Boston Citation for BAA - Dr. Linda Nathan!

Dr. Linda Nathan, Founder and Co-headmaster of the Boston Arts Academy accepts the Toastmasters District 31 Communication & Leadership award from 2009-2010 District 31 Governor, Sherri Raftery at the D31 Spring Conference on Saturday May 15, 2010 - Hilton Hotel in Dedham, MASS.

I was soooo very proud to have the honor of presenting Dr. Linda Nathan - Founder and Co-Headmaster of the Boston Arts Academy with the District 31 Toastmasters Communication & Leadership award.

It was well deserved award, and she did a remarkable job at speaking at the luncheon. Linda was able to sign her books The Hardest Questions Aren't on the Test - Lessons From An Innovative Urban School and sign them for folks.

I spoke with her about bring public speaking courses to the Boston Arts Academy to help students learn how to frame their messages in a professional way.

If you would like to purchase her book - all proceeds go right back into the school!





Carol R. Johnson, Superintendent, Boston Public Schools “With heart, compassion, and a magnifying glass, Linda Nathan takes us into the world of an urban high school, with its daily trials, defeats, joys, and victories. By broadening the lessons learned from the successful Boston Arts Academy, she is providing a service to educators everywhere. Everything from the achievement gap to parent elections to professional learning communities gets examined. This book does not shy away from raising questions, encouraging self-reflection, and ultimately opening minds – all while drawing on the power of the arts to engage, inspire, and achieve greatness.”


Larry Lucchino, President/Chief Executive Officer of the Boston Red Sox “Linda Nathan has written a remarkable book. Boston Arts Academy is an urban public high school just across the street from Fenway Park. So I get to see first hand, young people from every neighborhood in the city who greatly benefit from the approaches so clearly espoused by this innovative educator. With over 90% of graduates consistently going on to college (many the first in their families to do so), the results speak for themselves. ”




Keith Lockhart, Conductor, Boston Pops Orchestra“Linda Nathan takes a courageous look at our deteriorating educational system, and offers innovative solutions. Our “teaching for the test” system, designed to even the playing field for our young people, has instead so often marginalized those who don’t fit into the “multiple choice” scenario. Linda makes a case for reaching each student on his or her own terms, using an arts-based curriculum that unlocks the creative thinking and capacity for self-expression that such an approach nurture. The results are thought-provoking and inspiring.”


http://www.bostonartsacademy.org/Pages/index


http://kellylowenstein.wordpress.com/2010/01/25/linda-nathan-teaches-us-about-schools-hardest-questions/



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfG1RMuUE44

May 2010 Toastmasters Testimonials!

"Did you think up the Take Center Stage?

What a perfect "slogan" for Toastmasters!!! Very creative - and perfect"!

Isabell VanMerlin, Rumney Marsh Club 8431

Photo L-R Taken by Don Saracen

Ronald Couming, Assistant to the District Governor, Sherri Raftery, DTM, 2009-10 District 31 Governor, Taking Center Stage as we promoted the District 31 Prison Clubs during the Spring 2010 Conference on Saturday May 15, 2010 at the Hilton Hotel in Dedham, MA

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Sher, "I think you know this, but you have done a very unbelievable job as DG. I'm very impressed with your leadership and extremely hard work for D31. You should be very proud of yourself". Dan Barrett, 2009-10 District Public Relations Officer

"Saturday (May 15, 2010) was truly a great day and you were amazing... true leader in every way! I will REALLY miss working with you next year"! Mindy Milman District 31, Area F4 Governor


"What an awesome conference, though! Thanks so much for putting it together-it was a pleasure to attend and I'm so grateful for all your hard work"! Best, Area D Governor, PDG, Ruth Levitsky

"Sher,You have had a great run with TM and could see you going national. Of course along with joining us at NSA"! Best Don Saracen, Toastmaster, NSA Board

"Fantastic conference, Sherri. you're in the home stretch now. a great year as president- you will be hard to follow and beat" :-). Susan Tordella-Williams, Renassaince Club President, D31 Spring Conference Contest Master

"I can feel the pathos and ethos ooze through your posts. It is a joy to see - good luck in the next stage of your Toastmasters journey." Phil Holberton

"Sherri, you do not merely "Take Center Stahe"; You ARE CENTER STAGE.." Christian Margrave, D36 Division Governor

"Hi Sherri, I wanted to send a quick note saying how great it was to meet you after so many emails back and forth over the past couple of years. I enjoyed the conference and look forward to sharing the experience with my club in Hanover tomorrow. Thank you again for the invitation to present and I hope to have the opportunity again in the future. Excellent conference and contest". Stacey Shipman, Honver Club. Feel Good Living
http://www.staceyshipman.com/

"Sherri, You did an absolutely phenomenal job,...you did awesome...awesome...unbelievably awesome"! Area B Governor Yvette Moquin

"You've also been great with the members. No matter what question you were asked or how busy you've been, you sent back an e-mail that addressed the concern of the member. This is the type of caring and concern that I would expect from a District Governor. You're gonna rock on Saturday. Proud that we'll be serving together. Partners in crime again"!-- Ben Lappen, Lt. Governor of Marketing, Lt Governor of Ed & Training Elect

May is National Foster Care Month

"As a former foster child of several different families, I can share that even though those placements were not permanent homes, I am thankful for the temporary care they were able to provide during my formative years".
Sherri Raftery, M. Ed., 1977-1989 resident/client of THE HOME, 2008 The Home Honoree, 2010 The Home Board of Ambassadors

http://www.thehome.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_success_sherri

"There is a great need currently for caring foster caregivers in Massachusetts. The Home is actively recruiting foster caregivers for its Intensive Foster Care program". http://www.thehome.org/

May is National Foster Care Month!

Every day, some 513,000 children and youth are living in foster care because their own parents can't take care of them. We must address the needs of these children, who need a stable and secure home until they can either return to their parents or establish a lifelong connection to a nurturing adult.

National Foster Care Month in May provides an opportunity for people nationwide to get involved as foster parents, volunteers, mentors, employers, or in other ways. It's also an opportunity to show our appreciation for the dedication of the foster families who care for these children and youth, and the social workers who support them.

Foster Care Month originated in 1988 when the National Foster Parent Association persuaded then-Senator Strom Thurmond to introduce a resolution to proclaim May as National Foster Care Month. The first President Bush issued an annual proclamation during each year of his presidency, providing an impetus for state, county, and city proclamations. The main focus of the early efforts was appreciation and recognition of the tremendous contributions of foster parents nationwide.

The Foster Care Month partnership now comprises 14 national organizations. CWLA invites you to recognize May as National Foster Care Month. Join us in making this a time to recognize and celebrate those who make a difference in the lives of children in the foster care system.

For more information on how to get involved in National Foster Care Month activities, visit www.fostercaremonth.org, or check out the Foster Care Month Toolkit for ways you can show recognition for foster parents and social workers, tools for reaching out to reporters, materials for working with businesses and elected officials, fact sheets, and more.

http://www.cwla.org/programs/fostercare/fostercaremonth.htm


Foster Club
http://www.fosterclub.com/

Foster Care Month
http://www.fostercaremonth.org/Pages/default.aspx

The Home for Little Wanderers - Foster Care

http://www.thehome.org/site/PageServer?pagename=programs_foster

MAPP TRAINING

MAPP TrainingMAPP (Massachusetts Approach to Partnerships in Parenting) Training is a multi-session 24 hour course to foster or adopt a child from the Department of Children and Families http://www.thehome.org/site/PageServer?pagename=programs_foster_MAPP

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Foster Care

This article is about the modern child welfare system of placing children in state custody in the homes of temporary caregivers. For the social practice of children being raised by families not their own, see Fosterage.

Foster care is the term used for a system in which a minor who has been made a ward is placed in the private home of a state certified caregiver referred to as a "foster parent".

The state via the family court and child protection agency stand in loco parentis to the minor, making all legal decisions while the foster parent is responsible for the day to day care of said minor. The foster parent is remunerated by the state for their services.

Foster care is intended to be a short term situation until a permanent placement can be made:[1]

* Reunification with the biological parent(s)

* When it is deemed in the child's best interest.
* Adoption

* Permanent transfer of guardianship