Your Voice – Jane DeNeefe

With only one competitive school board race- we thought we’d open up the floor to any of your thoughts, endorsements, and posts – here’s Jane DeNeefe’s take on the District 4 school board race.

Citizen Comments Unchained

The policy governing Citizen Comments, regardless of their intent, suppress comments

Dr. Akin Takes The Center Ring

Akin’s State of the Schools address was a missed opportunity to “bring it to the parents,” and bring it with honesty.

Superintendent Candidates – Stakeholder Input Sought

Board members urge community feedback as they take the next steps in deciding who should be the next superintendent.

An open letter to candidates for Huntsville City Schools superintendent

Active, authentic dialogue will go a long way to resolving many of the issues we face.

Drake draws support and goodwill from our diverse community

The appointment by the Huntsville Board of Education of lifelong educator and retired principal, Tom Drake, as interim superintendent brings the potential for healing and unity to a divided school district.

Lost Lines

Huntsville United - I Love Ms Denson

 

Lakewood Elementary, first grade in Ms. Denson’s class, who I clearly loved. (I really did, and I thought she was beautiful)

I know there are grammatical errors (boots on the river?) and my illustration is not the most accurate, but back in the day, we created one of these papers every single morning.

If you’ll please notice my handwriting.

This picture makes me tear up. Not because I’m nostalgic for first grade (I am, though) but rather, because my first grade handwriting is neater and better formed than my son’s who is in fifth grade.

And yes, maybe I was a naturally better writer than my son, but I also practiced every single day.

Does anyone that grew up, here in Huntsville, remember the Handwriting Lady that we’d watch and emulate on the school TV station in third grade?  The teacher would roll in the tv cart and there she’d be.  She had perfect white or blonde hair (not sure, because she was in black and white) with a hypnotic voice, full of confidence that we were capable of duplicating her beautiful loops and swirls. Sigh…

Thank goodness, one thing that is still intact in our current school system is the love the teachers have for our kids.
I knew Ms. Denson loved me even if she hadn’t replied to me in her beautiful red ink.

Ms. Denson would never have time for that now. She’d be too busy fitting in her material for the day, to teach kids how to take tests. Ms. Denson has been replaced by a black rectangle that gives a little “good job” graphic in the corner of a screen.  Somehow, I don’t think that praise feels the same coming from a computer.

I know a screen shot from my son’s computer, telling him “I love you” won’t be hanging on his wall in 30 years.

The Choking Game – Our Family’s Effort to Educate

After our family’s tragedy, we were sure we could get support and answers from Dr. Casey Wardynski, Huntsville City Schools Superintendent.