Sharon Blackman, Ed.D.
As I write this installment of Sharon's Corner, we have just completed a wonderful celebration of our outstanding employees for 2005-06 with the Brookhaven College Emerald Mardi Gras. Once again I want to congratulate all of the award winners and thank all of those who helped to make this a successful celebration. It is always great fun when you take time to honor those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their daily work.
From my conversations with employees it seems as though most everyone is off to a good start this semester. Many lectures, performances, athletic events and activities are planned for students and staff. Look for a dedication of the new courtyard fountain this spring. Many of you have asked and suggested that we do something to acknowledge the fountain. Spring seems like a very appropriate time of year — a new beginning as flowers and such begin to bloom. May I encourage you to support these events and to spread the word to your students as well?
The spring semester also brings new initiatives. At the last “All-College Meeting,” I asked each department and/or discipline to review the PowerPoint presentation (the one that blew the computer) and to discuss the message of the presentation. If your area has not already done so, I encourage you to do so before the next All-College Meeting that is scheduled for Feb. 17. You can find the presentation on our Brookhaven Employee Intranet. We will again work in groups to continue our discussion about the type of college Brookhaven will be. Also, you will have a report from the Achieving the Dream Core Success Team, so please mark your calendar for this meeting because we need each of you to be present to continue moving the college forward.
Also this semester we will be stepping up the plans for the Early College High School in partnership with Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District. This is a Texas High School Initiative where Brookhaven College is home to one of many new ECHSs across the state to encourage students to graduate from high school and move into higher education. This initiative will receive funding from the Gates Foundation along with the Communities Foundation of Texas. The University of North Texas has the fiduciary role for the funds in collaboration with the C-FB ISD and Brookhaven College. Adriana Gomez has been selected as the new principal for this high school that will be housed on the main campus of our college. The high school will begin this fall with up to 100 ninth graders and will enroll up to 100 students each year in each consecutive grade level for a maximum of 400 students. More information will be forthcoming as we continue to work out the details of this program. Many of you will be asked to assist with the development of this initiative, so keep watch for your e-mail.
Also in March we are expecting a ground breaking for the new Head Start facility. This partnership with the Head Start of Greater Dallas will provide a unique opportunity for our child development program.
As we enter the month of February, you will see community activities to celebrate the contributions of African-Americans to this great nation of ours. Let me encourage you to partake in these or other activities to acknowledge a people and a culture that make our country what it is today. Some may say we don’t need a month, especially the shortest month of the year, but we should be about celebrating diversity throughout the year. I agree that the celebration of diversity is on-going, but sometimes one needs to make a prominent acknowledgement of the contributions of an ethnic group. Who knows, you may learn something new or be reminded of something that seems so basic, it’s gotten lost in daily life.
