Keep in touch with us. Read Leslie Milder's new blog! Add us to your website:
Hot off the presses...
New posters arriving mid-October in your mailbox.
Here is a peek...
Texas schools earn an A for Curriculum Standards and Accountability
Texas earns an "A" for its curriculum standards, assessment and accountability system in Education Week's Quality Counts, an annual evaluation that tracks key education indicators and that grades the states on their policy efforts and outcomes. Only five states earned a grade higher than Texas' 95.6.
Visit our online store to order yours.
Help us tell your story!
Don't forget we depend on your generosity to continue to share our positive messages about our public schools with people across the state in an effective manner, through our billboard campaign, posters, monthly newsletter, presentations, and staff development trainings, to highlight a few.
Please consider giving generously a tax-deductible contribution to our non-profit organization. Donations are accepted by credit card through our website, or by check made payable to Friends of Texas Public Schools and mailed to P. O. Box 1568, Rockwall, Texas, 75087.
|
|
|
|
|
Our take on Waiting for Superman
Friends of Texas Public Schools has been flooded with requests to issue a statement about the new Waiting for Superman documentary. We believe any person of reasonable intelligence will recognize it for the propaganda that it is, but nonetheless, here is our statement. Waiting for Superman is a ridiculously inaccurate, inflammatory, venomous, broad-brush condemnation of public schools across America intended to fuel the mostly manufactured crisis designed to promote the privatization agendas of an alarmist elite who have no formal connection or accurate understanding of the phenomenal progress made to date and the many great things happening in our schools across the United States (and especially in Texas), or the nature of the challenges they continually overcome with little or no help from the very people who would produce or be featured in a shallow and intentionally misleading docu-drama such as this one. The following article addresses some of the film's inaccuracies rather well in our opinion.
- Friends of Texas Public Schools
What 'Superman' got wrong, point by point.
By Rick Ayers
While the education film Waiting For Superman has moving profiles of students struggling to succeed under difficult circumstances, it puts forward a sometimes misleading and other times dishonest account of the roots of the problem and possible solutions.
|
|
Graham ISD teacher thanks Friends founder Leslie Milder
The following is a letter received by Friends of Texas Public Schools from a teacher in Graham ISD.Hi,
I wanted to let you know how utterly impressed I was with the speech you gave for our annual breakfast. I've been with the Graham ISD 5 years now, and yours, by far, has been the best breakfast presentation during that time.
You need to know what a huge positive impact that has had on my school year so far. I teach 6th grade math which can be quite a challenge at times. We are doing many things differently this year which normally is a recipe for grumbling. However, I took what you said to heart and decided to be the best cheerleader for Graham Junior High School, all of the Graham ISD, and all public schools in general that could be found. For the first week or two of school, I almost daily posted something GREAT that was happening at our school. The enthusiasm spread like wildfire. Beyond that, it totally changed my own attitude about coming to school each day. We ARE working our tails off, and we are seeing great things because of that.
I've known for 5 years that Graham is a great place to be, but as a result of your speech, I'm convinced now more than ever how blessed I am to be where I am and doing what I do.
Thank you so much for giving all of us a great start to our year!
Sincerely,
Julie Bell
6th Grade Math
Graham Junior High School
Graham, TX |
|
Friends honors Darrell Scott as Texas Public Schools 2010 Friend of the Year
 December 8, 2010
Frontiers of Flight Museum
in Dallas 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Darrell and Sandy Scott, Founders of Rachel's Challenge, are making a significant and lasting contribution toward the effectiveness of public schools in Texas through a gripping character education program that is transforming the hearts and minds of young people across the state of Texas and nation.
Rachel's Challenge is inspired by their daughter Rachel who was the first person killed at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Her acts of kindness and compassion coupled with the contents of her six diaries have become the foundation for one of the most life-changing school programs in America.
For more information on this program visit www.rachelschallenge.com... And watch our website at www.fotps.org for event details. Please contact Amber Fulton at afulton@fotps.org for sponsorship information.
event details
|
|
Energy Tip of the Month brought to you by FOTPS Sponsor, Schneider Electric
Did you know that Texas ISDs have contributed greatly to saving our planet?
Since 1992, over 110 Texas school districts have reduced their energy consumption and CO2 emissions significantly by implementing energy conservation projects in partnership with Schneider Electric. The total impact of these projects is equivalent to taking 128,998 cars off the road for a year or planting 175,438 acres of trees! For more information on how you can join these leaders in energy conservation, click on the Schneider Electric logo below.
|
Our Mission
The mission of Friends of Texas Public Schools, the leading voice of optimism and hope for our public school family, is to ensure positive and constructive conversation about public schools by educating Texans through honest communication, productive dialogue, and relentless encouragement.
Please share our optimism for public education, pass us along to others.
Friends of Texas Public Schools
Scott Milder, President & Chief Executive
P.O. Box 1568
Rockwall, TX 75087
Phone: 214-497-6411
|
|
|
|
|
