Dear Friends:

Photo Kristine Buls/Examiner

This week in observance of American Education Week I visited four City schools, and I issued Certificates of Achievement to all of our Baltimore City Public Schools. In a perfect world, all schools would be gleaming palaces of learning, and teachers would be paid handsomely for the outstanding work they do. But we all know that most teachers prevail despite low salaries and often quite challenging working conditions. That's why I was so thrilled to be in attendance at Poly on Thursday, when the Milken Family Foundation paid a surprise visit to the school to announce chemistry teacher Kiara Hargrove as a winner of a $25,000 National Educator Award. The Milken Family Foundation National Educator Awards program provides public recognition and financial rewards to elementary and secondary schoolteachers, principals and other education professionals who are furthering excellence in education. By honoring outstanding educators, the program strives to attract, develop, motivate and retain talented people to the challenge and adventure of teaching.

I think this is an outstanding idea. Each year The Milken Foundation announces these awards at exciting surprise notifications held in student assemblies, attended by thousands of students all across the country. They also make sure that elected officials and local media are on hand, so that the message gets out that excellence in education is a priority and a worthy goal, and all of us can be reminded of the critical, positive impact of educators. And spreading the news of the Awards is a great way to attract talented people, young and older alike, to the teaching profession.

On a personal note, Kiara is also a friend of mine, and I was very proud and just as surprised as she was to learn of her award. But I'm not surprised that her work was noticed. She gets her students excited about chemistry and health, and integrates reading and writing strategies into her lessons, insisting that the writing and spelling in her students' science papers be as accurate as the science and math. She takes the time to differentiate instruction to reach every student. As advisor of Poly's Math Engineering and Science Association, she helps elevate the study of math and science among girls, especially African-Americans. Kiara has influenced many of her fellow teachers to go beyond traditional approaches to teaching.

I guess that one lesson we can draw from American Education Week in Baltimore is a simple one—and as old-school as it gets: just do your best work and people will notice.

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
President, Baltimore City Council

City Council This Week

Monday, November 19, 2007

City Council Meeting
5:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
The Council meeting will be broadcast live on Cable TV 25.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Voting Session: Judiciary and Legislative Investigations, James Kraft- Chair
10:30 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
07-0576 Unsafe Vacant Structures - Posting Against Trespass
07-0739 Baltimore City Hispanic Commission
07-0754 City Property - Naming the Playground on Grove Road to be the Arthur F. Fedeli, Jr. Playground
07-0763 City Property - Naming Squad 40 Truck 12 BC 5 RA44 Fire Station, located at 3906 Liberty Heights Avenue, the Marion D. Bascom Fire Station
07-0755 Signs on or Affecting Public Property - Enforcement by Housing and Community Development
07-0327R Informational Hearing - Is Legalization of Drugs the Answer for Baltimore City?
07-0340R Request for State Legislation - Exempt Baltimore City from the State Preemption of Firearm Regulation Judiciary and Legislative Investigations
06-0191R A Request for Legal, Enforcement, and Legislative Action Against Illegal Guns

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Hearing: Land Use and Transportation Committee, Ed Reisinger - Chair
1:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
07-0742 Motorcycles and Similar Vehicles - Helmets and Goggles Required
07-0810 Zoning - Conditional Use Convalescent, Nursing, and Rest Home (Assisted Living) - 4222 Penhurst Avenue

1:30 PM
07-0828 Zoning - Conditional Use Banquet Hall - 3333 Frederick Avenue
07-0806 Zoning - Conditional Use Second-hand Store - 6643 Belair Road

Hearing: Committee of the Whole, Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake - Chair
5:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 5th floor, City Hall
07-0336R Informational Hearing - Homelessness in Baltimore City
This hearing will be broadcast live on Cable TV 25.

Help Bring HGTV to Baltimore!

Rebuilding Together Baltimore and Home & Garden Television have teamed up with the National Trust for Historic Preservation for the HGTV Change the World Start at Home campaign. We are competing to be one of five cities whose volunteer projects will be televised in 2008. Winners will be announced during HGTV coverage of the Rose Parade. Please Vote for Baltimore!

November 16-17

On Their Turf: Creative Approaches to Supporting Teens & Young Families Hyatt Regency, 300 Light St. This conference features advances in the fields of teen pregnancy, parenting and prevention and offers concrete strategies for professionals to serve youth in the 21st century. Details at www.healthyteenconference.org

Friday, November 16

BeaFest 2007
China Room, 44 South St. 8:30 pm-2am Benefit for the Bea Gaddy Family Center's annual Thanksgiving dinner and food drive, with live music. 410-625-4600 $15, $5 with canned good.

Saturday, November 17

Baltimore Thanksgiving Parade
11am, Pratt Street.

Bea Gaddy Day 6th Anniversary
Public Works Museum, Pier 6. Non-perishable food collection at the Thanksgiving Parade, drop-off at the Pratt and Light Street reviewing stand and Pratt Street and Beluga Way.

City Paper 30th Anniversary Concert
7pm Recher Theatre, 512 York Rd. Featuring the return of the All Mighty Sneators, with Kelly Bell Band and Jah Works. Co-sponsored by Record and Tape Traders. $10 410-337-7178.

Greater Homewood Community Corporation hosts a free Neighborhood Institute
10am-2:30 pm. Open to neighborhood leaders, block captains and community activists, this day-long training will include workshops on resources available for your community. Info: 410-261-3506 or email Olga Maltseva at omaltseva@greaterhomewood.org.

Turkey Trot & Skateboard Contest
Carroll Park Bike and Skate Facility, 800 Bayard St. 12 pm - 4 pm, 410-244-0833.

"It's Time to Talk About How the Government Can Help"
Smedly's Coffehouse Cafe, Fleet and Wolfe Streets. Matthew Lesko gives this lecture in person and live via webcam to answer questions about how Uncle Sam can help you start a business, get a better job. Info: 410-563-7545 or log onto www.LetUncleSamHelp.com.

Sunday, November 18

BMA Free Family Sundays
Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Drive, 2pm www.artbma.org