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Ceretto to hold education summit

by jmaloni

Submitted

Sat, Jan 4th 2014 07:05 am

Forum will feature testimony from parents, students and teachers on the impact of Common Core and how to improve New York schools

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-C-I-Lewiston, in conjunction with the Partnership for Smarter Schools, State Sen. George Maziarz, R-C-I-Newfane, and the Niagara Region PTA, will hold an education summit Monday at 6 p.m., at Niagara County Community College to discuss Common Core's impact on New York schools. The summit will give parents, students and teachers the opportunity to provide their input on the implementation of Common Core and what can be done to improve education in New York.

Featured speakers will include Dr. Walter Polka, Niagara University professor and retired superintendent of the Lewiston-Porter School District; and Dr. John McKenna, principal of Fletcher Elementary School in Tonawanda. Also speaking will be New York state's 2014 Teacher of the Year, Ashli Skura-Dreher, a special education teacher in the Lewiston-Porter Central School District.

"It has become clear that there are significant problems in the classroom that need to be addressed. I will use this forum to listen to the concerns of parents, students and teachers so we can come up with solutions that prepare our children for a successful future," Ceretto said. "As a father, I understand the importance of the partnership between parents and teachers, and hope to find ways to strengthen that relationship to deliver the best possible education to our children."

During his tenure in the Assembly, Ceretto has delivered an increase in education funding to each of his school districts and has signed onto legislation to repeal Common Core in New York. Ceretto said he will use the information gathered at this forum to generate legislation to improve the educational system once Common Core is repealed.

"The commissioner of education has conducted more than 20 forums around the state to listen to concerns, but he has offered only very limited solutions," Polka said. " 'The Solutions for Smarter Schools' will emphasize important opportunities to keep the elements of the current reform that are workable, as well as suggestions to perhaps pause the implementation of some elements of the reform agenda that are having the most negative effects on learning in our schools."

WHO:

  • Assemblyman John Ceretto
  • Sen. George Maziarz
  • New York State United Teachers
  • 2014 New York State Teacher of the Year Ashli Skura-Dreher
  • Parents, students and teachers

WHAT:

  • Education Summit

WHEN:

  • Monday, Jan. 6, at 6 p.m.

WHERE:

  • Niagara County Community College, 3111 Saunders Settlement Road, Sanborn

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