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January 15, 2024

CEO Weekly Focus

JANUARY 15, 2024

Hello CMSD Families and Friends,

Sixty years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote a book titled, Why We Can’t Wait.

The book’s content remains deeply relevant.

Dr. King’s message in Why We Can’t Wait was a decisive call to action against racial segregation and discrimination. It was also a clarion call for America to live up to its foundational ideals in the relentless pursuit of a more perfect nation.

America has evolved in demonstrable ways since Dr. King was taken from us in 1968. However, much more remains to be done. Dr. King’s commitment to fundamental social change and non-negotiable demand for Equity & Inclusion continues to define the challenges that confront us. 

Dr. King understood well that the education of our children best provides the path forward and the necessary tools to forging a just, fair, and prosperous society. He said as much when he visited three Cleveland Public Schools on April 26, 1967.

“[…] We must set out to achieve excellence in our various fields of endeavor. We’ve got to study hard; we’ve got to stay in school. Again, I know the social problems that cause many Negroes to drop out of school, but I urge you today to develop that rugged determination: stay in school, stick with it to the end.”

Dr. King also presciently amplified one of CMSD’s recently articulated Core Values of Student & Community Focused when he used his Cleveland visit to encourage students to become politically engaged:

“Enough of our parents don’t register and vote. Each of you should serve as a committee of one to work with your parents if they have not registered to vote and other people in the community.” 

On the 95th anniversary of his birth, CMSD celebrates Dr. King for the beacon of light he continues to provide in our core pursuit of Excellence & Achievement.  I invite you to listen to and enjoy a recording of the brilliant speech that Dr. King delivered during his visit to Glenville High School in April 1967.

 http://tinyurl.com/3rp6fsur

Yours in gratitude,

Dr. Warren G. Morgan

CMSD Calendar

Upcoming Events

Board Business Meeting

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

6:30 PM

Mary Church Terrell School,

3595 Bosworth Road, Cleveland.

 

Parent/Teacher Conferences

February 7-8, 2024

Early release for Students

See full list of events

Special Observances

January

School Board Appreciation Month

National Mentoring Month

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 1/15

National Day of Racial Healing 1/16

International Day of Education 1/24

International Holocaust Remembrance Day 1/27

 

Tremont
in the CMSD Board Spotlight

Principal Natalie Celeste shared the history and vision behind Tremont Montessori at the January 9 board business meeting. The Montessori school traces its innovative roots back to Hicks Montessori, one of the earliest schools created in the CMSD structure.

Principal Celeste explained the school’s vision is to be an exemplary public Montessori school, which is defined as earning accreditation from the American Montessori Society (AMS). The AMS accreditation is recognized as the platinum standard for public Montessori.  This past summer, the school became an official candidate for AMS accreditation and is in a self-study year. When Tremont earns accreditation next year as expected, it will be the only PreK-8 public school in Ohio with this accreditation.

When the AMS accreditation team visits Tremont for a site visit, Principal Celeste said the school’s programs will be evaluated against the five core components of Montessori education, which include child-directed work and uninterrupted work periods.

The AMS components align with the core values of the District’s strategic path forward that include Educator Learning and a Strong & Engaging Instructional Core.

The race and ethnicity of student demographics at Tremont Montessori are similar to the District overall. With an enrollment of 371 students, the school is composed of 181 females and 190 males. The races of the student body are comprised of 64% Black, 18% White, 13% Hispanic, 4% Multiracial, and 1% Asian.

The school’s community partners include the Center for Arts-Inspired Learning, Tremont West Development Corporation, Cleveland Public Library, and Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center.

 

Measuring Our Progress

8

schools meeting attendance goal for the first week in January

20

schools over 90% attendance for the first week of January

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