• Notes from the President
• Robert I. Sperber Award to Barbara J. Shea
• Over 290,000!
• Teaching Systematic Phonics Through Storytelling

Last year was the best yet for the Brookline Education Foundation, thanks to our donors: over $290,000 raised and a record amount disbursed in grants and awards.

This success is bittersweet, though. Budget cuts will be forthcoming for a second year. Moreover, another leadership change is on the horizon with the resignation of Superintendent Silverman.

Fortunately, the Foundation stands ready to help, as we have for 22 years. We can’t—and shouldn’t—substitute our resources for the core school budget. But we can—and will—continue to invest strategically to support improved teaching and the spread of good ideas across our schools. We will continue to invest in teacher mentoring; narrowing the achievement gap; and strengthening science, math, and other curricula.

We’ve been here since Prop. 2 ½. We know what it takes to support great teaching in good times and bad, and we are ready to do more. Watch for a new Foundation grant program this spring!

On September 18, at a ceremony overflowing with warmth and humor, the Brookline Education Foundation presented its prestigious Robert I. Sperber Award to Barbara J. Shea, principal of the William H. Lincoln School. The award was given to Mrs. Shea in recognition of her exemplary leadership of the Lincoln School over the last thirteen years.

The Foundation was honored to have Dr. Robert Sperber, for whom the Sperber Award is named, make the presentation to Mrs. Shea. Dr. Sperber was Superintendent of Brookline Schools from 1964 to 1982, shepherding the school system through difficult times. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Brookline Education Foundation during the first round of Proposition 2 ½ school funding cuts.

Richard Kazis, president of the Board of the Brookline Education Foundation, hosted the award ceremony, which was held at the Lincoln School. Speakers included Lincoln teachers Carol Mellett, Patricia Rigley, and Steven Wilmore; Lincoln parent Kathleen Sheehy; and Driscoll School principal Carol Schraft,. The participants praised Mrs. Shea's vision, hard work, irreverent sense of humor, and ability to inspire. Each speaker extolled the transformation of Lincoln School under Mrs. Shea's stewardship into the vibrant, high-performance institution that it is today.

Two musical interludes added to the celebratory nature of the evening. Kyong Yoo, a 2003 graduate of the Lincoln School performed Violin Concerto #1 accompanied by Lincoln music teacher Matthew Polletto. In addition, the PALS Children's Chorus, conducted by Jody Simpson and accompanied by Bret Silverman on piano, performed Sim Shalom (Grant Peace).

Dr. Sperber described many of the important initiatives begun at Lincoln during Mrs. Shea's tenure, including the Lincoln School Advisory Board, the “Drop Everything and Read” program; a literary anthology and school newspaper; and highly successful participation in local and regional math, science, geography and speech competitions. Dr. Sperber noted that through its awards to teachers and administrators, the Brookline Education Foundation "refills the psychic reservoir" of professionals such as Barbara Shea so they can continue to inspire and support children, teachers, and parents.

In her acceptance speech, Mrs. Shea compared the renaissance of Lincoln School to Seabiscuit, the racehorse who faltered until its potential was recognized and nurtured. Like Seabiscuit’s success, Lincoln’s transformation was the combined effort of many; Mrs. Shea graciously acknowledged the work of teachers, administrators, parents, and students in making Lincoln a "champion."

At the reception, Carol Schraft summed up the audience’s sentiment: "… while it is true that the miracle that is Lincoln School came to be because of the vision and efforts of many people, at the end of the day, Barbara Shea was the one who worked hardest to make it happen and without whom this remarkable achievement and well-earned evening would not have been possible."

The Brookline Education Foundation was proud to honor two great educators, Richard I. Sperber and Barbara Shea, who exemplify the excellence of the Brookline schools.

With your help last year, we shattered all previous fundraising records. With the Brookline Public Schools’ budget stretched to its limit, these funds are needed more than ever to support:

• Mentoring Program – A town-wide, comprehensive approach to supporting the 200+ teachers Brookline anticipates hiring over the next 3 years.
• Closing the Achievement Gap – A town-wide leadership team to address issues of educational inequities in the Brookline schools. As part of the Minority Student Achievement Network (MSAN), Brookline will develop strategies and skills for addressing these issues.
• Teacher Grants Program – Professional development for outstanding teachers, including seed funding for innovative classroom initiatives.
• Ernest R. Caverly Award – Annual honor given to one elementary and one high school teacher in recognition of consistent professional excellence and contributions to the Brookline Schools. 2003 winners: Sheila Leach, Pierce School physical education teacher, and Mary Burchenal, BHS English Teacher.
• Adam Russell Gelfand Fellows Program – Annual award to an outstanding teacher grant recipient. 2003 Gelfand Fellow: Elizabeth Cook, Lincoln School literacy specialist, who attended a weeklong writing workshop at Harvard University.
• Dr. Robert I. Sperber Award – Periodic award to an administrator whose strong leadership skills have had a significant impact on the Brookline schools. 2003 recipient: Barbara Shea, Lincoln School principal.
• ScienceFest – A day of family fun and collaboration with local scientists, doctors, and engineers.
• Leadership Development – Seminars and conferences for administrators, principals, and curriculum coordinators to envision and collaborate on system-wide initiatives.

Thank you for contributing to the success of the past year’s fundraising campaign!

Most of us remember fondly the stories that we read or heard as young children. Now, through a Brookline Foundation grant, a method of teaching reading and phonics that capitalizes on children’s love of stories has been introduced in Brookline schools. The grant, which was awarded to a team of 17 Brookline educators, provides training, ongoing consultation, and curriculum materials in the Wisnia-Kapp Reading Program (WKRP).

The WKRP method is a multisensory approach to teaching students who are struggling with reading. Through the use of mnemonics, storytelling, and visual cues, the WKRP system helps students learn to rapidly retrieve sounds in words. For example, students are taught to break words apart into syllables through a story about choosing sides for baseball teams. The sports theme stimulates the students’ interest and helps them recall the principle being taught. A visual memory is further built through illustrations and student dramatizations of the story.

For many students, basic reading skills, such as mastering letter names and sound-symbol relationships, often take months to learn. During initial trials, Brookline instructors found that many WKRP students master these skills in just a few sessions. “The stories stay in their heads,” reports Irene Kamenetsky, a Lincoln School Learning Center teacher who believes the approach is successful “because it is fun and draws the students’ interest.”

The team of educators receiving WKRP training represent eight Brookline schools and includes Special Education (SPED), Learning Center, and Learning Disabilities teachers: SPED Curriculum Coordinators: and Speech and Language Pathologists. Their instruction began in June with a two-day session on content and methodology. A refresher course in September reacquainted the participants with the process and also addressed questions about specific classroom needs. Ongoing consultations and direct instructional review throughout the school year will help teachers with application, approach, and skills.

An added benefit of the project is that it provides a unique opportunity for a large group of Brookline educators to collaborate on a single curriculum over an extended period. Teachers meet monthly to share concerns, ideas, materials, and approaches. By providing ongoing consultation sessions, multiple opportunities for training, and an avenue to share materials, this grant is encouraging communication and collaboration among SPED professionals throughout Brookline.