FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2012
Contact: Janet Lewis
PIO, Columbus Municipal School District
(662) 241-7400
lewisj@columbus.k12.ms.us

Sale Elementary, MUW receive Governor’s University Partnership Award

COLUMBUS, Miss. -- Mississippi Association of Partners in Education recently released the recipients of the 2012 Governor’s Awards. The Mississippi Association of Partners in Education (MAPE) recognized Mississippi’s top school-community partnerships during the Governor’s Awards luncheon held at the Jackson Hilton.

“Partnerships provide resources and funding for many innovative programs that would not exist without a community support network,” said Debbie Anglin, MAPE president and director of communications for the Pascagoula School District. “In the face of mounting budget cuts in public education, partnerships continue providing the resources that schools need to offer creative, high-quality learning opportunities that benefit students, teachers, parents and communities.”

Sale Elementary and Mississippi University for Women’s College of Education & Human Sciences were awarded the Governor’s University Partnership Award. This distinguished award recognizes the innovative partnership between two outstanding educational entities, MUW’s College of Education and Human Sciences and Sale International Studies Magnet School. They have partnered together for the “Kids ‘N College” Program which has provided unique learning experiences every semester since 2009.

“We are honored to receive the 2012 Governor’s Award with Mississippi University for Women College of Education. Our partnership with MUW is one that our entire school takes great pride in knowing we have built an exceptional program and relationship with MUW, said Nancy Bragg, Sale Principal. “We share a common goal to expand the students’ learning experiences outside the walls of their elementary school by bringing them to the university campus for the enrichment experiences.”

Principal Nancy Bragg and International Baccalaureate Coordinator Kay Ellis have long had ideas about what learning should involve for the elementary students under their charge. From the initial meeting in July, 2009, the vision grew into reality when the first Sale “Kids ‘N College” group of 85 students came to the MUW campus in the fall of 2009. Now, three years later, a group of Sale Elementary kindergarten through fifth grade students just returned to the MUW campus for the sixth consecutive semester of the partnership enrichment experience.

During the three years of partnership, some experiences have been continued and strengthened, while every semester, new experiences have been added. Both the elementary students and the university teacher candidates have been the beneficiaries, but the experience has been a shared one – among Sale students, faculty, administrators, parents, and among the MUW faculty in departments and colleges throughout the campus, the administration, and the undergraduate teacher education candidates.

Dr. Sue Jolly-Smith, MUW dean of education, shared that one of the most significant results has been something not fully anticipated or easily quantified: the feeling of ownership and pride that both groups feel for the other entity. This ownership makes this a true partnership and one worthy of recognition.  The Sale Elementary students have endeared themselves to the MUW College of Education and Human Sciences faculty and administrators who have watched them grow during the years.  The Sale students feel a sense of ownership when they pass by the MUW Clock Tower, and can point with pride to a place that has become theirs.

“The bonds between elementary students and teacher candidates have been immediate and strong, teaching all of them much about what matters between teachers and students,” added Dr. Jolly-Smith.

This highly successful partnership has been a major part of the improved accountability rating for Sale. Sale has improved their QDI level and accountability rating every year of this partnership, currently reaching their highest rating to date, High Performing. 

“Mississippi University for Women College of Education and Human Sciences and Sale International Studies Magnet School together created a truly remarkable working partnership because of their passion for excellence, said Dr. Martha Liddell, CMSD interim duperintendent, “This partnership has enhanced the lives and education of Sale students and MUW teacher candidates. I congratulate them both on receiving the Governor’s Award and for their strong belief in children.”