PLATFORM
LIST OF ISSUES
About Us
Responding to the call from the newly formed Detoit Public School Transition Team, the Friends of Gwendolyn Britt for Detroit Community School District Board Member was formed. A native Detroiter, DPS graduate, community advocate and parent of DPS students, Gwendolyn's ties and commitments to the city and its residents go beyond any personal gain.
In the spirit of helping our youth to achieve academically and supporting our community, she was honored with the "Knowledge Infuser" Award on Wednesday, June 29, 2011 by Stillman-Prevention Network.
Gwen welcomes the opportunity to earn your trust which will enable her to deliver to you the best service in the industry by creating
A new intervention in education!!
What are the top 3 priorities you hope to accomplish during your tenure?
My top three priorities as a DCSDB Member are: Academics, Communication, and Staffing.
a. Academics
*Smaller & more manageable class sizes
*Increased technology use
*focused instruction (elimination of common core & back to basics)
*use of modified lesson plans
b. Communication
*Increased parent/teacher communication and transparency
c. Staffing
*Re-enactment of teacher incentives w/conditions.
What is your plan to provide equitable special education services?
My plan includes work closely with Division of Talent Team to hire highly qualified special education teacher directly from the university pool, decrease class size, provided additional technology as needed, scale down inclusion in the classroom, and provide additional training for general education teachers who take part in the inclusion program.
Finally, I would remove At-risk students from the special ed. Category and arm teachers with the necessary tools and training to service each student.
The challenge that face special education students is a lack of adequate staff, space, and the specialized technological tools needed to service students effectively.
How will you support developing bilingualism as a skill and ensure that bilingual staff supports families with limited English?
In addition to hiring bilingual staff I would make use of the Parent Action Leaders/Committee to foster or bridge the gap for families with limited English skills. The team would be instrumental in developing a community network of people that offer English speaking courses and homework help for struggling students and parents.
Areas of Support:
1. In-school bilingual center
2. Connect with neighborhood community groups and churches within areas where
3. the bilingual language support is needed.
4. Areas with medium to high levels of bilingual families with limited to no English skills.
What is my vision for student well-being and success?
My vision for student well-being and success is for all students to have access to a positive learning environment that improves the students mental, emotional, and social state. The teaching and learning environment is a multidimensional function and requires a multidimensional approach. A good learning environment embraces open communication between students, parents, and teachers. It is collaborative, tolerant of differences, invites student participation, is caring and safe. Quality classrooms are equipped with highly trained staff and a curriculum that includes mandatory strategies to develop interpersonal skills teaching self-management and relationships management. This means, in some cases, instead of policing bring back the social worker/counselor for all grade levels with special emphasis on conflict resolution. Keep students and parents involved in the governance and policy making process and acquire community partners to expand the school’s capacity to support students and families.
How will you ensure that certified teachers are in every classroom all year long?
Teachers are typically concerned with soring medical care, lack of supplies in the classroom, decreasing pay scale, overcrowded classrooms, and safety. As a member of the DPSCDB I am supportive of Division of Talents goal of increased customer satisfaction, collaboration, and efficiency for all employees. The November 2016 Enhancement Millage would give the District approximately 17.5 million dollars of unrestricted funds annually for six years which can be used to supplement teacher needs along with their current contract.
This means: Increased pathways to Certification, consistent talent acquisition process, employee growth opportunities, professional development, increased support for new teachers (Onboarding + Orientation + Retention), Data driven management strategies & transparency.
Including:
*monitoring teacher classroom management & teaching styles
*mandatory training and requiring the use of technological tools in the classroom
*detailed academic plan of study