Principal Lisa Hassell-Forde, executive director of Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools Virgin Islands, speaks at a press conference on April 12 at the Office of the Lt. Governor on St. Thomas announcing the launch of the program. Freedom Schools VI will be piloted at five of the territory's public schools and service 125 students during the summer of 2016.
At a press conference held April 12 at the Office of the Lieutenant Governor on St. Thomas, Lieutenant Governor Osbert E. Potter announced the launch of the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools Virgin Islands Summer Program 2016, a six-week summer program designed to improve literacy rates of elementary students through an integrated reading curriculum.
“Upon taking office in January 2015, I was astonished at the data presented to me on the Virgin Islands public school students, specifically their low reading scores. As such, I embarked on seeking solutions to remedy the problem," stated Lieutenant Governor Potter.
The program will be piloted at five territory public schools--Julius E. Sprauve School on St. John; Lockhart Elementary and Muller Elementary on St. Thomas; and Claude O. Markoe Elementary and Juanita Gardine Elementary on St. Croix. A total of 125 students will be serviced, ages five to eight. Each participating student is required to receive from the program a healthy breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, reading material and cultural education. The program will be led by Addelita Cancryn Principal Dr. Lisa Hassell-Forde, who will serve as executive director. She will oversee a team conisisting of project directors, site coordinators and servant leaders.
In May 2015, Lieutenant Governor Potter met Ms. Marion Edelman, founder of the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools organization. The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) is a national non-profit organization tasked with increasing literacy rates among minority children. As a result of the meeting, Lieutenant Governor Potter sent members of his senior staff--Janelle Sarauw and Wean Farrell--to attend the 2015 national training, where they saw the benefit of CDF Freedom Schools being introduced in the Virgin Islands.
Subsequent to the training, Lieutenant Governor Potter met with Education Commissioner Sharon Ann McCollum, Ph.D., and entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to effectuate a plan to participate in the Freedom Schools program. Commissioner McCollum made her staff and facilities available to ensure the Virgin Islands take part in the program, which has been proven to be effective nationwide.
Commissioner McCollum, who was present at the press conference, indicated that the V.I. Department of Education wholeheartedly embraces the program and looks forward to having a greater number of student participation as the program grows. "The Department of Education embraces this. We know that there is no more valuable gift that you can give a child other than that of reading," she said. "Once an individual reads, reads well and can comprehend, they can do anything. We look forward to what this is going to bring, not only to these children, but to the territory overall."
During remarks, Dr. Hassell-Forde, recounting the training her staff received on the mainland this past March, said, "I warned them that this is a high-energy program. You've got to be on fire, all day long, and even into the night." She continued, "What we've had is a reorientation of how we approach education." Dr. Hassell-Forde praised Lt. Governor Potter, Education Commissioner Sharon McCollum, Ph.D., and the community for rallying around the program. "We have to ensure that when these children leave our hands at the end of six weeks, they must love to read," she said.
The Office of the Lieutenant Governor has partnered with the corporate community to fund CDF Freedom Schools VI. The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, through a contractual agreement, will provide fiscal sponsorship and serve as the fiscal manager of donated funds.
Lieutenant Governor Potter publicly acknowledged and thanked the corporations who have sponsored the program to date. Lilianne Moshier of White Bay Group USVI, LLLP, and Jane Thill of Black Diamond Advisors, LLLP were two of the corporate donors present during the press conference. Both representatives expressed their full support and thanked the Lieutenant Governor for taking the initiative to bring the program to the Virgin Islands. Lieutenant Governor Potter also thanked Oson VI, LLC for their generous corporate sponsorship. Other corporate sponsors include the Prior Family Foundation, C. W. Hines & Associates, Inc., and JH Capital VI., Inc.
Corporations interested in sponsorship or seeking more information, may contact Janelle Sarauw or Wean Williams-Farrell in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor at 340-774-2991.
| Lt. Governor Osbert E. Potter announces launch of the Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools VI Summer Program at a press conference on St. Thomas on April 12. |
