Rothacker Reviews

Hillsborough County Schools Receive Gates' Foundation Money

Titled "Intensive Partnership for Effective Teaching," Hillsborough County Schools received a $100 million dollar grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The entire grant totaled $290 million dollars with the balance awarded to: Memphis City Schools, Pittsburgh City Schools and The College-Ready Promise.

The Hillsborough County School weathered a year long application process, competing with other school districts throughout the United States. Melinda Gates said, "These communities have shown extraordinary commitment to tackling one of the most important educational issues of our time. We must do everything we can to understand what makes teachers effective and cultivate those qualities across the profession, in every school and classroom, so that all students can benefit." Melinda's comment here supports our school district's effort to help our kids.

The HCS district, school board and teacher union leadership worked together to make this happen. It will be interesting to watch this program unfold. I suspect that there will be a contingent of teachers who protest. After all, it is they whose effectiveness and performance will be evaluated, and ultimately dealt with.

I say this with cautious optimism, but it is good to see that the teacher's union supports this.  We are not dealing with the handling of factory widgets here, we are dealing with our kids' future. Pay particular attention to those teachers who do oppose this plan. Listen carefully to their arguments. Evaluate how their case benefits your kids and their education.

The Gate's Foundation is also including the HCS in a $45 million dollar grant titled Measures of Effective Teaching.

Congratulations to all those folks who worked hard here to provide a better level of education for our kids!

Hillsborough County Schools press release

Tampa: Basketball Training

"Dad!  I kept my eyes on her feet just like Scott told me to do.  It worked, I stole the ball.  I couldn't believe it!"

"You know mom, I'm really starting to think about college!"

Scott Savor is responsible for initiating both of the above remarks.

Scott is a Human Performance Specialist, who works out of Sport's + Field's, Athletic Performance Center.  We are sending Carla to work with Scott to improve her basketball skills.  We think we're getting more.

Victoria, our older daughter started playing basketball in 1991.  Rosemary and I have been around girl's basketball coaches ever since, including the prestigious Trinity High School teams of the mid-nineties. With the exception of crossing paths with Pat Summitt, at Trinity while she was recruiting for the University of Tennessee, we have never met anyone who knows basketball like Scott Savor.

One of Scott's main performance enhancing philosophies is that over ninety percent of an athlete's potential for improvement can be found above the neck. If you are a parent, you don't even have to wonder how refreshing this point of view is, you instinctively feel it.

Although Scott trains professionals, he is still taking on high school and college athletes. If you or your sons/daughters are interested in one, free complimentary workout with Scott, please contact me by e-mail and I'll hook you up.  david(dot)rothacker(at)gmail(dot)com.  Please contact me if you'd like to help your student athlete improve more than their vertical jump, say like their desire to go to college!!

Scott's credentials.

Update 8/3/2009 - In a mind blowing twist of fate, Scott left Tampa, Florida, last week to work with Pat Summitt and other coaches in a strength and conditioning role at UT.  I am sure that UT put in careful diligence in selecting Scott.  They are well aware of the wisdom that he brings above and beyond the science required of his position.  They are well aware of his coaching philosophies and his passion to help develop young people's minds.  I know they know, but they don't quite know how much they really are getting with Scott.  Please allow me to paint a more clear picture:

New York Met's Scout in 1965: That Nolan Ryan is a talented young man with a blazing fast ball.  Let's draft him.

Buried Treasures

I thought Indians and mountains of treasure were buried under my grandpa's front porch.  As we lived in the house right behind his, I had plenty of time to explore.  Day after day I would unhook the white picket fence, belly crawl across his gardening tools and dig in search of my quest.  Then, one hot summer day my small shovel got caught on a piece of metal.  I grabbed onto that shovel with both hands and mustered a mighty yank.  As the shovel freed, a trap door opened and I fell downward.  I hit bottom, stood up, dusted myself off and looked around.  I had hit pay dirt!

Strange rays of sunlight illuminated the mystical landscape.  Before my eyes and as far as I could see lay piles of sparkling diamonds, shiny coins and golden objects.  My Mom and Dad thought I had a screw loose as it was.  How could I tell them about this?  I crawled out of the cavern, went to my Mom's fridge, grabbed a Little Tom bottle of orange soda and schemed up a plan.

Mom and Dad had a weird sort of attention span.  They could sit glued to the TV for an hour, watching  Al Martino, a guy spinning plates and a mouse named Topo Gigio, but I'd get about a half minute to describe the find of a lifetime.  So, I'd tell them a little bit about this wondrous place a little bit at a time.  I figured I'd start by telling them to go check out the Web site .

I figure by the time Carla graduates from high school in 2010, I will have told you a great deal about the Hillsborough County School System's abundant treasures.

Speaking of 2010.  Victoria started her freshman year of college at Kent State University in 1999.  That summer, Rosemary and I attended parent orientation at the College of Business Administration.  Man did we wish we were eighteen again!  Anyhow, Dr. George E. Stevens , Dean of the Biz program spoke to us parents.  Dr. Stevens mentioned two things that I will never forget.  First he advised every freshman in the hall to get a Day Planner and to use it.  Secondly he said, "By the year 2010, eighty percent of the jobs you know today - will not exist."

Vickie graduated in 2003 with a degree in Marketing.  Kent State provided Rosemary and I, an experience beyond our wildest expectation!  Their process and delivery of parent communication was second to none! 

 

School Lunches

Kids attending school today are exposed to a bombardment of negative influences.  One problem that is around today as it has been since schools began providing lunches, is kids having their lunch money taken from them.  Thanks to the Internet there is a solution.  Well, thanks to participating parties there is a solution.

Mealpay.com  allows a parent to transfer funds from their bank to an account set up online.  (I believe they can also do this by phone)  The child then gives cafeteria workers their account number and the account is debited.  Parents have different options from which to choose.  They can allow their kids to purchase the main plate entree that is available or the kids can purchase anything on the menu.  Parents can also access the account following purchases to see just what their kids are buying.  I am thinking a ten Kit-Kat bar and can of pop purchase would warrant consultation. 

Rosemary and I feel quite fortunate that we live in the school district of Hillsborough County  and that this district participates in the Mealpay.com program!