FOCUS DC News Wire 10/25/13

 

 

 

The students of Anacostia’s Thurgood Marshall Academy filed into the school gym Thursday morning for a pep rally to celebrate their academic accomplishments over the past year.

 

Only after a school cheer and several speeches did they discover the second, secret reason they’d been called together: to witness physics teacher Kena Allison receiving a surprise $25,000 check for her exemplary work as an educator.

 

The news triggered an outpouring from students, who jumped to their feet and broke into a spontaneous chant — “Allison! Allison!” — in celebration of their teacher.

 

“I don’t know what to say, because I’m caught off guard. But thank you,” said Allison, who spent a year in medical school before deciding nearly a decade ago to devote herself to teaching.

 

“I’ve been able to make choices in my life because of the education that I was given, and that is what we want for you,” Allison said, speaking past a bank of television cameras to the students of Thurgood Marshall, a charter high school known for its success preparing children — many of whom come from the District’s poorest neighborhoods — for college.

 

The award was delivered by Michael Milken on behalf of the Milken Family Foundation, which has recognized nearly 2,600 teachers and principals across the country since 1987.

 

Milken told students that he hopes the sizable cash prize and media attention send a message about the value of teachers, who have “the most important jobs in America” but are rarely heralded publicly.

 

“As a society, we are quick to recognize greatness in so many things,” said Milken, pointing to headlines about Olympic medalists and Grammy Award winners. “We cannot thank our teachers and principals enough.

 

“They could have gone into many other fields, but they chose education because it’s the most important thing for our future,” added Milken, who became infamous for helping develop the junk-bond market in the 1980s before pleading guilty to felony securities and reporting violations. His philanthropic efforts have focused on education and medicine.

 

Thurgood Marshall students know Allison as a creative and dedicated teacher. She stays after school as late as necessary to help anyone who’s struggling, they say, and she creates lessons that keep class engaging, among them a project on the physics of sports and a field trip to the roller coasters at Paramount’s Kings Dominion, near Richmond.

 

“She shows us she cares by all the time and effort she puts in,” said Malik Goins, 17, a senior. “She’s there regardless of what you need.” Asked about Allison’s award, he didn’t hesitate: “She deserves it.”

 

Allison’s colleagues know her as a cornerstone at Thurgood Marshall. She helped design a mentoring system to help orient freshmen to the school’s rigorous demands. Many students enter the school several years behind in math and reading.

 

She also runs the orientation for new teachers, coaches fellow teachers throughout the year and has received the school’s “Dr. Phil” award, a sign of her reputation for giving good advice.

 

“Kena believes in all children. The energy she has for students and possibilities is contagious,” said Alexandra Pardo, Thurgood Marshall’s executive director. “She pushes students more than anyone else in our building.”

 

 

Yesterday, in a surprise announcement, Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter School teacher Kena Allison won the Milken Educator Award along with $25,000. Milken Family Foundation Co-Founder Mike Milken was on hand to present the honor which has been given to almost 2,600 individuals since 1987 as a way to recognize outstanding instructors. The prize, called the "Oscar of Teaching" by Time Magazine, has been funded by more than $136 million by the Foundation since its creation.

 

Ms. Allison, a physics teacher and instructional specialist, received the award in front of acting State Superintendent of Education Jesus Aquirre, Deputy Mayor of Education Abigail Smith, D.C. Councilman and education committee chairman David Catania, D.C. Public Charter School Board member Don Soifer, and 400 adoring and cheering Thurgood Marshall students gathered to celebrate the school's designation as a reward educational institution by OSSE.

 

As Mr. Soifer mentioned to me last night just being a high school physics teacher is enough to be given an award. But this professional is well respected within her field. One of her peers describes Ms. Allison as "irreplaceable." She is known to teach her subject matter using rap songs and games, and explains the laws of physics through students' favorite sports. Interestingly, the Thurgood Marshall Teacher started as a pre-med student before deciding to help others through teaching. I too was once a pre-med student but realized that my real calling was as a blogger.

 

Ms. Allison is not just an amazing teacher. She is a department chair that drives professional development. Her work earned her a Harvard University Fellowship for Enhancing Teacher Effectiveness in High Schools.

 

In 2011 I interviewed then Thurgood Marshall Academy executive director Josh Kern about the fine work being done at this school The Washington Post's Emma Brown points out that Ms. Allison developed a mentoring program for freshmen entering the school. Unfortunately, many students come to Thurgood Marshall years behind grade level in math and reading.

 

Congratulations to Kena Allison. You make our movement proud.

 

 

On Monday night, the team behind the redevelopment of the Randall School stopped by the ANC 6D meeting to reveal the newest plans and renderings.

 

The massive project, which will encompass the vacant Randall School building and the surrounding space on a large lot at Half Street and I Street SW (map), will bring a contemporary art museum and over 500 residential units to the neighborhood. A public courtyard will sit between the buildings, and a restaurant will occupy the eastern portion of the historic building. An underground parking garage will have room for 245 spaces, as well as electric car charging stations, bike parking and car sharing areas.

 

Since we last reported on the project in June after their initial meeting with the Historic Preservation Review Board, the team, which includes Bing Thom Architects, has refined their plan a bit.

 

The residential building will now be set slightly back from the historic building, allowing for larger openings through which the public can access the courtyard.

 

The new residential buildings to the north of the former school will each be 12 stories high. The metal-and-glass design shifts at 6 stories to create a slightly cantilevered effect, and the buildings on the west and the east sides will be connected to each other via a glass bridge. The two central buildings will not be connected to each other.

 

The ground floor units will have doors that open directly onto the street, as well as terraces, in order to “activate the street.”

 

The entrance to the historic building, which will house the museum, the restaurant, and other commercial entities, is now on the lowest level, directly below the former entrance and accessible by a ramp. Some residents worried about the potential for flooding in the apparently flood-prone area.

 

The center of the historic building will serve as the museum, while the eastern side will have a restaurant with several outdoor seating areas. A glass box will be added to the eastern side of the school to be used as the entrance to the restaurant.

 

Because the building sits on a street with metered parking, said the team, the residents will be unable to acquire residential parking permits.

 

The team is going before the HPRB on Thursday with their new plans, and will have a hearing with the Zoning Commission on December 2nd. The ANC voted to support their design in advance of the HPRB meeting, and requested that they return in November to further discuss their Planned Unit Development and hammer out some further details before the Zoning Commission meeting.