$5 MILLION RAISED FOR EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT
Miller-Saiontz Challenge Grant Benefits Council for Educational Change Programs
Forty–seven of Florida’s foremost corporate and philanthropic leaders raised $5 million for the Council for Educational Change, Florida’s Educational Think Tank and the key provider of professional leadership development for educators. They were recognized at a special event at Hialeah Elementary School in Miami-Dade County on May 22, 2006.
CHALLENGE GRANT HIGHLIGHTS:
- Started: November, 2004 -- Achieved: April, 2005
- First Contribution: $1 million from Jacquelyn Soffer and Jeffrey Soffer
- Miller-Saiontz family pledges $1 million when $4 million contributed
- John Devaney contributes $735,000 to activate Publix Super Markets Charities & Miller-Saiontz donations
- Publix Super Markets Charities contributes final $500,000 as $4.5 million is realized
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Four top contributors to the Challenge Grant are:
Jeffrey Soffer and Jacquelyn Soffer: $1 million
John and Selene Devaney: $735,000
Publix Super Markets Chairities: $500,000
Miller-Saiontz Family: $1 million
These donors and others (below) were honored at the event which included appreciation from the Principals, teachers, parents and students who will benefit from the Grant. Hialeah Elementary is a Council program school. The Challenge Grant was led by Council Board Educational Advancement Chair Sue Miller and Council Board Chair Steve Saiontz.
“The Council attracts business and philanthropic support because they deliver bottom-line results—quality school leaders and increased student achievement. Nothing is more important than the success of our children,” said donor John Devaney. Mr. Devaney is the CEO of United Capital Markets, headquartered in Miami, and an international business leader/entrepreneur. He and wife Selene are noted educational advocates and philanthropists.
The Council serves some 445,000 students, 500 schools, 60 school districts, including significant partnerships in Miami-Dade, and 1,850 school leaders. Council work focuses on developing school-based leaders uniquely prepared to increase student achievement and education-related Think Tank activities. The organization partners with many corporate, civic and government groups, including the Florida and US Departments of Education.
The following are the Grant contributors:
Jacquelyn Soffer and Jeffrey Soffer; John Devaney, Chief Executive Officer, United Capital Markets, Inc.; Publix Super Markets Charities; Century Homebuilders, LLC; Wachovia Bank; BlueCross BlueShield of Florida; Lennar Foundation; Daniel R. Lewis; Colonial Bank; Glenn Halpryn; Raymond James Financial, Inc.; Washington Mutual; P.L. Dodge Foundation; The Haskell Company; Greenberg Traurig; Edmund Ansin; Ambassador Charles E. Cobb, Jr.; LNR Property Corp.; JP Morgan; Kirk Landon; Mellon Bank; The Robert and Mary Graham Family Fund within the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay; Collier Enterprises; Kaplan University; Jeffrey Miller; Ed Easton; Leslie & Steve Saiontz; Progress Energy; Edward T. & Bosey Foote; Richard & Susan Finkelstein; Manny Negreiro; Paul Zimmerman; Kraft Construction; Broad & Cassel; Comcast; Walt Disney World; Vecellio Group; Jonathan I. Kislak; Gene Marshall; St. Joe Company, Peter Rummell; and the William & Tina Rosenberg Foundation .
Some Council Programs and Activities:
Partnership to Advance School Success (PASS)©
CEO’s mentoring principals in leadership
EXECUTIVE PASS ©
CEO’s mentoring 11 Miami-Dade STELLAR school principals in leadership
Florida Leadership Academy ( FLA) ©
statewide learning week for teams of educators--now in its 4 th year; develops instructional leadership
Instructional Leadership Academy
learning week for Miami-Dade teams of educators; tailored to district needs; develops instructional leadership
Accelerated School Administrator Program (ASAP) ©/Educational Leadership Assessment© (ELA)
blended development for aspiring principals: online assessment/learning and veteran educator mentors
Florida School Report (FSR)
online school performance data analysis and best practices research and strategies
Principal Portal©
online information for educators and community, of special use to Principals and school-based educators
SP SnapShot™
online student performance data tool
Wachovia Foundation Teachers and Teaching Initiative (TTI)
mentoring program to retain and develop new and beginning teachers; pairs veteran and new teachers
USDOE/Miami-Dade Public Schools Superintendent’s Urban Principal Initiative
professional development that prepares Principals to lead and improve schools with significant challenges
Online learning modules to develop school leadership
some modules: Arts in Education, K-6 and 7-12; Supporting Teachers Through Coaching, Mentoring and Support; School Leaders and Peer Coaching; Principal Leadership Standards; Ethical Leadership; and Diversity
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