Legacy 2015 South Florida: Top Black Educators Issue | Page 7

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2015

AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MIA MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS GROUP TO THE SUN SENTINEL

A Message from Broward County Public
Schools Superintendent Robert W. Runcie

providers with seven BCPS elementary
schools – Broward Estates Elementary
School, Dillard Elementary School, Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Montessori
Academy, Thurgood Marshall Elementary
School, Rock Island Elementary School,
Sunland Park Academy and Westwood
Heights Elementary School.

Robert W. Runcie
Superintendent
Broward County Public Schools
Dear Parents, Guardians and
Community Members:
As Superintendent of Broward County
Public Schools (BCPS), I am excited about
the incredible learning opportunities for
BCPS students in the 2015/16 school year.
From our rigorous academic courses and
nationally recognized magnet programs – to
our fine arts programs, athletics, and
extracurricular clubs and activities – there is
something for everyone.
This year marks a very special milestone
for our District. It is the 100th anniversary
of Broward County Public Schools. Events
and activities are taking place throughout
the school year, honoring our Centennial,
and recognizing the important role of our
schools in the lives of our past, present and
future students.
Since 1915, BCPS has grown to become
the sixth largest school district in the
country and the second largest in Florida.
We are working hard every day to achieve
our vision of “Educating Today’s Students to
Succeed in Tomorrow’s World.”
There are many District achievements
for which I am proud. Recently, I traveled to
the White House to join a panel discussion
on school discipline. Broward County Public
Schools was the only large, urban district
invited to participate and share information
on our efforts to Eliminate the Schoolhouse
to Jailhouse Pipeline. Our District is a
national model for reforming student
discipline policies and practices for
non-violent misdemeanor offenses, and for
instituting appropriate intervention
strategies to ensure all students have an
opportunity to reach their highest potential.
In addition, our District is an honored
recipient of a $200,000 grant from the W.K.
Kellogg Foundation. The grant funding will
support the District’s Minority Success
Academy Early Years Program, by helping to
connect and align early childhood

The Minority Success Academy Early
Years Program is designed to improve
literacy and math outcomes through art,
science, technology, engineering and
mathematics-based learning strategies,
while also increasing parent and family
engagement.
At every grade level, we strive to
energize students and develop eager
learners, who are ready to take on
academic challenges. BCPS is a leader for
innovative educational initiatives, such as:
• Providing scholastic chess to all second
and third grade students in the District.
Scholastic chess helps improve students’
critical thinking, problem-solving and
social skills.
• Becoming the first Florida school district
to offer computer science courses at every
high school. Computer science is a
foundational field that can prepare
students for the 21st century workforce.
• Expanding Career and Technical
Education programs for middle and high
school students. These programs provide
students with opportunities to earn
industry certifications in high-demand
career fields, the same certifications used
by working professionals.
• Implementing debate programs at all of
the District’s high schools and expanding
debate programs among middle schools.
Through speech and debate classes,
students learn research, logic, organization
of ideas and language skills, as well as
social benefits such as increased
self-esteem.
Education opens doors to the future.
Ensuring our students are college and
career ready is at the heart of everything
we do across BCPS. I encourage you to
learn more about all of the educational
opportunities in BCPS by visiting
browardschools.com.
Sincerely,
Robert W. Runcie
Superintendent
Broward County Public Schools

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