Austin Partners in Education Names University of Texas 2004 'Partner of the Year' -- Annual 'Salute' Showcases Outstanding Partners

Austin Partners in Education has named the University of Texas at Austin as the Partner of the Year for 2004.

"Ever so quietly, a committed University community works tirelessly year after year in concert with us, striving to improve every facet of our school district," Austin School Superintendent Pat Forgione said in thanking UT President Dr. Larry Faulkner for the University's commitment to AISD.

The announcement was made at APIE's annual Salute Banquet and Awards Program on April 21 at the Palmer Events Center. Accepting the award was UT's Deputy to the President, Dr. Charles A. Roeckle.

"The involvement of the University of Texas with the Austin School District exists on many different levels Ñ from ongoing formal academic and outreach programs; to special initiatives by a wide variety of academic, research, and administrative units; to the volunteer activities of myriad student organizations and individuals," Dr. Roeckle said.

"Together, the University of Texas and AISD share the enterprise of education, we share the vision of what education can become, and we share the knowledge that our children are the future, and that the successful future of Texas lies in their successful education."

Dr. Forgione said the scope and breadth of the UT partnership programs with Austin Schools are impressive:

* Every school day, 450 UT student teachers teach classes, grade papers, tutor and work with AISD students. For four semesters, these future teachers from the Colleges of Science, Natural Science, Liberal Arts, and Education have been tutoring, mentoring and working with AISD teachers and students.

* The Office of Financial Aid through federal programs such as America Reads and America Counts provides several hundred students, who qualify for financial aid, with federal funds to support these college tutors in Austin's inner city schools. This year for the first time, Partners in Education tapped this resource for its math and science high school tutoring initiative.

* This year's most widely acclaimed new initiative centered around UT student athletes who shared with Austin middle school students their own work ethic and commitment to achieve. The student athletes encouraged students to recognize that greatness lies within and to envision a college education in their future.

* UT's College of Natural Science works with fifth and sixth graders, inviting them to begin thinking about a career in science.

* Explore UT, the University's annual open house, is another broad initiative that gets younger children onto the University campus, making them aware of higher education and career possibilities for themselves.

* Through the UT Volunteer Center, numerous student organizations commit hundreds of community service hours on special projects throughout the school district, such as the landscaping and exterior renovation of Martin Middle School.

* The sharing of resources for the classroom teacher is equally broad and comprehensive. Project Utopia has electronically opened UT libraries and museums to the classroom teacher. Monthly lectures, complete with PowerPoint presentations and lesson plans for use in the classroom, are just the beginning of what is being provided to support the classroom teacher. The work of the Dana Center and the Reading and Language Arts Center are some of the entities that support AISD's classroom teachers.

* UT's Public School Leadership Principal Training Program, under the direction of Dr. Juanita Garcia, is a two-year program that develops prospective school principals.

* AISD's goal of getting more students into college through the college mentoring program requires considerable training of the volunteer mentors. Under the leadership of Bill Paver, a Board Member, who in the past worked in the University of Texas Admissions Department, and Pat Ellison, Associate Director of Admissions and Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies, college mentors were trained to assist seniors with the college admissions process. They are also developing a web site for online training.

* Dr. Lawrence Burt, Director of UT's Student Financial Service, offered and provided assistance from his department to help with Financial Aid Saturdays. The goal is help students find the right college and funds to get there.

* Dr. Dan Updegrove, Vice President of Information Technology, has shared considerable expertise and coordinated support in the development of the AISD technology vision for the future. UT has graciously shared its vast resources. This fall, Webb Middle School received a state-of-the-art computer lab from UT. Recently, Reagan and Travis high schools received new computers for three new labs.

* Dean Freeman of the College of Fine Arts has carried on Dr. Roeckle's commitment to AISD: UT School of Fine Arts faculty teach courses at McCallum High School, and recently, Dr. Freeman successfully co-authored a major grant for AISD. Collaboration in grant writing and work in getting external funding is most important, for these grants provide essential funding for educational initiatives that AISD needs to get beyond the current financial challenges facing public education.

"There are many individuals to thank at UT," Dr. Forgione said. "But none of this would take place without Dr. Larry Faulkner, who has challenged his leadership cadre to collaborate with AISD at every level and to share resources for the benefit of Austin's young people.

"It is not possible to acknowledge and thank the countless key leaders at UT, who, in addition to all of their other duties, give countless hours to the Partners Program. The University's commitment to our children is truly remarkable and we are proud to honor the University of Texas as the 2004 Partner of the Year."

Other honorees at APIE's 2004 Salute Program included:

Chair's Award
Austin Public Library System
Charles J. Barnett

Volunteer of the Year
Julie Baselice

Mentor of the Year
Judge Phil Sanders

Mentor Program of the Year
Tarrytown United Methodist Church

Hall of Fame
International Sematech

Career Development
Precision Tune Auto Care

Good Things Come in Small Packages
Doss Elementary PTA

Business Representative of the Year
Liz Reyna, Austin Hotel and Motel Association

Rookie of the Year
Texas Army National Guard

Special Project of the Year
Ernst & Young
Camp Read

Exemplary Performance - Elementary School
Janie Ruiz, Principal Becker Elementary

Exemplary Performance - Secondary School
Nancy Lehmann-Carssow, Lanier High School
Lynda Redler, Murchison Middle School

Exemplary Performance - Central Office
Hector Hinojosa, Construction Management

Campus Spirit
Lanier High School