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Beacon o f Ligh t Award s Gala

Honor ing

Out s t and ing Leader s in Educa t i on

&

The Unve i l ing o f Young Scho lar s in

Serv i c e

Nat i ona l Aquar i um 501 Eas t Pra t t Str e e t

Bal t imor e , Mary land 21202

∼M is t r e s s o f C er emony ∼ Ms. Trac i e J igge t t s

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!Elijah!Etheridge!!BTN!Executive!Director!!""On" behalf" of" the" Board" of" Directors," parents," teachers" and" students" of" Baltimore" Teacher"Network,"we"congratulate"this"year’s"Beacon"of"Light"Award"recipients."It" is"our"hope"that"the"Beacon"of"Light"Award"will"soon"become"recognized"as"the"premier"education"leadership"award"amongst" Baltimore’s" nonprofit" charter" schools." Those" that" receive" this" award" have"distinguished" themselves" as" true" leaders" and" champions" in" the" cause" of" advancing" and" or"improving"access"to"education"for"disenfranchised"communities"throughout"Baltimore"City.""This"award" is"appropriately"entitled"“Beacon(of(Light”"because" it"symbolizes"the"effect"of"the"work"of"its"recipients."A"beacon"of"light"serves"as"a"pathway"forward,"a"guiding"light"or"warning"signal."A"beacon"is"also"described"as"a"lighthouse,"signal"buoy,"etc.,"on"a"shore"or"at"a"dangerous"area"at"sea"to"warn"and"guide"vessels."A"beacon"is"a"person,"act"or"thing"that"warns"or"guides"or"a"person"or"thing"that"illuminates"or"inspires."All"of"these"are"appropriate"attributes"of"tonight’s"awardees."Each"of" them"has"acted"as"guides"and"has" inspired"us" to" forge"a"pathway" forward"often" at" times" when" it" seemed" hopeless" and" beyond" our" reach." Whether" in" the" hallowed"legislative"halls"of"Annapolis"or"City"Hall" or" in" the"board" rooms"of" local"or"national"nonprofit"organizations," these" champions" have" and" continue" to,"move" an" agenda" to" equal" the" playing"field"of"quality"education"for"all"of"our"citizens."

We" are" honored" to" recognize" and" celebrate" these" awardees" for" their"many" contributions" in"improving"the"quality"of"education"within"Baltimore"City.""

Congratulations!to!all!of!the!recipients!!

Eli jah

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2015 Beacon o f Ligh t Awarde e s Benjamin! Todd! Jealous"(born" January" 18," 1973)" is" an" American" political" and" civic"leader"and"former"president"and"chief"executive"officer"of"the"National"Association"for"the"Advancement"of"Colored"People"(NAACP)."He"is"currently"a"partner"at"Kapor"Capital"and"Board"Chairman"of" the"Southern"Elections"Fund." Jealous"served"as" the"youngestWever"national"leader"of"the"NAACP,"and"earned"accolades"for"reviving"the"organization"by"Forbes"magazine,"Time"magazine,"The&Nonprofit&Times,"and"others."In"2013," Jealous"was"named"a"Young"Global"Leader"by" the"Davos"World"Economic"

Forum."The"Washington"Post"in"2013"described"him"as""one"of"the"nation's"most"prominent"civil"rights"leaders."""

Senator!Catherine!Pugh"has"been"a"public"servant"for"over"15"years."She"served"as"a"member"of"the"Baltimore"City"Council,"representing"the"4th"district"(1999W2003)."In" 2005" she" was" appointed" to" the" Maryland" General" Assembly," House"of"Delegates,"where"she"served"for"one"year"before"running"for"her"Senate"seat"in"2006." Senator"Pugh’s" abilities" to" negotiate" and" her" bipartisan" approach" have"catapulted" her" into" various"leadership" positions" in" the" Maryland" Senate." She"currently" serves" as" the"Majority" Leader."Named" Legislator" of" the" Year" (2010)" by"the" City" Paper," Senator" Pugh" has" passed" over" 150" pieces"of" legislation." Senator"

Pugh" is" the" founder" of" Baltimore" School" of" Design,"which" recently" visited" the"White"House" upon" the"invitation"of"First"Lady"Michelle"Obama.""

Councilwoman!Mary!Pat!Clarke"represents"the"14th"District"of"the"Baltimore"City"Council,"a"North"Central"Baltimore"district"of"46,000"residents."The"14th"District"is"a" diverse" and" keystone" community." She" serves" as" the" Chair" of" Education"committee" for" Baltimore" City" Counsel." In" 1995,"Mary" Pat" resumed"her" teaching"career," as" adjunct" faculty" at" Johns" Hopkins" University," UMBC" and" Maryland"Institute"College"of"Art."Mary"Pat"coWsponsored"the"City’s"first"Charter"amendment"to" reduce" class" size" in" the" Baltimore" City" Public" Schools," in" 1982." She" currently"serves" on" the" Advisory" Boards" of" The" Community" School" in" Remington" and" the"

Stadium"School"Youth"Dreamers.""She"helped"develop"the"Master’s"Program"in"Community"Arts"(MACA),"the"first"of"its"kind"in"the"nation.""

Dr.!Eric!Rice" is"an"Assistant"Professor"at" the" Johns"Hopkins"School"of"Education,"where" he" coordinates" the" Masters" of" Science," Educational" Studies" program,"conducts" research" about" teacherWled" charter" schools," and" teaches" about" Urban"School"Reform"and"Culturally"Responsive"Education."He"also" teaches" in" the"EdD"program"and"is"designing"an"Urban"Leadership"specialization"for"this"program.""Dr."Rice" also" leads" an" international" exchange" program" focused" on" education" and"public"health"in"Uganda"and"Baltimore."He"is"active"in"the"field"of"school"reform"in"Baltimore,"and"he"sat"on"the"board"of"the"Baltimore"Teacher"Network,"operator"of"two" Baltimore" City" charter" schools," for" many" years." Trained" as" a" cultural"

anthropologist" at" Johns" Hopkins," Dr." Rice" is" an" Associate" Director" at" the" JHU"Urban" Health" Institute,"where"he"provides" leadership"for"the"UHI’s"Small"Grants"Program"and"coWrepresents"the"UHI's"Schools"and"Health"Initiatives."

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Welcome Tracie Jiggetts, ConneXions Theatre Instructor

Invo ca t i on Rev. Dr. Wanda Bynum-Duckett, Mt. Zion United Methodist Church -Senior Pastor

∼Dinner ∼

Young Scho lar s in Serv i c e Enr i chmen t Program Introduced byCornell Dews, Director

Ar t i s t i c Per f o rmance b y ConneXions Studen t s Directed by Diedre Dawkins, ConneXions Arts Director

Brandon Booth, Vocal Instructor Medoune Gueye, West African Drums Instructor Sensei Wayne Hargrove, Martial Arts Instructor

Tracie Jiggetts, Theatre Instructor

Keyno t e Addre s s , Mr. Ben Jea l ou s introduced by Matthew Wernsdorfer, BTN Board President

Pre s en ta t i on o f Beacon o f Ligh t Award s Introduced by Elijah Etheridge, Executive Director

Ben Jealous – Matthew Wernsdorfer Councilwoman Mary Pat Clark – Denise Dumas

Senator Catherine Pugh – Dr. Ron Howell Dr. Eric Rice – Gwen Mullen

Clo s ing Remark s Dr. Ron Howell , Deputy Director

Music Provided by ∼ S-Quire Jazz Ensemble

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!Young!Scholars!in!Service!(YSIS)!

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Baltimore" Teacher" Network" and" ConneXions" has" partnered" to"develop" an" academic," social" and" artistic" communityWlearning" center"that" enriches" the" lives" of" our" students," their" parents" and" families."The"Young"Scholars"in"Service"(YSIS)"after"school"enrichment"program"aims" to" be" a" cluster" of" academic" clinics" highlighting" curriculum"aligned"with"Maryland's" College"&" Career" Readiness" Standards" and"Common" Core." " Supported" by" data," our" specific" areas" of" focus" are" mathematics" and" literacy" in" which"students"will"receive"the"necessary"additional"support"and"resources"they"need"to"achieve"proficiency"and"practical" understanding." The" goal" is" to" educate," encourage" and" support" students" using" researchWbased"curriculum"and"an"infusion"of"arts"programming"to"enhance"scholarship."College"and"Career"Readiness"and"supplemental" instruction"coupled"with"artistic"expression"will"promote"academic" learning"and"community"service"while"illuminating"lives"within"Baltimore"City.""

"We" have" concluded" that" for" the" uplifting" of" our" community" as" a" whole," it" is" important" that" our" young"people"accept"ownership"and"responsibility"for"their"actions"by"dedicating"themselves"to"their"community"in"the"role"of"service."The"program"is"housed"on"the"Connexions"campus"that"attracts"neighborhood"youth"to" its" beautiful" greenery" and" indoor" library," auditorium" and" sports" facilities." YSIS" applies" foundational"knowledge,"skills"and"behaviors"necessary" to"be"successful" in" the"performing"arts"professions;"cultivate"a"cohort" of" student" leaders" with" a" demonstrated" proclivity" for" peer" teaching" and" social" service;" increase"intrinsic"motivation"for"lofty"student"achievement;"develop"marketable"academic"skills"that"result" in"postWsecondary"educational"and"professional"opportunities;"and"increase"community/corporate"investment"that"maximizes"and"sustains"student"success"and"community"involvement."""Three"days"a"week"(Monday,"Tuesday"&"Thursday),"students"will"participate"in"a"90Wminute"academic"and"arts" enrichment" program" from" 4:30pm" W" 6:00pm." On" Saturday," the" scholars" will" venture" into" the"community" and" perform" community" service" through" theatrical" expressions," cultural" dance" and" West"African"drum,"visual"arts"displays,"vocal"miniWconcerts,"and"martial"arts"demonstrations"at"nursing"homes,"hospitals,"rehabilitation"facilities,"and"senior"living"communities,"etc."""Our"goal"is"to"use"the"arts"as"a"means"to"increase"the"intellectual"ability"of"our"children,"creating"youth"leaders"who"will"take"responsibility"for"themselves"and"their"community."It"is"through"YSIS"that"these"75W100"community"youth"have"an"alternative"to"the"negative"influences"in"this"West"Baltimore"community."

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Thank&you&for&your&support&of&Young&Scholars&In&Service&

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Baltimore!Teacher!Network!(BTN)!!Our(Mission&is" to"grow,"sustain,"and"retain"a"vibrant"group"of"professional" teachers" in"Baltimore"who:"mutually" support" each" other’s" teaching" practice;" influence" local" school" reform" policy" through" public"debates"and"publications;"and"jointly"create"work"environments"that"encourage"true"teacher"leadership"and" onWgoing" innovation." It" is" our" desire" to" develop" fully" operational" teacher" resource" centers"throughout"Baltimore"City."We"articulate"our"vision"through"both"charter"schools"that"we"have"operated"for"over"13"years."""

Independence!High!School!Local!1!(Our(mission" is" to"cultivate"practical"and"creative" intellectuals"who"understand,"respect"and"appreciate"their"own"culture"and" that"of"others."" SelfWawareness," curiosity," and" intellectual" growth"are"promoted"through" an" honest" and" caring" learning" environment" and" transformative" wilderness" experiences." At"Independence," teachers"offer" their" students"an"academic"environment" focused"on"CTE"Environmental"Science"in"a"small,"intimate"setting."Students"will"learn"in"advisory"groups,"of"no"more"than"18"students,"from" freshman" year" to"matriculation" to" encourage" friendships" and" a" sense" of" community" within" the"school" environment." Teachers" will" effectively" implement" tradition" and" projectWbased" learning" and"experiential"learning"for"a"wideWrange"of"learning"modalities"so"that"students"have"opportunities"to"learn"in"a"way"that" is"effective" for" them."We"are"a"communal"classroom"where"students"can" learn"to"weigh"freedom" and" responsibility."" Our" school" balances" a" rigorous" academic" program,"with"mentorship" and"internship" opportunities" within" the" greater" community."" This" is" not" an" alternative" program," but" an"alternative"to"traditional"schooling."It"our"innovative,"challenging,"and"empowerment"approach"that"we"present"to"educating"urban"youth"in"the"21st"century.""""

ConneXions!–!A!Community!Based!Arts!School!"An"artsWfocused,"public,"charter"school"serving"grades"6"–"12" in" the"West"Baltimore"community"with"a"mission" of" academic" and" artistic" excellence," cultural" identity" and" community" awareness" in" all" of" our"students." ConneXions" offers" rigorous," meaningful" and" relevant" instruction" using" the" cultural" values"through"arts"programs"in:"Dance"(Ballet,"West"African,"Modern,"Horton"Technique)"West"African"Drum,"Theatre" (Acting," Costume" Design," Audio/Visual)," Visual" Arts" (Drawing/Painting," Multimedia,"Photography,"Art"History),"Vocal"(Concert"Choir)"and"Martial"Arts."Small"class"sizes"enable"individualized"attention"and"comprehensive"support"from"engaging"educators"and"working"artists"to"support"rigorous"and" high" academic" expectations." Students" engage" in" performances" and" presentations" designed" to"prepare"them"for"personal"and"professional"success."

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Baltimore Teacher Network Organizational Leadership

BTN Board of Directors

Matthew Wernsdorfer President

Shanelle Hopkins

Treasure

Curtis Pope Member

Anthony Pena

Member

Jared L. Thornton

Vice President

Angela Newman Secretary

Mark Matthews Sr.

Member

Sherrie Howell Member

BTN Staff

Elijah Etheridge Executive Director

Dr. Ron Howell Deputy Director

Leah Abrams

Accountant

Danise Robinson Office Manager

Paulette Jennings

Office Assistant

Kia Harper Dimitric Roseboro Principal, ConneXions Principal, Independence

Sidney Brooks Erick Sunday

Assistant Principal, ConneXions Founding Member

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Sponsorship Recognition

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the entire BTN organization, we thank each and every one of our sponsors for supporting the Beacon of Light Awards Gala 2015

All proceeds will go toward supporting the Young Scholars In Service After School Enrichment Program ABM Janitorial Services 103 Clermont Avenue, Suite 201 Alexandria, Virginia 22304 American Pizza & Wings 2400 St Paul Street Baltimore, Maryland 21218 (410) 235-2300 AXA Insurance Devin Gordon-Hamm Constantine Matsakis (240) 686-1819 (443) 878-5287 Coppin State University Dr. Maria Thompson, President Diversified Insurance Paul Belz, Producer

Herman’s Discount 3106 Greenmont Avenue Baltimore, Maryland 21218 Just 4U Transportation 2037 W. Lexington Street Baltimore, Maryland 21223 The Key Hole Inc. Rick Ennis, President & CEO Living Word Ministries Bishop Darneal Johnson, Senior Pastor Mt. Calvary Word of Faith Church Dr. Shirley Caesar, Pastor Signs By Tomorrow of Baltimore Lee Davis, President & CEO

York Pizza & Wings 3401 Greenmount Avenue

Baltimore, Maryland 21218 (410) 235-6290

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Baltimore Teacher Network ~ 2701 N. Charles Street, Suite 401 ~ Baltimore, Maryland 21218 ~ (410) 469-9902