An important objective for all PTAs, including Anderson’s PTSA, is to promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship. This objective can be met by assisting parents in developing the skills they need to raise and protect their children. To that end, this page will offer information and websites that Anderson parents and guardians may utilize as tools for raising their children.
Please feel free to contact the PTSA Parent Education Chair, Julie Cowan, with ideas or suggestions. She may be reached at 794-9389 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Understanding the State Board of Education and its Role in Public Education
Resources
Check out these websites of interest:
http://www.unigo.com- "College students and experts tell you what the colleges won't."
Money Lessons for Every High-School Graduate
Text Messaging and Driving - Texting Can Wait (by AT&T)
PROMise to Talk About Underage Drinking!
Understanding the State Board of Education and its Role in Public Education
www.cwknetwork.com
Parent (and Student) Driver Education Tips
http://www.search-institute.org/families (Research-based information to give kids what they need to succeed, including the 40 Developmental Assets.)
http://www.collegeboard.com (The College Board: Connecting students to college success.)
parents.foolproofonline.info/foolproof (FoolProof puts you in charge of the financial education of your teens)
www.txpta.org ( This is the Texas PTA official website)
www.carlpickhardt.com (Carl Pickhardt, PhD, is a regular parent education speaker at our vertical team schools)
www.netsmartz.org (Offers tips on internet and technology safety)
www.drugfree.org/# (Official website for the Partnership for a Drug-Free America)
www.timetotalk.org (Tips to have ongoing conversations with your children about being drug-free)
http://www.kxan.com/generic/weather/severe_weather_guide (Local Severe Weather Guide)
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and AAA are concerned about your safety on our nation’s roads. They are calling for drivers to put away distractions and focus only on the road. We all face constant demands for our time and we all have to juggle more than ever before. Unfortunately, many people multi-task while driving, which is NEVER a good idea. Being distracted behind the wheel for even just a few seconds greatly increases your chance of a crash. Distracted driving contributes to almost 8,000 crashes every single day. According to the AAA Foundation’s 2009 Traffic Safety Culture Index, 80% of drivers say distracted driving is a serious threat to their safety, yet two-thirds of drivers reported talking on the cell phone while driving. This “do as I say, not as I do” attitude must change if we are going to stop crashes and fatalities caused by distracted drivers.
You can help by committing to be a distraction-free driver and by asking your child to do the same. Below are 10 quick and easy ways to minimize distractions to keep yourself and all of us safer on the roads.
For further information, visit http://www.aaafoundation.org/multimedia/headsup.cfm.
What is the State Board of Education?
The State Board of Education (SBOE) is composed of 15 elected members, with each member representing more than a million Texans. Together, the members of the SBOE, the commissioner of education, and the Texas Education Agency facilitate the operation of the Texas public school system consisting of more than 1,200 school districts and charter schools, 8,200 campuses, 630,000 educators and other employees, and 4.7 million schoolchildren.
What does the State Board of Education Decide?
The SBOE adopts rules and establishes policies that govern a wide range of educational programs and services provided by Texas public schools.
The SBOE’s duties include:
How Does the State Board of Education Work?
Although policy decisions must be made by the full Board, members also serve on one of three committees: Instruction; School Finance/Permanent School Fund; and School Initiatives. It is through the committees that members are able to review staff progress reports, consider proposals for new programs, and hear testimony from the public for improving current efforts prior to the issues being discussed by the full Board. A list of the SBOE members and the committees on which they serve is provided at the end of this email.
Who leads the State Board of Education?
Governor Rick Perry appointed Gail Lowe (R - Lampasas) as chair of the SBOE in July 2009, which means she will preside over SBOE meetings. She must be confirmed by the 82nd Texas Legislature to remain chair in 2011.
The Board elected its vice-chair, Lawrence A. Allen Jr. (D - Houston), and secretary, Terri Leo (R - Spring), to two year terms and until the Board elects their successors. In the event that Ms. Lowe is unable to serve, Mr. Allen will preside as chair until the Governor appoints a new chair.
The Governor appointed Robert Scott as Commissioner of Education in October 2007, as such; he serves as chief executive officer of the Board.
When and Where Does the State Board of Education Meet?
The SBOE is required to meet at least quarterly and its meetings generally last two to three business days. Meetings are usually held in Austin at the William B. Travis State Office Building, which houses the Texas Education Agency. Each meeting is open to the public. As of September 2009, the public may view live web casts of the SBOE’s meetings on the Agency’s Web site at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/.
How Long Do State Board of Education Members Serve?
SBOE members are typically elected to serve four year terms. The exception is after a U.S. Census when districts are redrawn. Members must draw straws with some drawing a two-year term and others a four-year term. Their terms are staggered so that in one election cycle, eight members are elected and the next election cycle, the remaining seven are elected.
Are State Board of Education Members Compensated?
SBOE members do not receive a salary but are reimbursed for all expenses incurred, not to exceed the budget established for attending regular and special meetings of the Board and Board committees.
Are State Board of Education Members Affiliated with Political Parties?
Unlike trustees, State Board of Education members are political party nominees and appear on the ballot with a party affiliation such as: Republican, Democrat, Independent, Libertarian, and Green Party.
State Board of Education
Gail Lowe, Chair
Bob Craig, Vice Chair
Mary Helen Berlanga, Secretary
Committee on Instruction
Barbara Cargill, Chair
Terri Leo, Vice Chair
Mary Helen Berlanga
George Clayton
Marsha Farney
Committee on School Finance/Permanent School Fund
Patricia Hardy, Chair
Lawrence A. Allen, Jr.
David Bradley
Bob Craig
Thomas Ratliff
Committee on School Initiatives
Committee on School Initiatives:
Ken Mercer, Chair
Charlie Garza, Vice Chair
Mavis B. Knight
Gail Lowe
Michael Soto
To learn who represents you on the SBOE go to http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/.
For a PowerPoint presentation on the SBOE prepared by Texas Association of School Boards, visit http://www.txpta.org/documents/Legislative/2010/sboepres2.ppt.
Spring break. Prom. Graduation parties. There are lots of celebrations ahead for kids and families. Experts say it's also time for a sobering message about underage drinking: It's illegal, dangerous and can cut happiness short.
Ashley Rawie broke her neck in a car crash. She's now paralyzed from the chest down. She'd been drinking and smoking pot when she flipped her jeep on this country road.
"I still do have days where I wake up and I want it to be a dream so badly," says Ashley, age 19.
Before the accident, Ashley's mom and dad sensed their daughter had been making bad choices.
"We had talked that we just need to sit and talk with her and listen and let her tell us what's going on," says Tonya Rawie, Ashley's mother.
But they never talked about those bad choices. According to a roper youth report, 68 percent of youth report parents are the leading influence in their decision to drink... or not to drink. While it may not be easy, parents need to send a message that's crystal clear: Underage drinking is not OK.
Child psychologist Nancy McGarrah, Ph.D., finds this to be a common theme.
"I work with parents every day that are trying to be buddies with their kids- they want their kids to think of them as a friend," says Dr. McGarrah.
She says parents need to say no, set boundaries... and be a parent, even if your child gets upset.
"They are going to bug you, they are going to cry; they are going to say you are the worst parents in the world; they are going to say I hate you; they are going to do things that are not pleasant. That's not the fun part of parenting but it's the right part of parenting. It's the important part of parenting," says Dr. McGarrah.
Today Ashley and her parents wish they could turn back the clock. "Hindsight? We would love to still have her mad at us, but have her before she was injured, and have her do all the things that she was able to do," says Tonya.