 DEBORAH
COOPER
ArtsTeach
By George MacBain
Today, we had the opportunity to hear from
Deborah Cooper, Executive Director of Charlotte based ArtsTeach.
Deborah's road to an arts career began in middle school in
Washington DC when her art teacher told her parents "she has real
talent"! From that moment on she and her mom became 100% focused on
arts. She began her career at CMS as an art teacher moving up the
ranks to Head of Arts Education supervising over 200 art teachers.
She received the NC and twice Southeast Art educator of the year
awards while at CMS. Deborah became Executive Director of ArtsTeach
18 months ago.
Deborah began her comments by remembering two "nuggets" she heard
from the Academy Awards presentation this week. First, Reece
Witherspoon quoted June Carter Cash as always answering when asked
how she was as saying "just trying to matter"! Deborah commented
that all of us should try to matter to our kids' education everyday!
Second, many artists that night thanked their parents for getting
them involved in what they were being honored for that evening.
Think back on all those piano, art, dance and singing lessons and
thank your parents for their gift to you!
About ArtsTeach, it was started as a result of a need identified by
the ASC and included in a community action plan study some 8 years
ago. ArtsTeach builds partnerships which maximize academic learning
through exposure, practice and the infusion of the arts in CMS
schools. Deborah showed our audience a brief video of CMS children
active in the arts and teachers commenting on the benefits of the
ArtsTeach programs. Recent studies have shown schools that integrate
the arts into their curriculum as part of education reform, have
improved student performance. Recent Harris Polls have concluded
that 93% of Americans believe the arts are vital to a well rounded
education and offer a student an introduction into a wider spectrum
of academic and social benefits.
Last fall, a local pole conducted by Charlotte Advocates for
Education by CMS concluded the TOP untouchable item in education was
"art and music" reinforcing local thoughts and the need for programs
such as ArtsTeach.
Last year 80,000 CMS students were offered programs through
ArtsTeach. 100% of our schools are impacted, 4,000 teachers and
teaching artists participated and 49,000 parent volunteers and
community leaders were involved. In addition, ArtsTeach applied and
received $771,000 in grants able to be used for workshops and
education for teachers and students alike from CMS. This is really
an exciting program for our public schools and they are so fortunate
to have the skills and passion of a Deborah Cooper leading the way!
Head Table:
Floyd Davis, Alan Barnhardt, Herb Harriss, Frances Haithcock, Phil
Kline, Pam Meister; Invocation: Ken Poe
Visitors &
Guests:
Janice Stevens; Health & Happiness: Fred Brown; Song: Richard Early;
Music: Thomas Moore
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NEW MEMBER PROFILE |
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Jerri Haigler
Central Piedmont Community College
Classification:
Education, Public Relations
PO Box 35009 (28235-5009)
704-330-6660
jerri.haigler@cpcc.edu |
Jerri Haigler joined CPCC on July 1, 2005 as the Assistant to
the President for Community Relations and Public Affairs. In
this position, she assists in efforts to promote this area's top
local community college and increase awareness of the
opportunities available at Central Piedmont. Haigler works with
local, regional, state and national media in promoting the
programs and services of the college. In addition, she works to
increase visibility and awareness of the college within the
region. Prior to joining CPCC, Haigler served in the Public
Information Office for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools for five
years as Internal Communications Supervisor, Director of Public
Information, and Executive Director of Public Information. She
has 17 years of public relations experience in K-12 public
education and in the corporate sector.
Jerri received her degree in communications from Wingate
University in 1986 and earned her accreditation in public
relations (APR) from the National Public Relations Society in
2005. |
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Rotary Club of Charlotte
841 Baxter Street, Suite 118, Charlotte 28202
chltrot@bellsouth.net 704-375-6816 |
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Welcome new members:
Jerri Haigler, Assistant to
the President for Community Relations and Public Affairs at
Central Piedmont Community College. Jerri can be reached at
jerri.haigler@cpcc.edu, or
704-330-6660. Gilberto Bergman
is President and CEO of Bergman Brothers Staffing, and can
be reached at
gilbert@bergmanbrothers.com,
or 704-537-1230, ext 225.
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The Habitat project is off to a good start
and volunteer opportunities are still available.
John Snyder and the
Myers Park Interact Club
are jumping in with 18 to 20 volunteers anxious to work on
drywall and painting.
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President Elect Luther Moore
is building his leadership team for the upcoming Rotary
year. Please give Luther a call if you are interested in
serving as an Avenue or committee chairperson.
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Michelle Fish and her
entrepreneurial spirit were profiled in this week's
Observer.
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Several weeks ago, Frances
Haithcock issued a challenge to Rotarians to
"walk a day" in the shoes of an educator. Thanks to
Luther Moore, Tim Newman, Bill Loftin,
and Ed Kizer for accepting the challenge! We're
anxious to hear the feedback.
þ
President Herb provided
a recap of the club's gala by reading a thank you note from
Powell Majors, extended
congrats to Thomas Moore
as the first recipient of RI's Four Avenues of Service
Citation for Individual Rotarians, and thanked
Catherine and
Sandy for organizing a fun
event. |
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INTERNATIONAL
PROJECT UPDATE |
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DGE Joe
Morris conducted an information session with a
dozen or so members following Rotary on Tuesday and shared
the details of how one becomes involved in an
international project. Joe and several members of
Charlotte Dilworth South End are working on a home
improvement initiative in Alto Cayma, Arequipa, Peru and
they would very much like members from Charlotte Rotary to
join them. To recap details of the discussion: a trip will
be planned in January or February - heading out on a Friday
and returning Sunday week; work will be done to help build
water tanks and latrines in an area that has NO water,
sewer, or electricity; the group will visit other on-going
projects, including greeting cards project, wood working
operation, children and senior adult project; a two-day
'vacation' time is planned during the ten day trip; lodging
is provided in volunteer quarters; the price is about $1500.
Joe stressed the primary reason to become involved in this
trip is to become educated in Rotary International
projects…not to finish building water tanks and latrines. A
second information session will be held following Rotary on
March 21st. Please plan to attend if you are interested. Or,
contact Joe at
jmorris18@carolina.rr.com,
or 704-362-1619, if you have specific questions or are
interested in making the journey. |
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Attendance
Record |
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3/7/06 |
3/8/05 |
| visitors &
guests |
8 |
26 |
| club
members |
206 |
194 |
| total
attendance |
214 |
220 |
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New Members | Resignations |
Gilbert Bergman
Jerri Haigler |
Anne Bridgeman
Mick Goodfellow |
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Wedding
Anniversaries |
15 Cathy and Martin Grable
16 Vicki and Duke Ison
17 Jane and John Johnson |
| Birthdays and
Birthplaces |
14 Pam Meister,
New Orleans, LA
15 Tony Lathrop, Gastonia, NC
16 Bill Loftin, Jr., Charlotte, NC
17 John Stedman,
Fayetteville, NC
19 Harry Weatherly,
Greensboro, NC |
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