THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 15, 1995 TAG: 9509140153
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By Vanee Vines
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
At least 1,000 city residents, students and other onlookers turned out for last Friday's downtown parade and ceremony to celebrate a quality-management award the schools won last spring.
Among the guests were Virginia Secretary of Education Beverly Sgro and state Superintendent of Public Instruction William C. Bosher Jr. U.S. Sen. Charles Robb attended the local reception.
Portsmouth was one of five winners statewide of a U.S. Senate Productivity and Quality Award for Virginia. The annual award recognizes efforts to become more efficient and responsive to citizens. Portsmouth also was a finalist in 1992 and 1993.
The schools embraced the Total Quality Management approach in 1990. In public education, it has turned students and parents into ``customers.'' Teachers and principals are seen as managers who can help solve problems instead of swallowing orders from above. Employees are encouraged to work in teams and to use hard data to evaluate whether their methods lead to improvement.
Like Churchland Elementary parent Rick Stephenson, many said the award was a sign that things are looking up in Portsmouth schools.
``This tells parents that teachers are doing something right,'' Stephenson said, while enjoying the parade with his 7-year-old son, Matthew. ``And with some support from parents, the teachers can do even more.''
Shonelle Ricks, a 17-year-old senior at Woodrow Wilson High, said the award would be good PR.
``Portsmouth's public schools have had problems, so I think this will boost our image some,'' she said. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by GARY C. KNAPP
Vickie Johson, a teacher at Hodges Manor in Portsmouth, foreground,
joins the ``box car'' brigade in the Portsmouth Quality Parade to
celebrate the school district's award.
Kikia Stokes, 9, a student at Douglass Park Elementary, carries a
big check for $5,000, like the one her school received from the
School Board.
Gordon Ellsworth, principal at Douglass Park Elementary School, and
Faye Felton, assistant principal, ride with pride along the parade
route.
by CNB