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Pruitt, meanwhile, said she never once thought about quitting, not even in the agency's darkest days.
And not even after the pay raise she was promised last year almost fell through — until the folks who bungled it figured out a way to give retroactive pay increases to the nearly 2,000 newly hired or promoted workers. They still must wait six months from their hire or promotion date for the checks.
"I think the [overhaul] plan that's in place now is what's needed," Pruitt said. "The raises are great, but really just hiring more quality people to help manage our workload ... is a big part of it."
And why does she stick with it?
"Because I love children and I love social work," she said, "and CPS brings those two worlds together."
What started in New York just seven years ago has become a national (and international) success story that provides students from nearly 100 schools a clear path from school to college and career. P-TECH is the grade 9 to 14 program that represents the best of how educators, government, and industry can work together in service of our young people. We are proud that New York State is the home of P-TECH, delighted by the latest plans to expand the program further, and inspired by how this successful model continues to grow rapidly.
P-TECH began in 2011 when our data had indicated that while high school graduation rates in New York and across the nation had improved modestly over the prior decade, while college completion rates – especially for low-income students – had barely improved at all. In fact, in 1970 only six percent of low-income 24-year-olds in America had a college degree. By 2013, that number had barely increased to a paltry nine percent.
Meanwhile, post-recession job opportunities were booming… but not for everyone.
Only those holding post-secondary degrees or certificates were participating in the recovery. In fact, tens of thousands of well-paying jobs remain unfilled today for lack of qualified applicants. While on the other side of the scale, high school dropouts – and even high school graduates without the right academic and workplace training – have little to look forward to beyond joining the ranks of the working poor.
In 2011, with the support of New York City’s then-mayor, Michael Bloomberg, and in partnership with education leaders, IBM launched P-TECH to address the “skills gap” between what graduates were bringing to college and the job market, and what was really needed to succeed in both of those environments. Under Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s leadership, New York was the first state to embrace the P-TECH model and take it to scale. By 2019, we expect to see nearly 50 P-TECH schools in communities large and small across New York State.
P-TECH has connected school to college and career through an integrated curriculum augmented by one-on-one mentor support for each student, paid internships, workplace learning and the promise of career opportunities. With no screening for admission, the inaugural school in Brooklyn serves low-income young people of color and is the first P-TECH school to complete its full six years. And it works: the school’s college completion rates are 400 percent higher than the national average.
Students working together in the P-TECH school in Brooklyn.
Brooklyn P-TECH’s early success is why the City of Chicago – under the leadership of Mayor Rahm Emanuel – was an early adopter of New York’s P-TECH model. At one of the P-TECH schools on Chicago’s South Side, the college-course pass rate exceeds 90 percent (with GPAs of at least 3.14) among students still registered in high school. P-TECH’s success garnered recognition in a President’s State of the Union address, attracted a 2013 Presidential visit to the Brooklyn school, and inspired a 2014 TIME magazine cover story featuring IBM’s Chicago school.
As with Brooklyn P-TECH, results from Newburgh to Rochester indicate high levels of achievement by students from all cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Sixty percent of students enrolled in New York State’s 16 P-TECH schools have earned grades of “A” or “B” in full-credit college courses taken during high school. No P-TECH student has required a non-credit-bearing remedial college course. Such courses cost the U.S. $2.6 billion last year.
At Excelsior Academy – the P-TECH school in Newburgh – more than one-third of this spring’s graduating class (Excelsior’s first) will earn their high school diplomas and associate degrees a full two years early.
By this Fall there will be more than 100 P-TECH schools across eight states and several nations outside of the U.S. But P-TECH’s growth must not – and will not – stop there. At the current rate of expansion, we expect to have P-TECH schools in a dozen states within the next year. At full registration, these schools will serve more than 100,000 students – providing a clear path to educational and economic success.
Although federal funding can, and will, play an essential role in funding programs like P-TECH, bipartisan state and gubernatorial leadership will be the keys to realizing this opportunity for all of America’s young people – regardless of their zip code.
Kristina M. Johnson is Chancellor of the State University of New York System. Jennifer Ryan Crozier is President of the IBM Foundation.
(CNN) — Whether it's cold outside or the temperature is rising, the temptation to drop everything and run away to sunnier climes is never far away.
La Concha is mild and warm all year round.
Zlatni Rat is a great spot for surfers.
Myrtos beach had a starring role in the movie "Captain Corelli's Mandolin."
Balos is one of the most beautiful beaches in Crete.
Plage des Grands Sables is the most impressive of Brittany's many beaches.
Porto Santo was once home to Christopher Columbus.
Baia Chia has white sands, golden dunes and turquoise waters.
The Scala dei Turchi is formed by marl, a sedimentary rock with a characteristic white color.
You can see why Oludeniz is on a stretch known as the "turquoise coast."
Butterfly Valley: Hard to reach, but worth it.
The central beach of Hammamet, in Tunisia.
WASHINGTON – A treaty governing the high seas is all but dead in the Senate as two Republican senators announced their opposition Monday, giving conservative foes the necessary votes to scuttle the pact.
Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire — both mentioned as possible running mates for likely Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney — said they had serious concerns about the breadth and ambiguity of the Law of the Sea treaty and would oppose it if called up for a vote. The Constitution requires two-thirds of the Senate — 67 votes — to ratify a treaty; Portman and Ayotte bring the number of opponents to 34 along with Sens. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.
The development was a blow to the Obama administration, military leaders and the business community led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who had argued that the treaty would improve national security and enhance U.S. standing in the world. They had pressed for ratification of the treaty, which was concluded in 1982 and has been in force since 1994. The United States is the only major nation that has refused to sign the pact.
Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., and other conservatives have led the campaign against the treaty, contending that it would undermine U.S. sovereignty. DeMint heralded the latest development on Twitter, saying, "34 Senators now oppose LOST, sinking the misguided treaty."
The treaty establishes a system for resolving disputes in international waters and recognizes sovereign rights over a country's continental shelf out to 200 nautical miles and beyond if the country can provide evidence to substantiate its claims. The United States has abided by the rules of the treaty since President Ronald Reagan's administration.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton had told Congress in May that the treaty could be a boon to business as U.S. oil and natural gas companies now have the technology to explore the extended continental shelf, which could be more than 1 1/2 times the size of Texas and rich in resources.
But Portman and Ayotte were not swayed.
"Proponents of the Law of the Sea treaty aspire to admirable goals, including codifying the U.S. Navy's navigational rights and defining American economic interests in valuable offshore resources," the two said in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. "But the treaty's terms reach well beyond those good intentions. This agreement is striking in both the breadth of activities it regulates and the ambiguity of obligations it creates. "
The two also raised concerns about authorization of international and judicial entities. "The United States would be binding itself to yet-unknown requirements and liabilities. That uncertainty alone is reason for caution," Portman and Ayotte wrote.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass., has tried to build a case for ratification of the treaty, with a vote planned for the lame-duck session after the November elections. He was steadfast Monday in his commitment to the treaty despite the growing opposition.
"Senator Kerry has been here long enough to know that vote counts and letters are just a snapshot of where our politics are in this instant, and it's not news to anyone that right now we're in the middle of a white hot political campaign season where ideology is running in overdrive," said spokeswoman Jodi Seth in a statement. "No letter or whip count changes the fact that rock-ribbed Republican businesses and the military and every living Republican secretary of state say that this needs to happen, and that's why it's a matter of 'when' not 'if' for the Law of the Sea."
Kerry had a series of hearings with star witnesses, starting with Clinton, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, making a rare joint appearance. Four admirals, including the chief of naval operations and the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and two generals also urged senators to support the treaty. And last month, business leaders, including the head of the Chamber, testified on behalf of the pact.
But the conservative opposition was too formidable.
Heritage Action, which lobbied against the treaty, said in a statement from CEO Michael A. Needham: "America had little to gain through accession to the Law of the Sea Treaty — but much to lose. Rather than affirming existing practices, it would have instituted a radically new, international legal regime. The demise of the Law of the Sea Treaty not only represents a victory for American sovereignty, but also the American people."
What Are Calcium Deposits Under the Skin?
Calcium deposits under the skin, technically referred to as calcinosis or calcifications, is a condition of abnormal amounts and deposits of calcium phosphate in the soft tissues.
Calcium deposits in the skin appear as hard, white or yellowish lumps that may occur in clusters, varying in size and quantity, depending on the patient's condition. These lumps leak a white paste-like substance when punctured.
Calcinosis lumps are common to the fingers, elbows, and shins, but they may appear anywhere on the body, and they may be hidden in the soft tissues, requiring X-ray detection.
Calcinosis is strongly associated with scleroderma, which is a chronic connective tissue disease that is characterized by the hardening of the skin. Symptoms vary by type and individual, and the condition ranges from mild to life-threatening.
Other than scleroderma, conditions that may cause calcium deposits under the skin include dermatomyositis, parasitic infections, excessive vitamin D intake and lupus.
The Scleroderma Foundation reports that there is no known method to prevent calcium deposits (since they are a symptom of one of the aforementioned conditions), and there are no existing treatments to rid them, except for surgical excision of large, painful clusters in some cases.
Calcinosis is not caused by or related to too much calcium in the body. This is a common misconception, and patients should not discontinue dietary calcium intake if calcinosis is present.
International Scleroderma Network, Sclero.org: "Calcinosis"
USA Today Health Encyclopedia, HealthScout.com: "Calcinosis,"
It has taken the Beckhams a year of hard work and networking to establish themselves as Hollywood royalty.
But just as they are settling into the limelight, David and Victoria might be set to leave it all behind and head back to Europe.
AC Milan are currently in talks to sign former Manchester United star Beckham on loan from LA Galaxy, the club has revealed.
The former England captain is determined to keep his place in the national team and a spell on loan in Europe during the Major League Soccer close season could be beneficial.
Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani today stated his confidence that Beckham will arrive at the San Siro.
It is understood the 33-year-old has not yet committed to the deal.
As the fashion capital of the world, Milan could prove the idea place for Victoria as while she concentrates on her career as a designer.
She revealed: "I always wanted to be a fashion designer. Then along came the Spice Girls which opened a lot of doors for me. And, let¹s be honest, closed a lot.
"But those days are over. I was never going to be the world’s best singer, but I hope I can be a good designer."
However, being in LA has proved a positive experience for Victoria who appears to have come into her own since arriving last Januara.
With a repertoire of A-list celebrity friends from Eva Longoria to Gwen Stefani, the Spice Girl has become a big hit Stateside and even won the critics over with her new fashion line.
The mother of three could also be reluctant to pull her boys, Brooklyn, nine, Romeo, six and three-year-old Cruz out of school.
David's move could mean the couple might have to maintain a long-distance relationship while the footballer is on loan.
All kitted out: Romeo and Cruz Beckham having a kick around at elder brother Brooklyn's soccer game, in Chelsea away shirts - what would ex-Manchester United star, David say?
EAST HARLEM — The city could be facing more than $1 billion in payouts after an East Harlem explosion that demolished two buildings, killed eight people and displaced hundreds in March.
The city Comptroller's Office has received 205 notifications that people intend to sue for things ranging from wrongful death to property damage.
They've been filed by people including family members of the eight victims, first responders who were injured during rescue attempts and many more who were involved in the March 12 explosion at 1644 and 1646 Park Ave.
Even Con Edison, which owns the 100-year-old gas lines under the building, filed a notice stating that, "third parties may assume we are responsible." The claim was filed as a precaution, a spokesman said.
For many victims of the explosion, recovery includes surgery, counseling and dealing with post traumatic stress. Lisbeth Perez said the blast that killed her husband, Andreas Panagopoulos, upended her life.
Robert Vilensky, a lawyer representing roughly 10 people hurt in the explosion, said his clients face problems ranging from hearing loss to torn ligaments to anxiety disorders.
Vilensky expects most if not all his filings to end up in court. He also plans to sue Con Edison for failing to maintain the gas lines and the owner of the building for neglecting its upkeep.
Because of the high number of claims, many of them will most likely be consolidated and tried before one judge, Vilensky added.
Each claim tells a story of what happened around 9:30 a.m. on March 12.
Miguel Vizcano was driving an ambulance with two passengers when he stopped for a red light on 116th Street and Park Avenue shortly before the explosion. The blast shattered the ambulance’s windows and left Vizcano and his passengers trapped for several minutes, according to a notice of claim.
James Lesane, who filed a lawsuit against the city in New York State Supreme Court in October, was walking on 117th Street.
Despite being temporarily blinded, he tried to clear people from the area. Lesane saw people being crushed and trapped in cars. He has since developed post traumatic stress.
"He was trying to help," his lawyer Younie Choi said. "You can imagine being in the middle of the street and seeing not only that blast but the people."
Lesane's lawsuit also names Con Edison and the owners of the building.
Firefighter Dale Scott was doing a search and rescue mission after the explosion when the floor collapsed under him. In the fall, he tore his rotator cuff and multiple tendons. He also hurt his hip.
Scott could not be reached for comment.
Many lawyers are waiting for the National Transportation Safety Board’s final report to come out. Although the federal agency finished its on-site testing, its full report on the cause of the blast has not been completed, spokesman Eric Weiss said.
Preliminary tests suggested that the blast was caused by a natural gas leak.
“There is not too much going on. We are waiting for the report to come back,” said Michael Huerta, a lawyer representing close to 20 people affected by the blast.
Perez knows that no amount of money from a lawsuit will bring her husband back. She just wants to hold institutions accountable, she said.
After the explosion she turned to a strong support group of friends and family, including Panagopoulos' family in Greece. She has since found a new apartment and continued to work as an editor for El Diario. Her life has become a tribute to her husband.
“Andreas was a very happy man and a good man that loved life and loved living and I know that he would want that for me," she said.
Why did you decide to devote your life to promoting inclusive education?
My interest in education was sparked at an early age when I was confronted with the reality that not every child is granted an equal opportunity to receive a great education. It grew particularly in 2012, when our 2-year-old cousin was diagnosed with autism. With him, we quickly discovered the meaning of being part of a minority. We personally experienced the barriers to access inclusive schools. We were also inspired to create ‘Aprendices Visuales’ as a means to enhance basic educational opportunities for all children.
We devoted considerable time to try analyzing and understanding the rights of children to education and the obstacles they faced once admitted. Meanwhile, we investigated the power of visual aids and technological tools to bring together all children – those with autism and those without – within the context of learning. We found out that the positive impact on learner-autonomy, understanding environmental and social situations, anticipation skills, behavioral regulation and communication is widely recognised and validated. Moreover, it encourages inclusion and opportunities for diversity in schools.
What started 6 years ago, as two women’s passionate project to help our little cousin, became the first technology-based, play-driven and visual learning solution to advance the potential of children.
Innovation in education can help break barriers. How can it be particularly used to reach children in poor communities or those affected by major crises?
I truly believe that we can make the world better for generations to come by promoting equal opportunities for all children. I believe that innovation in education is a proven path to inclusion and a bridge to opportunity!
Innovation in education is a proven path to inclusion and a bridge to opportunity!
Aprendices Visuales is one of the first “tech-nonprofits” using the power of visual learning to teach and to enable children to develop their potential, regardless their conditions or circumstances. At the intersection of innovation and education, we created a series of ebooks and apps with pictograms in 5 languages, to teach autonomy, social and emotional skills. It reached one million children around the world. Our story is an example of how innovation in education can help breaking barriers.
What is the future of education and how do you see technology shaping it?
Over the past decade, tremendous gains have been made in education, however, more things need to be done! It is difficult to exactly predict what education will exactly look like in 20 years. As technology is rapidly changing the world around us, the way we educate children needs to change given the massive potential of technology.