THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 11, 1994 TAG: 9408090180
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: COVER STORY
BACK TO SCHOOL
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
Birthplace: Norfolk
Birthdate: Nov. 21, 1933
Family: Husband, Elston F. Fitzgerald Jr.; daughter, Deborah Sanford; son, Derrick; legal guardian of grandson, Marlon.
Pets: a turtle, Michelangelo, and a shetland sheepdog, Tiger.
Education: Bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Virginia State University; master's in child development from the University of Michigan; 30 hours above master's in administration and child development.
Previous position: Principal of Camp Allen Elementary school for eight years. Her career in education spans 40 years. Was an elementary school teacher for 15 years. She also was a teacher specialist, was acting principal of Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, was principal of Oceanaire and Diggs Park elementary schools and worked in the office of human relations and staff development at the central administration office.
Goals: ``My goals are to enhance and add to the programs already started by the previous principal to improve the achievements of the students and ultimately raise the test scores . . . I feel that if we make our instruction meaningful and follow good instructional strategies that we'll reach our goal. I want to make every child feel wanted and above all successful.''
Obstacles: ``I don't see any obstacles. What I'm going to do first is look at the children's test scores, and we're going to do some authentic assessment. Since I'm new, what I want them to do is take a look at where every child is and I want them to look at curriculum goals at each grade level and move sequentially from mastery.''
Proudest accomplishment as an educator: ``First, becoming a successful teacher, because I've always wanted to teach. I also feel pride with the work I did in human resources, because in there we were developing a citywide instruction program called the workshop on instructional skills. We had a step-by-step procedure on how to impart knowledge and teach children how to be successful.''
Hobbies: Loves to snow ski, read and travel, and likes to watch soccer (her grandson plays).
Book you'd recommend: ``Teaching Exceptional Children in All America's Schools,'' by Maynard C. Reynolds and Jack W. Birch. ``I am very interested in children who have special needs.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Delores Fitzgerald
KEYWORDS: PROFILE
by CNB