Quarterly August-October Issue 2021 |
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Greetings:
It is with great honor, pride and humility that I continue to serve the students, parents, and community members of District 1. As the school year is now in full swing, I want to express how proud and pleased I have been to see our students, faculty, and staff back in our schools teaching and learning with passion, conviction, and purpose. Thank you all for your continued work in improving the learning and lives of our students and uplift of our community. We have faced many challenges, and have met them with great success. I am extremely proud of the perseverance, collective resolve and resilience of our community.
As the year progresses, lets continue to encourage our students, teachers, faculty, and staff to remain engaged in educational enrichment and committed to success so that we can continue on our journey to improve the lives of our youth. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do. I look forward to your continued support, encouragement, and efforts.
Let’s Work!
Educationally,
Steve Gallon III
School Board Vice Chair, District 1
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Dr. Gallon continues to be actively engaged in his role as a policy maker as he successfully proffered School Board agenda items that received approval and support from the Board at the August 18, 2021, September 9, 2021, and October , 2021 School Board Meetings.
Dr. Gallon's items addressed the following:
H-10: COMPETITVE BIDDING FOR INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY PURCHASES
(to read this item in full, please click on the link below)
H-17: UPDATE OF COVID-19 RELATED PROCEDURES FOR IDENTIFICATION, NOTIFICATION, QUARANTINE, TESTING, FACIAL COVERINGS AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS DOE THE 2021-2022 OPENING OF SCHOOLS
(to read this item in full, please click on the link below)
H-18: MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTRICT AND SCHOOL COVID-19 DASHBOARD
(to read this item in full, please click on the link below)
H-19: FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAM
(to read this item in full, please click on the link below)
H-12: HVAC SYSTEM UPDATE AND REPLACEMENT PLAN
(to read this item in full, please click on the link below)
H-15: AMENDMENT TO SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 2432, DRIVER EDUCATION
(to read this item in full, please click on the link below)
H-7: PLANNING FOR THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF INFLUX OF HAITIAN IMMIGRANT STUDENTS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
(to read this item in full, please click on the link below)
H-14: FINANCIAL LITERACY IN SCHOOLS
(to read this item in full, please click on the link below)
H-17: SECURITY AND SAFETY PROVISIONS, PROTOCOLS, AND PROCEDURES FOR SCHOOL BOARD RELATED EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES (GOOD CAUSE)
(to read this item in full, please click on the link below)
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The Culture-Mask Mandates |
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The Culture was honored to bring back Dr. Gallon to discuss the public schools mask mandate reaching the national stage.
On August 20, 2021, he answered questions and gave insight to the following questions and more: What do parents need to know? How did we get here? How was he successful in the face of political opposition?
To watch to the full podcast, click on the link below:
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This Week in South Florida |
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Dr. Gallon had a great discussion on This Week in South Florida discussing his Board Item that resulted in a 7-1 School Board vote for mandatory student masks for the 2021-2022 school year.
To watch full conversation, click on the link below:
https://fb.watch/4IlmeIB-zy/
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District 1 Annual Principals, Pastors & Partners Brunch |
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On September 3, 2021, Dr. Gallon had a great time engaging and speaking at the District 1 Annual Principals, Pastors and Partners Brunch.
It was a great opportunity to establish new and reconnect existing partnerships with select District 1 Schools and to also have the presence and support of Miami Gardens Mayor Rodney Harris committing to working with District 1 schools and students.
Dr. Gallon gave special thanks to New Way and Bishop Billy Baskins for hosting and sponsoring this event.
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Dr. Gallon had a great start of the morning on September 13, 2021 at Carol City Middle School celebrating the media center transformation project made possible with the support and $1 million dollar investment from the Orange Bowl Foundation for 16 schools in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Carol City Middle was also uniquely blessed to receive a direct donation presented by Pastor Wayne Lomax of the Fountain Church as a continuation of the District 1 Faith Based Adopt a School Initiative.
This investment will transform their media center and provide an innovative, creative space for students to learn, create, and flourish.
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CUBE 2021 Annual Conference |
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Dr. Gallon traveled to Atlanta, Georgia to attend and participate at CUBE's 2021 Annual Conference.
He was honored and humbled to deliver the Keynote Address on the State of Urban Education to over 600 school board members and district leaders from around the nation at the conference luncheon.
He was also tremendously blessed and honored to introduce the iconic, legendary Dr. Mae Jemison as the afternoon Keynote Speaker.
Dr. Jemison is the first woman of color in the world to go into space. She is also a strong advocate for educational equity and access for minority students. Her message was truly inspiring and motivating.
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District 1 Student Advisory Committee |
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Dr. Gallon had a great morning launching the District 1 Student Advisory Committee on September 21, 2021. Students from District 1 middle and senior high schools were selected to represent their school and meet with him on a regular basis to provide insight, feedback, thoughts and recommendations from the perspective of a student in a District 1 school.
At the meeting, one student asked: “Why can’t we have these type of sessions with our principal?”
Dr. Gallon: “Why can’t you? You can. As principal, I did…”
Dr. Gallon strongly believes that an effective principal will ALWAYS create a safe and open space for students to speak, offer ideas, and express themselves.
Topics of discussion ranged from curriculum and school safety to facilities and educational resources. Students were also given the link to the District 1 School Experience Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RCFDRWG.
Dr. Gallon was extremely grateful and proud of the information that was shared at this meeting.
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District 1 Town Hall Meeting |
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On Tuesday, September 28, 2021, Dr. Gallon held his first quarterly Education Town Hall Meeting for the 2021-2022 school year at Miami Norland Senior High School. Although he continued to hold them virtually during the peak of the pandemic, this is the first in-person town hall since prior to March 2020. The meeting was well-attended and consisted of elected officials, community stakeholders, parents, principals, teachers, faculty, staff and students from District 1 schools, and the North Region Administrative Team. Dr. Gallon provided an update on several District 1 initiatives, as well as proposed Board Items. He also discussed present and upcoming policies, programs, projects, and plans for progressing education in the district.
Dr. Gallon and the North Region Administrative Team, as well as school leaders, engaged concerned constituents regarding issues and opportunities for educating students in District 1.
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2021 Annual Back to School Breakfast |
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On the morning of October 2, 2021, Dr. Gallon proudly supported the great work of the Association of Haitian Educators of Dade at the 2021 Annual Back to School Breakfast. |
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FSBA Board of Directors Meeting |
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Dr. Gallon traveled to Fort Myers, Florida to participate in the Board of Directors Meeting of the Florida School Boards Association. While there, they discussed statewide strategies to support public education. It was an engaging and productive three days for Dr. Gallon. |
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Zoom Meeting w/ District 1 Student Advisory Committee |
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Dr. Gallon hosted a great zoom meeting with the District 1 Student Advisory Committee on October 15, 2021. The brief meeting was to applaud their ideas and input on the item that he proffered at the School Board Meeting of October 20, 2021 on Financial Literacy in Miami-Dade County Schools.
The item was unanimously co-sponsored in Committee and successfully approved at the School Board Meeting.
"I am grateful for the input of our students and the unanimous support of my colleagues on this critical area of curriculum review and delivery, said Dr. Gallon.
Financial literacy can serve as the life-line for so many Americans, and public education must serve as a key provider and predicate for our students to learn essential skills for not only learning, but life."
Miami-Dade County Public Schools must continue to be leaders in providing meaningful, deliberate, and equitable learning opportunities for all students. The provision of intentional, stand-alone financial literacy in the District will be a huge win for our district, community, and most important, our students.
Please read full item here:
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Zoe's Dolls' Day of Service |
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Dr. Gallon had a great day supporting the Zoe’s Dolls organization and its day of service at Dr. Robert B. Ingram Elementary School.
It was a day of beautification, fun, and service. Dr. Gallon gave special thanks to the students of Miami Country Day for dedicating their time and service to this special event.
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District 1 Student of the Month |
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Dr. Gallon was excited to salute the District 1 Students of the Month in-person on October 19, 2021 at Lake Stevens Middle School. He, along with Region staff, parents and administrators gave huge congratulations to the outstanding students for being recognized for their achievements. |
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Review of District 1 School Status |
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On October 20, 2021, Dr. Gallon met with M-DCPS' Chief of Staff Mr. Jose Bueno and Chief Human Capital Officer Dr. Dawn Baglos to discuss and review the most critical element and factor in student learning: The Classroom Teacher, as well as projected student performance data and required support for fragile schools.
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