Cheryl D. Mayes, Metro Nashville Public Schools District 6 School Board Member

Expect More, Achieve More!

2011-11-15T19:51:00.004-06:00

It has been a while since my last blog post. Wow! Who knew that the life of a school board member could be so busy? No matter, I still truly enjoy what I do very much! There is a certain overwhelming satisfaction in knowing that the many meetings and events that I attend will ultimately make a difference in the life a a child.

This week we wrapped up the annual Tennessee School Board Association annual convention held right here in Nashville. Over 700 school board members from across the state of Tennessee met to discuss the ins and outs of the large and rural school boards. We attended workshops and listening sessions to discuss how we as school board members could best serve our schools, communities and most importantly our students. There was a lot of great information provided on how we could all better serve our schools.

Being the (self proclaimed) education junkie that I am, my hope was that I would learn something that would not only benefit the students in my district, but provide that "A-Ha" moment that would motivate me to want to do even more to level the playing field for the students and parents in Metro Nashville Public Schools. I was not disappointed!

The theme of this year's convention was "Expect More, Achieve More." What a powerful statement for the direction that we are taking our schools in!

One of the sessions that I attended was moderated by Dr. Linda Stroud, Principal of Greenville High School in Green County, Tennessee. The topic was "Cell Phone Policies for the 21st Century." What an amazing presentation!

Dr. Stroud was joined by the several colleagues from Green county as they discussed how Greenville High School is leading the way in incorporating technology and learning in the classroom. This innovative school system has found a way to bring cell phone technology into the classroom while maintaining a level of discipline and incorporating the technology that our children have at their fingertips. And best of all, they are doing it at no extra cost to their district! To quote Dr. Stroud, "technology needs to be a part of learning, where the learning is happening." Kudos to Greenville High school and Green county for there forward thinking and innovative methods in learning!

I am always excited to learn about new ways of communicating in my district. There was so much information and great ideas being shared by so many fellow school board members that it was difficult to jot them all down. I must say that I look forward to this event each year because I know in the end the valuable take aways will allow me to serve in my role as school board member in a much better capacity!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to serve! It has and continues to be my absolute pleasure!

CALL TO ACTION: The Youth Safety Summit needs collaborators!

2011-04-20T20:08:00.001-05:00

Multiple ways to take part for individuals, businesses, non-profits, churches and more.

The Youth Safety Summit on April 30 is a chance for families, community leaders, and school officials to work together toward a common goal: keeping children and young people safe both in schools and the larger community. Our goal for the day is to develop recommended actions that will help our community reduce youth violence. We invite all who are interested to participate in this day of collaboration and problem-solving.In addition to the productive discussions and group sessions at the Summit, there will also be a Community Resources Fair offering opportunities for students to stay engaged and structured throughout the summer.

The goal of the fair is to connect students and parents with organzations that offer:
Volunteer opportunities
Job opportunities
Educational programs
Recreation programs
Sports
Mentor programs
Group activities
and more

This is where we need your help. If your business, group or organization has opportunities like the ones listed above, we want you to participate in the fair. There will be a areas at the Summit set aside for booths and tables to display your programs. But if you are unable to attend in person, we invite you to submit your materials and information so that we may display your programs on your behalf.For more information about the Community Resources Fair, please contact:
Joe Bass(615) 259-3282 ext. 858067
joseph.bass@mnps.org

We hope that you will join us in this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our students and in the community as a whole.

2011 MNPS Teachers of the Year (District 6)

2011-03-30T19:37:00.002-05:00

Please join me in congratulating the District 6 Teachers of the Year for Metro Nashville Public Schools! Our teachers work hard every day and are so deserving of this recognition! Here's to the "Front Line Defenders of Education" Thomas Edison Elementary - Lee Rector; Glenview Elementary - Ashley McCoy; Lakeview Elementary Design Center - Stephen Hiles; J.E. Moss Elementary - Brigget Davis; Mt. View Elementary - Milton Ayers; Una Elementary - Elizabeth Bantly; J.F. Kennedy Middle School - Francine Skelton; Antioch Middle School - Kelly Larsen; Apollo Middle School - Kelsey Ferguson; Antioch High School - John Carney; Cane Ridge High School - Khalilah King

Time Flies When You're Having Fun!

2011-02-20T11:51:00.002-06:00

Hello Everyone,
It has been nearly six months to the day since I took the oath of office as the School Board member for District 6 for Metro Nashville Public Schools. If I had to describe my experience thus far in one sentence I would say, "This has been the most eye-opening learning experience of my life, so far."

As a parent who has always been involved in the education of my children, I made it my business to know the teachers and administrators who were charged with educating my children. While I realize that education begins at home, I also wanted to be sure that the people who took over for me when I sent my children to public schools were as dedicated and caring as I was. I must say, that with the exception of a few minor incidents, my children have always had teachers who seemed to care very much. Not only did they care about the quality of the curriculum they were presenting, but much more about the minds and spirits of the children in their classrooms. Thanks to those wonderful educators, and my own personal experiences in public schools, I developed a great appreciation for this profession.

It is that appreciation that got me involved and keeps me involved on so many levels in education. It is also that appreciation that led me to make the decision to run for the school board office that I currently hold.

I must say that I, along with so many others had my own idea of what the job of a school board member involved. Being on the other side of the fence now has opened my eyes to the level of hard work and expectation that truly exists for this position.

Most lay people (such as myself before taking office) don't understand what the complete role of a school board member involves. There are commitments to education that go far beyond the twice monthly meetings that are televised for the public. There are the commitments to making yourself available to the many students, parents, teachers and administrators who will call on you or email you with questions or concerns that are very important to them. There is the constant commitment to making sure that everyone understands the quality of education that our children can and do receive from Metro Nashville Public Schools. There is the commitment to making yourself available to attend school functions, board meetings and community events that are important to the many that we serve. And there is always the commitment to the family who continues to support your efforts while you are performing your duties for the "part-time" job you have just taken on.

Over the last six months I have met so many people who are dedicated to making the education of our children the number one priority for our city, our state and our country. I have been overwhelmed knowing that there are so many others whose passion for education runs as deep as mine! It has truly been a wonderful experience! One that I would not change for anything despite having to jockey my own calendar to find a few hours of quiet time just for myself.

I am so thankful to have been able to walk this path and I am so grateful for the people who placed their confidence in me. I will continue to do my very best to serve my community for the remainder of my term in office.

Thank you so much for this opportunity! It has truly been a blessing!

Peace and Blessings!
Cheryl

2011-01-07T18:06:00.000-06:00

Click on the link to view a message from our Director of Schools, Dr. Jesse Register and to get information on our school district's Annual Yearly Progress (AYP).

http://www.mnps.org/Page78976.aspx

Reflections of 2010

2010-12-31T15:52:00.001-06:00

Today is the final day of 2010. As I reflect on this year, there have been lots of changes in my life that have taken me in so many different directions. I have had the privilege of meeting so many different people who have inspired me in my journeys. My blessings this year were in abundance and for that I am truly thankful!

I wish you all a safe and very Happy New Year! May your blessings be in abundance in 2011!

Thank you all for the show of support during 2010. I look forward to working with you all in the coming year.

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called "Opportunity" and its first chapter is New Year's Day ~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce~

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-17T15:42:00.000-06:00

As we close in on the end of another great year, I would like to wish you all a wonderful and safe holiday season! Enjoy your time with family and friends as you celebrate the joy of the season.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year! See you in 2011!

Can we really afford to wait for Superman?

2010-10-19T19:44:00.003-05:00

It has been nearly two months since I was sworn in as the District 6 school board member for Metro Nashville Public Schools. Since that time I have been on what seems like a world wind schedule. It has taken a couple of months to get my head around my new position and duties. It has also taken a bit of time to adjust myself and my family to the new demands on my time.

Since taking the oath of office on August 24, 2010, I have meet, spoken with and/or responded by email to many people who have had concerns related to the education and welfare of our children on many levels. I have received lots of advice, solicited and unsolicited from many who want to see me succeed and thus seeing the success of our schools and our children in the process.

I knew that the position of school board member would mean hard work and sacrifice. I’m finding that it also means patience, understanding, excellent listening skills, the ability to negotiate, the ability to compromise, obtaining all the facts before making any decisions, having really thick skin and the overwhelming ability to read minds. This last one (if I could figure out how to do it) would be the greatest of all of these and would make my job so much easier. LOL!!

I have been told that there will be times when I will question my decision to run for this office more times than not, and most especially during those times when controversial issues are presented to the board. That there will be times when I will celebrate an accomplishment in one minute and become very aggravated about a decision in the next.

No matter the aggravation, decisions or ups and downs I can say that I am very happy that I made the decision to run for this office and I am truly honored to be a part of this great decision making body.

We must always remember that we are the decision makers for our children and with that comes great responsibility. We must not sell our children short for our own personal gain. We must at all times remember that the decisions we make today will affect the lives of our children for a long time to come. We must always remember that when someone expresses anger towards us it is most often a direct result of their frustrations and not meant to be personal.

Recently I viewed the documentary “Waiting for Superman”. It was one of the most thought provoking films I have seen in a very long time. It is my hope that everyone, with or without children in public school systems sees this film. While the film may not provide all of the answers we will need to change and/or make our public education system better, it will certainly begin the dialogue.

I left the theater with tears in my eyes and a heavy heart for our children. My motivation to work harder towards change was heightened because of the words of Anthony, a child featured in the documentary. When asked a specific question by the reporter he replied, “I just want to go to school.”

Can we really afford to wait for Superman?

Peace and Blessing!
Cheryl

Let's Get To Work!

2010-08-24T21:55:00.002-05:00

I have officially been sworn in as the school board member for District 6, Metro Nashville Public Schools. To attempt to explain my excitement about serving in my community in this capacity would take much more time than I have or you would likely care to read. I will just say that I am truly, truly honored and I will do my absolute best to serve the children in MNPS schools to the best of my ability. Now, let's get to work on making MNPS the absolute best choice for educating our children hands down!

I would like to also thank several people who have been with me and stood by me throughout the past year:

First and foremost my sincere appreciation and gratitude to my sister Marsha who was and is without a doubt my biggest supporter. She has been with me on this journey from the beginning and I love her dearly for everything!
To my dad (David) who tells me on a pretty regular basis how proud he is of me. Little does he know it is me who is very proud of him. I love you Daddy!
To Jemice who has kept me on the straight and narrow and has watched every single dime since we started this journey. Thanks for having my back!
To my campaign team (Detra, Tanya, Yolanda, Thomas) thank you for giving of your time and patience. Especially when my idea box was filled to capacity and overflowing!
Many, many thanks to Karen Johnson and Alma Sanford for far too much to list. You ladies ROCK!!!!
To my dear friend Patrick who has been my sounding board for the last year. Your political views and sound common sense have been a blessing to me. Keep making me think outside the box!

More than anything a very special thank is extended to my "Earth Angels", my beautiful children, Michael, Cherise and Avery! Without each of you this day would not have been possible. You have given me joy and delight along with a little sorrow and angst, but no matter what you are my constant sources of happiness. My decision to become a candidate for the school board rested so heavily on my experiences in your educational lives. Each first day, each teacher meeting, all the homework and every single one of the PTO/PTSO meetings have led me to this day. Thank you for always seeing me as just "mom" while loving me for all the other hats that I have worn. I love you!

August/September Events

2010-08-21T10:31:00.002-05:00

The ACT Prep program, In Full Motion
Registration for the fall ACT Prep classes will be from August 21st, 2010-September 4th, 2010 from 8 a.m.-10 a.m. at both Galilee Baptist Church and Lake Providence Missionary Baptist Church. The first session will begin, on September 18th; at Galilee Baptist Church to prepare students for the October 23rd ACT test. Classes will begin at a new site on October 30th, at Lake Providence Missionary Baptist Church; in preparation for the December 11th ACT test. http://infullmotion.org/aboutus.html

Galilee Baptist Church
2021 Herman St
Nashville, TN

Lake Providence Missionary Baptist Church
5891 Nolensville Pike
Nashville, TN

Antioch High School Back to School Night
Tuesday, August 24th from 6pm to 8pm.
Antioch High School now has a twitter account. Please go to www.twitter.com/antiochhigh to follow Antioch High School

New School Board Members Swearing In
Tuesday, August 24th at 5pm
Nashville voters have spoken! Congratulations to Dr. Jo Ann Brannon, board member elect for District 2; Anna Shepherd, board member elect for District 4; Cheryl Mayes, board member elect for District 6; Michael Hayes, District 8, and Kay Simmons, board member elect for District 9.

Dr. Steve Perry, principal of Capital Preparatory Magnet School
Will be speaking at Tennessee State University on Tuesday August 31, 2010 in Poag Auditorium in the Humanities Building @7:00pm. This is a free event. Early arrival is suggested.

Progress Reports Issued
September 15, 2010

Parent’s Advisory Council Meeting
September 16, 2010

School Board Meetings
September 14th and 28th
Board Room
2601 Bransford Avenue
Nashville, TN

Welcome Back!

2010-08-12T19:23:00.004-05:00

Hello Everyone,
Just a quick note to welcome those of you whose children attend MNPS schools back for a fantastic school year! I hope the first day for your students went well. I'm looking forward to working with the administrators and teachers in our schools to help ensure a great learning and teaching experience during the 2010-11 school year.

A couple of items to bring to your attention:
1. Please check the MNPS website often for updates related to your children and the schools they attend. Here is a link to the Parent's Guide to Public Schools (http://www.mnps.org/Page67896.aspx) that can be viewed and downloaded at http://www.mnps.org/. This is a very informative booklet for parents.

2. The Antioch/Cane Ridge rezoning plan was approved by the school board on August 10th for the 2011-12 school year. Please be sure to review the plan for any questions you may have (http://www.mnps.org/AssetFactory.aspx?did=46876).

Again, I hope your students had a fantastic first day! Here's to a wonderful school year!

Thank You!

2010-08-06T20:32:00.001-05:00

Hello Everyone,
I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who supported my campaign. I am so excited about this new opportunity! Being involved in the education of our children is so very important to me and I will do my absolute best to serve you and your children to the very best of my ability over the next four years.

As I have in the past I will continue to send updates on issues and events that relate to you, our children and our community. Please continue to send information on updates and events that are occurring in and around our community and our city.

Thank you again and I ask that you continue to pray for my family and me as we move forward.

Peace and Blessings
Cheryl

Antioch/Cane Ridge Clusters Proposed 10 Year Plan

2010-07-21T07:38:00.003-05:00

Please make plans to attend an additional information meeting related to the proposed 10 year rezoning plan that was recently presented to the school board on July 13th.

Antioch/Cane Ridge Rezoning Meeting

Lakeview Design Center Elementary

Tuesday, August 3rd

Beginning at 6pm.

A link to the presentation that was made to the school board is listed under the links on this blog.

Peace and Blessings!
Cheryl

Thank you Karen Y. Johnson!

2010-07-18T19:32:00.002-05:00

Good day my friends! I wanted to take a moment to offer my sincere gratitude and appreciation to our current District 6 school board member Karen Y. Johnson.

Over that last four years Karen has given of her self and her time to ensure that every child and family in MNPS's District 6 area has had every opportunity to receive the best quality education possible. Karen has stood for us all sometimes in the face of great adversity. Karen has opened the eyes of many to the issues that directly affect our community and she has definitely made a difference in how our area is viewed. Karen has fought tirelessly for us all and for that I am thankful!

As we move forward with the decisions that effect our lives, I would like to wish Karen well in her future endeavors. Karen's community involvement will not cease however I know that she will continue to do what she does best, serve the people of her community and city to the best of her ability! If I have learned anything from Karen it is that what's right may not always be what's popular.

Thank you Karen for your wonderful service and commitment to our community!

Peace and Blessings!
Cheryl

Metro Nashville Education Association (MNEA) Endorsement

2010-07-14T20:44:00.002-05:00

Many thanks to the MNEA for the wonderful endorsement of the Mayes for District 6 School Board campaign! I am so grateful and truly blessed! Thank You!

Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Endorsement

2010-07-09T18:01:00.001-05:00

Thank you to the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce for the wonderful endorsement to the Mayes for District 6 School Board campaign! This is truly a blessing!

31 Days!

2010-07-05T19:38:00.003-05:00

Hello Everyone!

In 31 days (August 5th) we will have a new school board. Over the past year I have met with and spoken to many of you about your views and ideas related to the education of your children. I am excited about becoming your next District 6 school board representative and I look forward to a continued dialogue with you and your students.

Our children are without a doubt the keys to our future and therefore we should always provide them with the absolute best educational opportunities possible! With your help we can make it happen!

My sincere thank you to all who have supported my campaign and to the many who have been with me throughout my service in previous community activities. It is my pleasure to continue to serve my community for the past fifteen (and counting) years.

Don't forget to vote on August 5th. Early voting begins July 16th and goes through July 31st. I have also posted the early voting schedule and locations under the links section of this blog.

Thank you again!

Peace and Blessings!
Cheryl

2010-06-15T21:20:00.002-05:00

Hello Everyone,
Isn't it great how when everything seems to be going along fine there's a kink thrown into your plans that makes you slow way down? I know this far to well.

Over the last two months we (my family) have lost two wonderful members of our family and experienced other life changing ordeals that made us all stop and think that maybe it was time to sit down and slow down. Just when you think you are in total control God comes along and says "Not so fast! All things in my time." This time I listened.

My message to you all is to simply take the time that you have been granted to love, share and care for those around you. Never live like tomorrow is promised, live as though this day is your last.

Through it all we have and will continue to endure. We will take the lessons and learn so much from them and rejoice in the splendor of knowing that God is still in the blessing business!

I wish you all a wonderful today and a joyous tomorrow!

Peace and Blessings!
Cheryl

Congrats Grads!

2010-05-28T22:59:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to all the 2010 graduates!

You've worked hard and you deserve all that comes to you! Good luck and best wishes to you all as you embark on your futures! You are blessings to us all and you have and will continue to make us proud!

Peace and Blessings
Cheryl

Correction

2010-04-22T19:50:00.002-05:00

Greetings Everyone! I was contacted by a member of the MNPS administration to clarify a statement made in my post yesterday. I sincerly apologize for the error.

"With the proposed budget, MNPS is only looking to outsource custodial positions, not transportation or central office. There are some central office positions being eliminated and bus driver hours are being reduced by one hour each day."

My intention was to call attention to the concerns about the safety and welfare of our children. I sincerly did not mean to mislead anyone on any information contained in the 2010-11 proposed budget for MNPS.

While I will appreciate this corrected information I will continue to pay close attention to the budget proceedings and will continue to provide updates to you all.

Peace and Blessings!
Cheryl

What do the 2010-11 MNPS budget changes really mean for our children and our community?

2010-04-21T20:10:00.002-05:00

Greetings! With the recent news of the changes in the MNPS budget for Metro Nashville Public Schools for the 2010-11 school year, I wanted to find out what your thoughts are on these issues.

As you are no doubt aware, the school board and administration at MNPS are faced with making many very difficult decisions about funding that will directly affect our children. While no plans are in place at this time to eliminate the teaching positions, as you know the budget does call for the possible outsourcing of transportation (bus drivers), support staff (custodians) and some administrative positions at the central office. What are your thoughts/concerns about these changes?

Have you had an opportunity to view the proposed 2010-11 MNPS budget? If not, I have posted a link to the budget on the MNPS website. I encourage you to review it. Understanding the decisions that are made in regards to budgeting is extremely important to us all.

The changes in our country’s economy have had a direct affect on many of us; some more than others. Considering that, what can we do as a community to make the necessary cuts that will continue to provide the absolute best educational experience possible for our children without sacrificing their safety and well being? How will the proposed cuts help or harm our children if at all? If the decision was yours to make, what would you do?

Over the last few months I have attended as many school board meetings as possible to try and gauge what the nine representatives of our communities are faced with. Trying to understand the decisions that are being made and why. I must say that what I have learned from my experience is not new. No matter what decisions are made, everyone will not agree. Some will feel slighted and/or cheated while others will be excited that the changes did not affect them this time.

No matter your feelings about the proposed changes make no mistake; they will ultimately affect every one of our children in Metro Nashville Public Schools and their families! Realistically speaking, how could it not?

My concerns as a parent go directly to who will be driving my child? What is their experience? Are they familiar with the neighborhoods and communities they will be serving? What will be the criteria for hiring current MNPS staff over others who have never worked in our schools?

As a school board member I would have many questions as well. Will there be a plan in place to give serious consideration to the loyal staff currently employeed by MNPS? What will be the criteria for applying for the positions that the employees already have? How will salaries be negotiated for these displaced employees? What benefits/insurance plans will be offered and will this be negotiated up front or will the employees be left to negotiate these on their own?

While I understand that cuts must be made, I am in full support of our transportation and support staff not being outsourced. There are too many what if’s that at least for me have not been answered.

I could go on, but I would rather hear your thoughts. Post your comments on my blog or email me. Kudos to the many bus drivers and support staff that have dedicated themselves to the safety and well being of our children over the years. I thank you for all your hard work and support!

Peace and Blessings!
Cheryl

Communication Is Key! April Events

2010-04-07T22:21:00.006-05:00

Technolgy is a great thing, when it works! For the last month I have experienced technological challenges that made me want to pull my hair out, but I'm happy to say that I have (for now) conquered those issues. :-)

In keeping with the theme of communication I wanted to let you know about a few events happening in our area that you may be interested in participating in. Spring has sprung, but for a few days it seemed like summer has pushed her way right in. But no worries, the weather has been a true blessing!

DISTRICT 32SPECIAL TOWN HALL MEETING
You are invited to come to meet with District 32 Councilman Sam Coleman at a Town Hall meeting scheduled as follows:
THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 20106:30 P.M.
MT. VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 3820 MURFREESBORO ROAD
Topics of discussion include:
Development of a metro park at Hobson Pike and Murfreesboro Rd
Senior Living Center on Murfreesboro Rd
Progress of the fire hall at Hobson Pike and Lakewalk Drive

Hickory Hollow Clean Up Day
Saturday, April 10th at 9am
Meet at old Cracker Barrel locationCollins Park Dr. & Bell Road
Shirts, gloves, bags furnished Please bring rake, weed eater, (any lawn equipment you may have)Could especially use a gas operated small saw or hedge trimmer If you can donate a cannister of wildflower seeds, it would be appreciated (Home Depot or Lowe's for about $6.00). We will be planting wildflowers in the gulch areas around the underpasses on Bell Road.)
Please do not wear sandals or flip flops (for your safety)

Antioch High School PTSO meeting
Monday, April 12th at 6pm

Antioch Cluster Parent Group meeting
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 in the Apollo Middle School Auditorium at 6:30 p.m.
On the Agenda:
1. Transition to Middle School
A conversation with Apollo Middle School principal, Ronald Woodard
2. Parent Involvement
A look at triumphs and challenges in our cluster

The 2nd Annual Antioch Community Fair
The 2nd Annual Antioch Community Fair will take place on Friday, April 16th, from 5:00 pm -7:30 pm at Antioch High School. This family and community event will not only offer door prizes, fun games, and entertainment for youth; there will also be celebrity guests, a showcase of the Antioch schools, the opportunity to meet elected officials, displays from area businesses, and free screenings from local healthcare services. Join us at Antioch High School for an evening of family fun and come see the great things the Antioch community has to offer!

Hickory Hollow Connect - Presented by the Hickory Hollow Action Partership
Tuesday, April 20th - 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Freeland Chevrolet
5333 Hickory Hollow Parkway
Come spend and evening with your business neighbors. Meet local business owners/managers and Antioch community leaders. Get connected!
RSVP: hhtpat@aol.com
or call 615-731-9911 (Judy Petty or Mark Herren)
Hors d'oeuvres, wine, soft drinks and good company
website: http://www.thhap.org/

Southeast Easter Event a Success!

2010-03-27T21:34:00.002-05:00

The 6th annual Southeast Easter event held at the Antioch Community center was an overwhelming success! At last count there were over 3000 in attendance this year. Double the attendance from last year! Whew!

The event was made event more special with the many entertainment participants and our community vendors!

My sincere thanks to all the people who made this year's event a success! A very special thank you to Paster Jay Vorhees of the Antioch United Methodist Church whose dedication and constant attention to every little detail was the reason for such a successful event! And Dwayne Ferrell with MNPS who gave so much of his own time to make sure we had everything we needed for a wonderful day for our children!

Many, many thanks to our wonderful teen volunteers from Cane Ridge and Antioch High schools! These fantastic children were intrumental in the day's activities!

Kudos to everyone who contributed both financially and in-kind! Without your support we could not have made this event happen!

Thanks everyone! Your kindness will not be without reward! You are the jewels in our crowns! We are looking forward to an even better event next year!

Peace and Blesssings!
Cheryl

March Events

2010-03-16T21:12:00.002-05:00

Kindergarten Registration
Occurs every weekday effective 3/22/2010 until 3/26/2010 throughout the day.
Kindergarten registration begins March 22 and ends March 26. Parents must go to their zoned school to register their child. To determine your child's school zone, visit our school zone finder.

Reunión de Conexión Américas
Occurs every week(s) on Tuesday effective 3/23/2010 until 4/27/2010 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Location: Antioch High School

Southeast Easter Celebration
Saturday, March 27, 2010Rain Date: April 3
Antioch Park & Community Center5023 Blue Hole Rd.Antioch, TN 37013
Gates open at 9am

Report Cards Issued
March 29th

NCLB Choice Deadline
CLICK HERE to learn more about NCLB Choice.

Open Enrollment Deadline
CLICK HERE to learn more about open enrollment.

Southeast Easter Event 2010!

2010-03-10T20:09:00.003-06:00

Please join us for a day of fun and family entertainment on Saturday March 27th from 9am - 3pm at the Antioch Community Center. There will be Easter egg hunts, prizes, local vendors, great food and entertainment from several of our local school organizations!

Please check out the photos from last year's event on this blog. Hope to see you there!

Peace and Blessings!
Cheryl

You Have A Voice!

2010-02-23T21:34:00.002-06:00

Greetings Everyone! I hope this finds you and your families well!

Over the past few months I have spent a lot of time meeting and talking with so many people who have expressed their concerns (both positive and negative) about our current educational system. While I have been active in our community for nearly twenty years, I must admit that having the opportunity to speak personally with more people outside my “circle” has been a real eye-opener!

The discussions that I have had prompted me to re-post a message that I added to my blog in August, 2009. I have been simply amazed by the many voices that I have heard who believe that they have no voice in the education of their children and themselves (from a student’s perspective). My sincere thank you to everyone who has shared their opinions/concerns with me.

Please take a moment to read this entry. I welcome your comments.

Originally posted August 10, 2009:

Our Children Are Our Future!
All to often we make decisions for our children that we believe are in their best interest. As parents we always want the best for our children from the way they live to the lessons that we attempt to teach them. A quality education is no different.

We seek the best for our children based on our own life experiences. We know from experience what a mediocre education can cost us in the way we live, the jobs we seek and lifestyles we try to attain for ourselves and our families.

So why would we settle for anything less than the absolute best education possible for our precious children? The answer, we shouldn't! We should expect that whichever form of education we seek for our children, be it public or private, will offer the best without question!

Our children are our future! When I think of how times have changed since my own high school graduation I am amazed at how the educational process has changed. Are we really thinking about the best for our children or are we consumed with changing the system to suit what we believe is what our children want?

As parents and educators we have an undeniable belief that each and every child that we encounter will go to college and perhaps go on to be the next great debater, the next community leader, the next multi-million dollar business owner, the next star athlete and yes, even the next President of our great nation. The question is how do they get there? How do the children of today reach these goals that we have set for them? What will it take for our children to be the best they can be?

My belief is that we begin with talking with our children. Knowing what we want for our children is not always what they seek for themselves. Asking our children what their expectancies are for themselves may be a true eye-opener.

Consider the pressure a child feels if he/she comes from a family of educated professionals. The child may feel compelled or even obliged to follow in their parents/family's footsteps even if what they really seek is a career as an artist or a musician. What about the child whose parents never received a post-secondary education? Will the pressure to attend college because he/she will be the first in their family produce added pressure to make the family proud? And let's also consider the child who does in fact desperately want to attend college, but his/her family is not financially able to make that dream a reality? What becomes of this child?

Let's also take a quick glance at how our children are "tested" for academic performance. Are these tests truly designed with all of our children in mind? While I must say that academic testing can be a great indicator of how our children are performing and advancing in their respective classes, it does not completely measure the "whole" child.

When we consider the "whole" child we must always take a closer look at our children's environment, their home life, their communities and their educational experiences. Too often we judge a child based solely on their academic performances and thereby grossly underestimate the ability of a great mind!

As a community, it is our duty to enable and encourage our children to reach their true potentials. Our jobs as parents, educators and communities is to support our children. We must not and should not demean any child for choosing not to take the post-secondary road. Instead, we should encourage our children to be the best they can be.

As I have said so many times to my own children, a quality education is the key to a quality life. However in recent years I have had the absolute privilege to encounter many children for whom college is just something they've heard about. Why?

Why must these beautiful minds go untapped? Why must there be even one child who believes that getting through high school is all they need to accomplish? Why must there be any child left behind?

There does not have to be! If we work as a whole (parents, educators, community) to help educate our children and not only advise them but show them the many possibilities they have before them, the wonderful minds of our children of today will in fact become the outstanding leaders that we all know they can be for our tomorrows!

What are your thoughts? What are the thoughts of your wonderful, creative, exceptional children? Talk to them. You may be surprised at what you learn about your child and yourself.

Peace and Blessings
Cheryl

December 2009 Events

2009-11-29T15:55:00.003-06:00

Below are a few events that are or will be going on in and around our community during the month of December.

December 1st
Cane Ridge Parent Cluster Meeting at Antioch Middle School
Cane Ridge Cluster Meeting will begin at 5:30pm
Discussion on rezoning will begin at 6:00pm
Chris Weber, Director of Student Assignment for MNPS will be present to discuss rezoning for the Antioch/Cane Ridge clusters

December 4th
Lottery school applications due

December 10th
Exceptional Ed. Surrogate Parent Training
Thursday, December 10, 2009, from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Location: Cohn Adult Learning Center
4805 Park Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee, 37209
Reservation Deadlines:
Wednesday, December 9, 2009 for December 10th Training
Office Number: 615-259-8696
Fax Number: 615-214- 8891
E-mail Address: camille.flemming@mnps.org

December 15th
Antioch PTSO Spaghetti Dinner and Financial Aid Night
Beginning at 6pm
Ticket prices: $5.00 Adults, $2.50 Children 12 and under
Advance tickets may be purchased at Antioch High School
Phone: 615-641-5400

December 16th
½ Day for students 9-12, Exams given

December 17th
Last day of semester, ½ day for students K-12 (exams given)

December 18th – January 4th
Winter Break – Students report for second semester on January 5th

Teacher Shuffles in Metro Nashville Schools

2009-11-08T20:57:00.002-06:00

The comment from the parent in this article is very concerning to me. Do our parents truly feel as though they are not welcomed in our schools?

What are your thoughts about "teacher shuffles" in metro schools. Is it beneficial to our students and schools? What affect do you think this type of action will have on our children our teachers and our community?

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20091108/NEWS04/911080384/1970

November Events

2009-11-01T14:06:00.003-06:00

Below are a few events that will be going on in and around our community during the month of November.

November 2nd:
Report Cards Issued

November 11th:
Exceptional Education Parents Training Day
Time: 8:30am – 2:30pm
Location: Boone Convocation Center, Trevecca University

This event is provided by Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Department of Exceptional Education through a grant from the State of Tennessee to provide a collaborative day of learning for parents of children with disabilities. The training will be provided by MNPS SPED personnel, parents, and representatives of disability agencies.

Lunch, free parking, and a notebook will be provided to each participant. Please contact Betty Holmes at (615) 259-8705 or betty.holmes@mnps.org

November 18th:
Student progress reports issued

November 25th – 27th:
Thanksgiving holidays for MNPS students

MNPS Lottery School Applications to Be Sent Home
Magnet and optional schools will be sent home the week of November 2, 2009. Parents interested in enrolling their child or children in one of 29 academic and thematic magnetic, design, optional and enhanced option schools need to submit an application by Dec. 4, 5:30 p.m.

Please visit the MNPS website (www.mnps.org ) for a complete list of lottery schools.

October Events!

2009-10-18T14:10:00.003-05:00

Below are a few events that are or will be going on in and around our community during the month of October. Have a great week!

October 5th - 31st:
Matthew Walker Comprehesive Health Center, Inc
Free Breast Exams and Mammogram Screenings
Target: Women ages 40 and up
Exams and screenings will be conducted Monday - Thursday from 10am - 3pm
Please call for an appointment - 615-327-9400, ext. 341

October 20th:
Safe School Summit - McGavock High School - 8:00am - 4:00pm
This event will encourage students to become active participants in making their schools safe and nurturing environments for teaching and learning. The summit participants will discuss topics such as media literacy, First Amendment, recognizing signals of violence and ways students can help make their school communities safer.

Special guests include Tennessee Titans players Vincent Fuller and David Thornton, 101 The Beats’ disc jockey Adrian Granderson, former Titans player Al Smith, motivational speaker Derrick Young, Pastor Tommy Vallejos, Bishop Joseph Walker, WSMV reporter Jonathan Martin, and News 2 reporter Christine Maddella.

TRANSPORTATION
Transportation will be provided at Hillsboro, Cane Ridge and Whites Creek high schools. Buses leave 7:30 a.m. You must show a signed permission slip to ride the bus.

October 23rd:
Harlem Wizards vs Lakeview Lions
Antioch High School - 7:00pm
Ticket Prices:
General Admission: $10.00 in advance, $13.00 at the door.
Students & Senior Citizens: $7.00 in advance, $10.00 at the door.
http://www.harlemwizards.com/

October 24th:
Fall Parent Focus Forum - "Show Me The Money!"
Time: 10am - 1:30pm - Lunch will be provided
Sponsored by Nashville Prevention Partnership
Martha O'Byan Center
711 S 7th Street, Nashville, TN
Email: marsha@npponline.org
Phone: 615-973-1636

Candidate emerges for vacant school board seat

2009-09-30T19:05:00.002-05:00

Please check out the article in today's Nashville City Paper. I have placed a link on this page under 'Links'.

I encourage you to post your comments on the site and please send the article to your family and friends. Thank you for your continued support!

Meet The Candidate!

2009-09-27T22:05:00.003-05:00

Please join me and members of my campaign team for a meet and greet event on Thursday, October 29, 2009 from 6-9pm at Raz'z Restaurant. I welcome the opportunity to speak with you about your views on our educational system in Metro Nashville.

If you are not able to attend in person, you may make a donation online by clicking on the 'Donate' icon on this blog. No amount is too small and your kind gifts of support are always appreciated.

I look forward to meeting you on October 29th and serving you and our children in 2010 and beyond!

Peace and Blessings!
Cheryl

President's Speech To Students

2009-09-08T19:53:00.003-05:00

In case you or your children were not able to hear President Obama's speech to our students, please check out this link to the speech. Judge for yourself.

www.whitehouse.gov/mediaresources/preparedschoolremarks

Let's Talk College... Now!

2009-08-30T17:55:00.004-05:00

This weekend we moved my daughter into her college dorm room. This is the place she will now call home for the next nine months, give or take the few pre-scheduled days allowed for breaks. As you can imagine, move in day was quite an adventure! There were so many proud parents, grand-parents, aunts, uncles, sisters and brothers who were just happy to be a part of the whole experience!

As we stood in line to take the stairs (yes that’s right, we had to stand in line just to take the stairs because the elevators had at least a one hour wait and one was not working at all), to her floor to begin the process of unloading her “valuable, can’t live without them” items that were carefully selected to be a part of her college dorm life experience, my mind went to the many children, or should I say young adults that would not be experiencing this fantastic event. I thought about the many high school graduates that had to make the decision by choice or by circumstance not to continue their education by attending college at least for now or perhaps not at all.

My next thought naturally was why? Why is there even one child who if they so desire would not have the opportunity to attend college, to experience meeting new people from other places and cultures? Why is there even one child who if they have the desire and passion to build a better future for themselves by building on their education, should circumstances not allow it to be so?

While I must admit that I certainly don’t have all the answers to our educational woes, I can’t help but think that perhaps exposing our children to the possibility of attending college before they reach high school might be one way of ensuring that our children gain a better understanding of the importance of taking full advantage of their pre-college education. Of course it’s not a guarantee to a prosperous educational future but why not instill in our children the value of education from the first day they walk into an educational facility?

When a child is asked when they are very young what they want to be when they grow up perhaps explaining exactly what it will take to reach that goal should be a part of the conversation. Why not praise the child for their career selection while also providing them with the information needed to reach that goal? Could it hurt for a child to really understand how attainable their goals are and how they could reach them, even at the tender young age of say, six or eight years old? Would it be so bad for our children to understand what college is and how it will assist them in reaching their goals, even if those goals change many times?

I wish that I had been given the opportunity in my early youth to know and better understand what it meant to become a great teacher or the first female firefighter or even the absolute best speech therapist in the state of Tennessee! You see my career choices changed a bit when I was young but armed with the educational information needed to reach whichever goal I set for myself may have truly made a difference.

With the cost of a college education steadily increasing it makes sense that our children not wait until their junior or senior years of high school to begin making plans for their future. When is the best time to speak with our children about their futures?

Peace and Blessings!
Cheryl

Our Children Are Our Future!

2009-08-10T21:28:00.003-05:00

All to often we make decisions for our children that we believe are in their best interest. As parents we always want the best for our children from the way they live to the lessons that we attempt to teach them. A quality education is no different.

We seek the best for our children based on our own life experiences. We know from experience what a mediocre education can cost us in the way we live, the jobs we seek and lifestyles we try to attain for ourselves and our families.

So why would we settle for anything less than the absolute best education possible for our precious children? The answer, we shouldn't! We should expect that whichever form of education we seek for our children, be it public or private, will offer the best without question!

Our children are our future! When I think of how times have changed since my own high school graduation I am amazed at how the educational process has changed. Are we really thinking about the best for our children or are we consumed with changing the system to suit what we believe is what our children want?

As parents and educators we have an undeniable belief that each and every child that we encounter will go to college and perhaps go on to be the next great debater, the next community leader, the next multi-million dollar business owner, the next star athlete and yes, even the next President of our great nation. The question is how do they get there? How do the children of today reach these goals that we have set for them? What will it take for our children to be the best they can be?

My belief is that we begin with talking with our children. Knowing what we want for our children is not always what they seek for themselves. Asking our children what their expectancies are for themselves may be a true eye-opener.

Consider the pressure a child feels if he/she comes from a family of educated professionals. The child may feel compelled or even obliged to follow in their parents/family's footsteps even if what they really seek is a career as an artist or a musician. What about the child whose parents never received a post-secondary education? Will the pressure to attend college because he/she will be the first in their family produce added pressure to make the family proud? And let's also consider the child who does in fact desperately want to attend college, but his/her family is not financially able to make that dream a reality? What becomes of this child?

Let's also take a quick glance at how our children are "tested" for academic performance. Are these tests truly designed with all of our children in mind? While I must say that academic testing can be a great indicator of how our children are performing and advancing in their respective classes, it does not completely measure the "whole" child.

When we consider the "whole" child we must always take a closer look at our children's environment, their home life, their communities and their educational experiences. Too often we judge a child based solely on their academic performances and thereby grossly underestimate the ability of a great mind!

As a community, it is our duty to enable and encourage our children to reach their true potentials. Our jobs as parents, educators and communities is to support our children. We must not and should not demean any child for choosing not to take the post-secondary road. Instead, we should encourage our children to be the best they can be.

As I have said so many times to my own children, a quality education is the key to a quality life. However in recent years I have had the absolute privilege to encounter many children for whom college is just something they've heard about. Why?

Why must these beautiful minds go untapped? Why must there be even one child who believes that getting through high school is all they need to accomplish? Why must there be any child left behind?

There does not have to be! If we work as a whole (parents, educators, community) to help educate our children and not only advise them but show them the many possibilities they have before them, the wonderful minds of our children of today will in fact become the outstanding leaders that we all know they can be for our tomorrows!

What are your thoughts? What are the thoughts of your wonderful, creative, exceptional children? Talk to them. You may be surprised at what you learn about your child and yourself.

Peace and Blessings
Cheryl

It's Official!

2009-08-04T17:43:00.005-05:00

The first meeting of the campaign to elect Cheryl D. Mayes to the MNPS District 6 School Board was held on August 1st. It was a great meeting! We are in the process of scheduling our campaign events and fundraisers so please continue to follow the blog to learn more about the dates and times. We are coming to a community near you!

I am very proud of the experts on our campaign team! I consider them experts because they have all had personal experiences with children who have been or are currently enrolled in Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS). Like you they have experienced the fun and excitement of scheduling their lives around the extra curricular activities of their children, the always intriguing Parent/Teacher conferences and the woes and wonders of report card day. Each expert brings a uniqueness to our campaign. Stay tuned to meet the experts and share their stories.

I would also like to take this opportunity to invite you to share your personal stories with my staff and me. Please email your personal stories to us at CherylDMayes@gmail.com. We would like to know about the great things you and your students have experienced with MNPS. Please also share your concerns and your ideas for making our school system the best nationwide. I hope you will also take a moment to respond to the poll on this blog. Afterall, the way to make learning better for our children begins with knowing and understanding what’s not working for us today.

We are very excited about the campaign road ahead and hope that you will travel with us. Thank you for your support. We'll meet soon!

Peace and Blessings
Cheryl

Congratulations on the hardwork MNPS!

2009-07-22T21:33:00.005-05:00

I am so proud of the students, teachers and administrators of Metro Nashville Public Schools. The announcement today that our schools have entered 'improving status' for making the necessary NCLB progress is fantastic!

This is a very exciting time for our children. They should all be commended for all the hard work that I know went into making this change.

Many thanks to our parents who may not always get their due props, but definitely deserve it for all they do!

A very special thank you to our teachers and administrators for understanding the high stakes and putting together a plan that has no doubt made a significant difference in performance!

We, as a community thank you all! Kudos! We are very proud of you all!

The Right Person, The Right Time

2009-07-15T21:18:00.004-05:00

As the title of this post indicates there are times when the right person at the right time will make all the difference.

A few months ago during a conversation with friends we began discussing how our children were progressing in school. As parents of children in elementary, middle and high schools the conversation quickly turned to child/teacher instruction and then on to parent/teacher/administration communications. An hour or so later the subject of the school board member came up as well. Within the next few days, I was being encouraged by my family and friends to pursue the District 6 school board seat that will be vacated by our current school board member Karen Y. Johnson due to her run for Juvenile Court Clerk.

As you can imagine I was quite skeptical to even consider running for what I and so many others consider a very critical and most honorable appointment. After all, the school board members to a great degree hold the future of our children in their hands. My question to my friends was “Why me?” To which I received a resounding, “Why not you?” And after I had given many, many days of careful consideration to their response, I asked myself the question, “Why not me?”

I have always been a great proponent of education (just ask my children) and I truly believe that a quality education can open the doors to limitless opportunities for all our children. This in a nutshell was one of the deciding factors for me in pursuing the District 6 School Board seat.

Over the next few months I am hopeful that you will visit my blog often to learn more about my vision and goals for our children’s academic achievement as your next school board member. There will also be opportunities for you to voice your comments, concerns and questions. You will also be able to volunteer to assist in my campaign and still other opportunities to meet me in person.

As I have shared with my children on several occasions:
“The most beautiful thing about a mind is that no one can read your thoughts or take away the information that you hold there. Therefore everything you learn will be yours to keep always.”

Peace and Blessings
Cheryl Mayes