Baker-Butler is the first school in Virginia to be named a National Blue Ribbon school for closing the achievement gap between student population, English learners, special education students, and students coming from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
According to the Virginia Department of Education, 53 schools in the state met the criteria for the Blue Ribbon Program’s Exemplary Award for Closing Achievement Gaps, but only four schools this year received this award.
The Equity Specialist team at Albemarle County Public Schools received the Virginia Department of Education’s Mary Peake Award for Excellence in Education Equity. This award honors individuals and organizations that have “demonstrated a sustained commitment to eliminating inequities or remedying the effects of inequities in education”.
In describing the Excellence in Education Equity award, State Superintendent Dr. James Lane said: “This commitment includes efforts to close opportunity and achievement gaps; the elimination of disproportionality in school discipline, graduation and dropout rates; expanding access to gifted education and advanced programs and improving supports and outcomes for English learners”.
The equity specialists include Ayanna Mitchell, Leilani Keys, and Lars Holmstrom and are led by Assistant Superintendent Dr. Bernard Hairston.
Ms. Peake, who the award was named for, taught freed and enslaved blacks in the Hampton area to read. Her classes were often held underneath the Emancipation Oak on Hampton University’s campus. (Ms. Peake taught in the 1820-30’s before Hampton was organized, and died of tuberculosis in her early 30’s.)
ALBEMARLE-CHARLOTTESVILLE BRANCH
of the
NAACP
WE THANK YOU!
The corona virus pandemic focused the nation’s attention on the essential role public schools play in the lives of families and communities. It’s also exposed the severe racial inequalities that continue to plague our education system and disadvantage students of color. But rather than addressing these problems, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, fully supported and endorsed by the Trump Administration, took action to exploit the pandemic and promote her personal agenda of funneling taxpayer dollars to private schools and taking resources away from the schools and the students who need it most. We weren’t just going to standby and watch it happen. That’s why we sued on behalf of students of color across the nation – and we WON! This decision sends a clear signal that Secretary DeVos cannot use illegal means to advance her harmful agenda to the detriment of our highest need students. Janette, we didn’t stop with Betsy DeVos. We also sued Governor DeSantis in Florida for trying to force schools to reopen in August – endangering teachers and students alike. The court found that DeSantis arbitrarily prioritized reopening schools statewide over the safety and the advice of health experts. This decision showed that the DeSantis Order was unconstitutional to the extent that it arbitrarily disregards safety, denies local school boards decision making with respect to reopening brick and mortar schools, and conditions funding on an approved reopening plan. These cases are great victories but when it comes to confronting and overcoming the systemic racism that is deeply rooted in our education system, the fight is far from over! Janette, will you make a generous donation today to help us continue to tackle these challenges and protect our nation’s school children? The march continues, Janette McCarthy-Wallace NAACP, Interim General Counsel |
Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, issued the following statement regarding the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Wisconsin father of three:
“The appalling and heinous shooting of Jacob Blake is yet another stark reminder of the free-willing atrocities committed against Black people at the hands of those entrusted to maintain public safety. This recent shooting comes on the heels of civil unrest that has caused the world to take heed to a long-standing pandemic of systemic racism and injustice.
The unfortunate and sobering reality is that Black men and women are under perpetual fear of having their life taken from them at any given moment while engaging with police officers. In a country where the phrase, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” epitomizes “unalienable rights,” Jacob Blake is another prime example, in a succession of individuals, that the promises of this nation ring hollow for too many to be meritorious.
At this moment, the work of the American people is clear and unquestionable; we must continue to fight, organize, and mobilize against police brutality, and state-sanctioned killings at the hands of law enforcement. While the visions of Jacob Blake, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless others play over and over in our minds, we must not grow weary until we’ve achieved police liability and substantive change is realized. If there was ever a time for us to unite against a common threat to the existence of Black people, it is now.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with Jacob Blake, his family, and friends, as he continues to fight for his life and to return to his children.
#WeAreDoneDying
Subject: Post About White Nationalist Initiations
From: McKinney, Jonathan –
Mid-Atlantic Regional Field Director (Region 7: Washington, DC – Maryland,
and Virginia) Field Operations & Membership Department.
Recently, we’ve been made aware of a chain message that has been circulating social media and chat groups about the NAACP issuing a warning against white nationalist and white supremacist groups carrying out initiations and targeting Black men over the 4th of July weekend.
You may receive calls, emails, or texts about these messages, so please be aware that we have not received nor sent any information about these claims. Below is our statement on this issue, and it can also be found here on our website.
STATEMENT ON RECENT POSTS CLAIMING TO BE FROM NAACP
In recent days, several social media platforms have posted statements purporting that the NAACP has received information about white nationalist group initiations during the July 4 weekend.
The National NAACP has not released any such statement. While we take all matters of racial discrimination and racial hatred seriously, these statements are not from the NAACP.
These social media posts and press releases appear to be associated with a Huey P. Newton group, which has no affiliation to the NAACP.
All official NAACP statements can be found on our website at www.naacp.org or @naacp on official NAACP social media platforms.
| General County NewsTuesday, June 16th, 2020 |
| Change in Voting Location for Branchlands Precinct Albemarle County voters who have voted in past elections at the Church of the Incarnation will vote at the Virginia Institute of Autism, 491 Hillsdale Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901 for the upcoming June 23 election. Postcard notice of this change will be mailed to all Branchlands precinct voters. This change is pursuant to Va. Code 24.2-310(D). For any questions, please call the Albemarle County Voter Registration Office at 434-972-4173, or contact Voterregistration@albemarle.org. |