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Family stress, poverty affect student success, study says
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A survey of top teachers in the nation was done to see the top factors that affected student's success--family stress and poverty ranked highest. - photo by Mandy Morgan
A survey of top teachers in the nation found that family stress and poverty are top factors affecting many students' success, and that teachers would like to put funding into reducing those barriers

The survey asked the 2015 state Teachers of the Year to rank the greatest barriers to academic access for their students, of which 46 responded, wrote the Washington Post.

The Teachers of the Year are top educators selected annually from each U.S. state and jurisdictions such as the District of Columbia and Guam, wrote the Post.

"We knew we could learn so much from this group of teachers and that their opinions represent those of so many others across the country," wrote the researchers from the Council of Chief State School Officers and Scholastic Inc.

Seventy-six percent of the teachers who responded to the survey said that family stress was a major barrier affecting their students' success, with poverty as second-highest ranking at 63 percent, and learning and psychological problems ranked third at 52 percent. Respondents were allowed to mark more than one factor as a barrier for their students.

Respondents shared the view that the greatest barriers their students faced are those they believed are the most difficult and least tackled by the government.

"As teachers, we know those factors present huge barriers to our students' success. Helping students cope with those three factors is probably the most important part of my job. But on a national level, those problems are not being recognized as the primary obstacles," said Jennifer Dorman, Maine's 2015 Teacher of the Year, according to the Post.

The survey also asked which three areas of focus they would put school funding toward to have the greatest impact on learning and success for students.

Results found that the top three areas were anti-poverty initiatives, early learning and reducing barriers to learning, such as providing health care and other services to poor children.

The greatest challenge for teachers was not enough time to get through required material. The greatest satisfaction came from spending time with students in small groups or individually. The least satisfaction comes from the logistics --paperwork and grading.

All but two of the teachers who responded agreed that implementing Common Core and other higher standards in schools will have a positive impact on student learning.
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BI hosts LCSS Gala
LibertyCountySchools

Bradwell Institute’s Friends Helping Friends will host the 3rdAnnual Liberty County School System Special Needs Gala Saturday at 7p.m.

The dance portion of the gala is free and open to the public.

FHF was started three years ago by BI special needs teacher Charlie Moon. FHF is comprised of a large group of general education students that connect special needs students with their general education peers. They have raised $20,000 in the last 30 months, for events like this, a new sensory room, music therapy equipment, and many other fun events. 

“FHF does so much for the special needs students. It really brings them out in their social skills. They become so much more comfortable around us all,” FHF Junior Danielle Hennessee said. 

FHF Junior Jada Naftzinger said it’s a two-way street. “It not only helps them, but us as well. It brings us out of our own shells and comfort zones.” 

Moon added, “For us, the Gala is not our calling card. I’ve told the students from day one, unless they truly know these special needs students, we won’t do the Gala at all. We’ll throw a big pizza party instead. The point is, we want the kids to really focus on the one-on-one, in-class work, hanging out in the halls, really talking to them. That’s the only way this program truly reaches its potential. Our motto is, “Changing lives, one friend at a time.”

During a private dinner which precedes the public dance, district office personnel, representatives from Congressman Buddy Carter’s office, district SPED staff, BI Football players and FHF members, parents and the honored guests – 50 special needs students from around the district will be in attendance.

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