worth School board met this morning just outside a bank of elevators at a private downtown building. They soon headed up to a ninth-floor conference room where they planned to interview six candidates for the superintendent post today and tomorrow. One of them is interim superintendent Walter Dansby.

The search process -- like many in Texas -- has been rather secretive despite officials publicly saying that they wanted to be as transparent as possible. Trustees did have a public meeting to get input on the next superintendent, but search firm consultants also met with key city and community stakeholders in closed-door meetings.

Trustees were split when a reporter (uh, me) tried to stand outside the ninth-floor business offices where the interviews were being held. Trustee Ann Sutherland said the reporter couldn't be on the floor because she would learn who the candidates are. Vice President Juan Rangel and trustees Carlos Vasquez had said she could stay.

But a few minutes later, a security officer escorted her off the floor saying the tenants did not want the newspaper reporter on that floor. The downtown building has multiple entrances and access to floors through an attached parking garage. The school board complex where trustees generally meet has fewer entrances and is on a single floor.

Before the meeting Rangel said confidentiality is a must in a superintendent search with only a lone finalist generally named.

"That's been this board's procedure since I've been on the board because many applicants tend to be sitting superintendents who have a job, and we want to make sure we get the best candidates," Rangel said.

Recently other major urban districts have released more than one finalist to the public -- including Cleveland, Milwaukee and the Louisville area. This week officials at the East Baton Rouge Parrish released the names of 43 applicants vying for that superintendent job. (Interesting side note, applicants include Dallas ISD board president/Texas CAN! Academies administrator Lew Blackburn, who attended Fort Worth schools in the Kirkpatrick area for a bit when he was younger.)

-Eva-Marie Ayala

How would you balance Texas' budget?

So you have a few hours to waste and some generic word app keeps crashing. Why not tackle the state's budget woes? Texas is facing what some estimate to be a $27 billion shortfall over the next two years. The Texas Tribune has a new feature that allows you to pick and choose where to cut (early childhood education, college programs, arts education, child protective services, etc.) or options to make money (new taxes, higher fees, casinos, etc.). It's a great visual that really drives home how difficult a task lawmakers have before them. Go ahead and try. Share your proposed cuts here if you wish.

-Eva-Marie Ayala

Fort Worth schools aim to keep full-day pre-kindergarten but may cut teaching assistants

Officials have been reluctant to make any changes to pre-kindergarten as the district faces a loss of about $12 million for such programs. Now Chief Academic Officer Michael Sorum recommends keeping the program full day while trying to serve the same number of children. But to do so, he said the district will need to cut the 207 teaching assistants in pre-k classes from its budget, saving about $4.7 million. However, administrators urged schools to pay to keep the aides on staff by using campus-controlled federal funds.

Sorum said the district is also working with private organizations interested in helping to offer pre-kindergarten in some way, which could be similar to the Head Start program. "That could allow us to serve twice the amount of students for the same cost," Sorum said.

But Sonia Davis, a pre-k aide at Washington Heights Elementary, urged trustees not to cut teacher's aides. She said the youngsters in the program -- generally 3 to 5 years old -- need more than one person in the classroom to help them achieve in school. Davis said she often often stays late to help her former students with homework or buys supplies out of her own pocket to provide for them. "When I see my kids grow and then come back and they thank me and their parents thank me every day for making an impact on their lives, it gets to me and I tell them that I'm glad that I had that impact," she said as she began to tear up.

Some trustees indicated that they could support the plan if campuses do have the money to keep the assistants. "I don't think our classrooms can operate with 22 4 year olds without teacher assistants," said trustee Carlos Vasquez, a former elementary school principal.

-Eva-Marie Ayala

Parents vent frustrations about public education

Is the process to get a child into a talented and gifted program too overwhelming? Is home schooling a viable alternative? Over at our Mom2Mom blog, parents are discussing their frustrations with public schools and offering advice to each other. You can join the discussion here.

-Eva-Marie Ayala

Children's reading festival planned at TCU

The Fall in Love with Reading Festival, a project of Score A Goal In The Classroom, is set for 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Oct. 24, at Texas Christian University's Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility.

The festival features free books, eye exams and other educational prizes for children. TCU students, athletes and faculty will also read to attendees. The festival is free and geared to children 4 to 11.

Score a Goal In The Classroom is a nonprofit educational incentive program that works with schools in North Texas.

(The indoor practice facility is at the corner of Stadium Drive and Bellaire Drive North on TCU's campus in Fort Worth.)

- Traci Shurley

Carroll adds preschool lottery to avoid parent parking lot campouts

Arlington parents have already started camping out in the parking lot for the chance to attend their preferred campus. But the folks at Carroll schools are hoping to avoid long waits for their popular preschool program for children ages three to five.

Carroll is launching a new registration preschool lottery for the limited number of vacant seats. Parents must now preregister by 3 p.m. on March 13. Once vacant seats are filled, other applicants will be placed on a waiting list for each campus. Students must be turn age 3 by Sept. 1, 2009 but not turn age 6 before that date.

• Registration: 8:30 to 11 a.m. on Friday; 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. on March 2 through 13.
• Evening registration: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on March 3 and 12.
• Forms pick up and drop off site: former Carroll Intermediate campus, Room 21 assessment office.
• For information or request forms: call Cindy Miller, 817-949-8400 or MillerC@cisdmail.com.
• Mail registrations: Carroll ISD Preschool Registration, 3051 Dove Road, Grapevine, 76051
• Lottery drawing: 1 p.m. on March 24, former Carroll Intermediate School library, 1101 N. Carroll Ave. Attendance is not required.

Jessamy Brown

Buying holiday toys? Educators have tips to help with choosing gifts

Need help with your holiday toy shopping? Parents should pick toys that are safe, educational and appropriate for the child's age and development, experts say. The National Association for the Education of Young Children today issued several tips on choosing toys.

• Find toys that will keep a child engaged for more than a few days. The more things a child can do with a toy, the more likely the child is to stay interested.

• Art materials foster creativity and help children develop literacy skills.

• Toys that teach children to use their imaginations, solve problems, build muscles or figure out how things work are great gifts.

• Toys for young children should be painted with non-toxic, lead-free paint; shatter-proof and easily cleaned. Toys should be well-made, without sharp parts or splinters.

• Check the label to make sure electric toys are "UL Approved" to indicate the toy has been approved by Underwriter's Laboratories.

• Toys should be chosen for the child to be able play alone or to encourage learning to play with others.

Check the group's Good Toys for Children page online for more ideas for playthings and activities.

Jessamy Brown

The pre-k pinch

With all the pre-kindergarten talk in Texas, folks might want to check out the Pre-K Pinch report from Pre-K Now. The Washington, D.C,-based advocacy group found that middle school families spend a majority of their budget (29 percent) on early education and care. Many middle class families do not qualify for state funded pre-kindergarten programs, which are usually based on family income or limited English speaking skills. The report found that 67 percent of voters questioned favored publicly funded pre-k for all students. You can find the report here.

-Eva-Marie Ayala

(M.G. Ellis Elementary pre-kindergarten students and teacher aide Vickie Varner playing with an alphabet puzzle last week.)