Parent Talk Discusses Universal Pre-K With Community and Youth Advocate Nakia Troi Ngwala

Nakia Troi Ngwala's advocacy began more than a decade ago while she held various corporate positions throughout the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. In 2004, out of inspiration from the birth of her first son, Mrs. Ngwala became a full-time parent, full-time community advocate and organizer, and youth advocate and has been actively engaged in promoting unity, social justice and equality in her community of Springdale and in Prince George’s County, Maryland ever since. In September 2008, when Mrs. Ngwala learned that her 4 year-old son was not eligible to participate in the public preschool program in Prince George’s County because of the county’s income requirements, she immediately became a Universal Pre-K/Preschool for All advocate. Since then, as a constituent in Prince George’s County, she has written letters, and has called and continues to call on elected officials to inform and encourage involvement from the county on the importance of early childhood education for all young children in Prince George’s County. In November 2008, she was a contributor in the Universal Pre-K Fact Finding Meeting with the Prince George’s County Public School’s Board of Education to examine national, state, and local data regarding Universal Pre-K and to determine if there was a need to establish a Prince George’s County Universal Pre-K Task Force

Rosalie Greenberg, M.D. Discusses Educating Children With Mental Disabilities

Rosalie Greenberg, M.D. is a board certified child and adolescent psychiatrist in private practice in New Jersey. She specializes in the psychopharmacology of pediatric mood disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders. Dr. Greenberg is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. She was a founding board member and past president of the Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation. She has also served as chairperson of the Scientific Advisory Council of the Blue Harbor Foundation [an organization that funds research into Bipolar Disorders throughout a person’s lifecycle]. She is a consultant in Psychiatry at Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey. She is recognized as one of the top doctors in child psychiatry in the Castle Connelly, NY metropolitan area guide {1999- 2010}. Dr. Greenberg has also been highlighted in New York Magazine {2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 }, New Jersey Monthly Magazine {2005}, New Jersey Life Magazine {2006} and Inside Jersey –A Star-Ledger Magazine {2009, 2010}. Author of “Bipolar Kids: Helping your Child Find Calm in the Mood Storm - DaCapo Press March 2007. Co-Producer of the film: Rescuing Childhood- Understanding Bipolar Disorders in Children and Adolescents (2009). She lectures nationally on various topics in that field. Details for this can be found her website: www.RosalieGreenbergMD.com

A DISCUSSION ON THE ROLE OF PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT WITH DR. ANDRÉS ALONSO, CEO, BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The Journey Begins radio for the engaged parent and dedicated educator presents a discussion with Dr. Andres Alonso, CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools on the role and importance of parental engagement.

At the age of 12, Dr. Andres Alonso emigrated to the United States from Cuba with his parents. Originally speaking no English, he attended public schools in Union City, New Jersey, and ultimately graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Columbia University. Dr. Alonso went on to earn a J.D. from Harvard Law School and practiced law in New York City before changing course to become an educator. In 2006 he was awarded a Doctorate in Education from Harvard University.

From 1987 to 1998, Dr. Alonso taught emotionally disturbed special education adolescents and English language learners in Newark, New Jersey. He worked at the New York City Department of Education from 2003 to 2007, first as Chief of Staff and then as Deputy Chancellor for Teaching and Learning, working closely with the Chancellor in planning and implementing the reform of the largest educational system in the nation.

On July 1, 2007, Dr. Alonso was named CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools (City Schools), and immediately launched a series of innovative programs. In the first two years of his tenure, Baltimore City students reached their highest outcomes in state exams, across all categories of students. After elementary students made Adequate Yearly Progress across all No Child Left Behind subgroups for two consecutive years, City Schools exited “Corrective Action” status in 2009. The district also made significant steps toward disengagement in its 25-year-old special education lawsuit, and enrollment in City Schools increased for the first time in decades.
In his reform agenda, Dr. Alonso moved resources and autonomy to principals and school community leaders, while streamlining central office to provide guidance, support and accountability for schools. He also implemented an ambitious program to create 24 new secondary schools over four years, expanded alternative options and closed low performing schools, while focusing on increased student support. Under his leadership, City Schools aggressively enlarged the role of parents in the school decision-making process.

Dr. Alonso’s achievements have been recognized by newspapers and other prestigious organizations in the community. Among many other awards, in 2008 he was granted the “Audacious Individual Award” by the Open Society Institute Baltimore, and named “Innovator of the Year” by The Daily Record. In 2009 he was named “School Superintendent of the Year” by the Fullwood Foundation, and recognized as a “Hispanic Hero Award” winner by U.S. Hispanic Youth Entrepreneur Education. In May 2009 Dr. Alonso was named as only the third recipient of the “Howard Pete Rawlings Courage in Public Service Award” by the Greater Baltimore Committee. In August 2009 Dr. Alonso was appointed to the prestigious No Child Left Behind Committee for the Aspen Institute, a bipartisan effort to improve federal education policy to spur academic progress and close the achievement gap.