Saint Paul’s College hosts Summer Institute

July 21, 2011 - PRLog -- Saint Paul’s College in partnership with the Brunswick County Public School System, the Believers Center of the Future Academy, Inc. (BCFA), and the First and Ten School Based Mentoring Program held the first ever Saint Paul’s Learn and Serve Summer Institute at the Holiday Inn Koger Conference Center in Richmond, Va. June 24-25, 2011.

The goal of the Institute was to bring together teachers, administrators, students, community leaders, business owners, churches, and mentors as an annual think-tank with workshops, seminars and panel discussions focused on exchanging ideas and discovering benchmarks and best practices for service learning: an important pedagogical strategy designed to help students make those critical connections between their classroom and community, and their education and life-success.  The two-day institute boasted approximately 100 attendees, 20 of whom were youth participants and Institute contributors.  “We wanted to ensure that the youth were heavily involved because we’ve noticed that since the Saint Paul’s College mentors have been involved in the lives of the Brunswick County students, test scores have risen and the morale of the students is up,” said CEO of BCFA, Reverend Jon Michael A. Talbert.  

The Institute opened with BCFA’s Board Members, George Spencer and Mary Talbert, presiding.  Welcoming and presenting officials from the Central and Southside Virginia region included Dr.  Jack O. Lanier, CEO of Richmond Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA) who also spoke on behalf of Mary Ann Bergeron, Executive Director of the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards (VACSB).  Lanier’s work at RBHA includes assisting Richmond’s young people by helping to relieve some of their challenges and helping them become better citizens.  Lanier summed up the value of the teachers that were present at the workshop and their eagerness to learn more about how to help their students by describing an exchange he overheard between a CEO of a giant corporation and a veteran teacher named Barbara.  “The CEO was listening to Barbara talk about why she became a teacher and the CEO asked, ‘Yes, but what do you make?’ and Barbara replied, ‘I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could; I make kids wonder and ask questions about their world; I make kids take responsibility and have respect and I make them understand that if they work hard and follow their hearts, they will succeed in life.  And looking into his eyes she said, ‘I make a difference in the lives of children.’  ‘Now, Mr. CEO what do you make?’” He closed his remarks with a Native American Proverb describing the impact of service-learning on students’ lives, “Tell me, and I'll forget.  Show me, and I may not remember.  Involve me, and I'll understand.”  

Saint Paul’s College Interim Chairman of the Department of Teacher Education, Emma Moore Staples, spoke to participants about enhancing the Learn and Serve Program by providing service beyond self, “when students participate in service-learning, they are able to apply what they have learned in the classroom in a ‘real world’ community setting, with the objective of gaining civic responsibility,” said Staples.  


David Major, an extraordinary 10 year old student at Totaro Elementary read his award-winning essay about the importance of education.  Major was one of 12 students that were recognized at the Brunswick County NAACP Annual Youth Awards Banquet this past spring.  Major was given a certificate of excellence and was selected to be the youth spokesperson for the Summer Institute.  Elementary students were asked by the Brunswick County NAACP to submit a 100 word essay about the responsibility of every generation to develop the next generation.  

Saint Paul’s College Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Advisor, Chestley Talley introduced SIFE Student President, Elroy Johnson who presented the SIFE Team’s accomplishments over the past year which included winning the SIFE USA Regional Competition in Charlotte, NC and being inducted into the 2010-2011 4.0 SIFE Club by the SIFE USA President, Donna Patterson.

Krystal Pearson, a fourth grade math and science teacher for Brunswick County Public Schools, spoke about experiencing new technology in her presentation, “Beyond the Chalk Board.”  The purpose of the presentation was to show new and creative ways to educate students without the traditional norms of lecturing. Pearson provided information on how to utilize technology in daily lesson. Various strategies along with hands-on materials were also showcased.  Participants were introduced to multimedia presentations and the impact that they can have on students through service learning.

The workshop concluded with a presentation by Brunswick County Public Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Oliver W. Spencer, Jr., “I am proud to be a part of the Saint Paul’s College Summer Institute, it is important to enhance the development of methods needed to engage and inspire our students to be more involved with service learning opportunities.”   Spencer is the new Chairman of the Board for Saint Paul’s College.

Other speakers included, BCFA Chesterfield County Board of Supervisor, Dr. Sheryl Bailey BCFA Chair, Karen Barrett; Brunswick County School Administrator, Dr. Virginia Berry; Brunswick County Schools Coordinator Summer School and Title I Teacher, Darlene Brown; BCFA Campus Program Mentor Assistant, Cynthia Chambers; Southside Community Service Board Prevention Specialist, Kevin Chandler; Brunswick County Public Schools Assistant Superintendent; Dr. Jerry V. Congleton; Believer’s Center of the Future Academy, Inc. Curriculum Specialist, Yolanda Earl; Virginia Department of Education Director, Lolita Hall; Brunswick High School Principal, Dr. Mark A. Harrison; Saint Paul’s College Student Mentor, Daisy Henderson; Saint Paul’s College Provost, Dr. Raymond F. Holmes; EUP Management Group, LLC CEO and Agent, Rosa Holmes-Turner; CJH Educational Grant Services, Inc., Linda Jones; Saint Paul’s College Director, Dr. Jennifer Palmgren; BCFA Campus Program Mentor Assistant, Raymond Prince; Norfolk State University Service Learning and Civic Engagement Director, Dr. Amelia Ross-Hammond; Saint Paul’s College Student Mentor, Tammi Rountree; Brunswick County Public Schools Chair, Louise Mont Tucker.

“This event was well attended and all participants were positive; we are already putting a plan in motion to make next year’s event even better,” said elementary school project coordinator First and Ten, Henrietta Prince.