Sibling applications for 2012-2013 school year are being mailed later this month to the homes of currently enrolled city students. Check your mail, or your child’s book bag, and return your application soon as possible. Applications must be postmarked by December 22, or received in the VICC office by no later than 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 22.

parentA newsletter for parents published by the Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Corporationlink • Volume 27, Number 1, November 2011 County Education Helps Groom Students for Leadership Positions in Government by Peggy Magee The newly-elected Republican over the years managing his own real Tishaura Jones Cites High estate business and running for various Expectations in Affton chairman of St. Charles County, elected offices. As volunteer chairman Eugene Dokes, believes the skills Jones, 39, who holds the of St. Charles County GOP, he leads the leadership position of Assistant and insight he gained from his grassroots structure there, presiding Minority Floor Leader, gives rave school experiences have shaped his over a monthly meeting of 30 township reviews about the Affton school leadership style. The same holds committee heads. district. “I remember that my fifth- true for two other former voluntary Also standing out in Dokes’ mind grade teacher Ms. Winkler set a transfer students now serving in the about Pattonville is that his teachers higher bar and I had to work really encouraged him and made a point of hard to reach it.” Missouri House of Representatives: telling him how much potential he had. Democrats Tishaura Jones, of the Those practices were helpful to Although he made good grades, he was her in middle school at Mackenzie city’s 63rd district, and Clement always getting into trouble until well into (now Rogers) when she was named Smith of the city’s 71st district. his high school years. In the eighth grade, “student of the month.” At Affton Eugene Dokes’ Interests/Outlook he says his teacher “explained to me that High, she remembers, “All of my I was throwing away the opportunity teachers expected a lot from me.” Broadened at Pattonville I had because I was capable of much Dokes, 28, traces his interest in And Jones responded positively more.” In his sophomore year, when government back to the speech and to that, earning above average one of his teachers commended him for debate team at Pattonville High School grades while participating in many his improved behavior, he remembers when he had the formidable task of extracurriculars. feeling proud. “It was the influence of my researching the Cold War in preparation One administrator who sticks teachers that caused me to change.” for a debate about U.S./Russia relations. out in her memory is high school And when he did, he was selected as “I realized that a big, vast world existed guidance counselor Joseph a student mediator, which meant he got out there and I wanted to know more Scoggin, now retired. He took to be excused from class to help students about it,” says the 2000 graduate of many African-American students work out their differences. “I realized Eugene Dokes, a 2000 graduate of Pattonville High, reports Pattonville High School. under his wing, she says, keeping them that his involvement in the speech and debate team led to his that my good behavior yielded more His involvement in the debate club abreast of scholarships and grants and interest in government and honed his public speaking skills. opportunities for me,” he recalls. “That Here, the Republican chairman of St. Charles County delivers also introduced him to public speaking encouraging them to attend college fairs. was a great discovery.” a speech at the National African-American Conservative and gave him the confidence to talk in Spurred by Scoggin’s encouragement Convention, held in St. Louis. As a young teenager from a poor front of an audience. One key lesson and help, she applied to three prestigious family, Dokes worked at Lee’s Chicken, he says he learned: “Think before you colleges and was accepted to two. Walmart and other places to afford the Clem Smith Stresses Importance speak.” It’s a skill he has mastered She chose Hampton University clothes and other items he desired. When in Virginia where she majored in of Exposure which he Received it came time for college, he enrolled at finance. Upon graduation, she worked in Clayton Fontbonne University but because of as an investment bank analyst before Smith, 34, compares the neighbor- his concerns about the cost, he changed making a career change to healthcare hood he grew up in - - next to a housing directions and enlisted in the Navy. After administration, which prompted her to project near Delmar and Union -- to what seeing other men leave at the end of earn a master’s degree from St. Louis he encountered in Clayton schools, as, “the their duty with no education and no job, University’s School of Public Health. difference between night and day.” NON-PROFIT ORG. NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID LOUIS, MO ST. NO. 5737 PERMIT he knew he “wanted a choice” about For more than 10 years she worked in Starting at Clayton in kindergarten, he what he would do afterward. So he took hospitals and health centers. reports, “It was my first experience being advantage of the classes offered, securing In 2008, Jones changed career around children who were not black.” an associate’s degree during his three directions again and ran for the However the plusses of attending school in years of service. legislature. Since then, she has risen Clayton far outweighed the strain of being Upon leaving the Navy, he continued to the number two post in the House in the distinct minority. His classmates and his studies while working in real estate Democratic Caucus, and most recently, their families were very welcoming and the sales and earned a bachelor’s degree in worked with Republicans on the issue of exposure he gained was invaluable. “My business administration from Columbia school choice. friends had parents who were doctors and College-St. Louis with minors in Last year, she returned to Affton High lawyers. I saw the possibilities.” psychology, sociology and management. for her 20-year reunion. “I went because He describes the Clayton district as a And he didn’t stop there. He received I was a little homesick,” she explains. “I kind of “melting pot,” with students of many an MBA degree from Lindenwood made lifelong friends and wanted to different cultures represented. “That was University and is now pursuing a PhD reconnect in person with them.” a good thing -- having to learn to respect in organization and management. He She credits those friendships with differences and get along,” he says. would like to do consulting work in the how she has developed. “I feel I am well- He also appreciates the level of business field and is writing two books on rounded and able to relate well with all education he received in Clayton. “My entrepreneurship and local government. people. And I have Affton to thank for workload seemed heavier than that of my It was slightly more than 10 years that.” neighborhood friends and they weren’t ago when Dokes was really familiar with advanced placement testing the patience of or college credit courses.” They didn’t talk his Pattonville teachers. much about college either, while Smith says, But the flame they stoked “College was just a natural thought for me in him has produced a because 98 percent of Clayton students go learned man with good on to college.” Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Corporation 7425 Forsyth Blvd., Suite 110 St. Louis, MO 63105 instincts and strong He started out at Southern Arkansas convictions, determined University but found it was not a good fit, to make his community a so he returned to St. Louis and landed an better place for all. “The assembly line job at Chrysler in Fenton, Follow VICC on Twitter experience of attending where he spent the next 13 years, his final and win great prizes. Pattonville broadened ones as an inspector. While working full- my outlook and time, he completed his degree at Columbia twitter.com/VICC_StLouis perspectives, preparing College-St. Louis. He also became a union me for our diverse and • Be follower #100 and win a official at Chrysler. “I was good at talking to ever-changing society,” both black and white employees because $25 gift card to Best Buy. he says. my education in Clayton provided me with • Be follower #500 and win an that experience,” he says. Smith moved to I-Pod Shuffle. The Boeing Co. about two years ago where he works when he is not performing his • Be follower #1,000 and win an legislative duties. I-Pod Shuffle Last January, he entered the State House and an I-Tunes gift card. and was appointed Deputy Minority Whip, another role for which he is well suited. “I VICC/Transpar employees and their families work on getting everyone on the same are not eligible for prizes (but please do follow along to see what’s new with VICC.) page,” he explains. “Being accepting and Anyone found to use multiple accounts to This past summer, while attending a policy briefing conference in open-minded toward all people, a skill I enter will be ineligible. Washington, D.C., Missouri state representatives Tishaura Jones and Clem developed in Clayton, has served me well,” Smith were invited to a reception at the White House where they met President Obama, a highlight of their political careers. Both legislators are he notes. former voluntary transfer students and credit their county school education with helping them acquire their leadership qualities. ANNUAL NOTIFICATION: Regarding Actions by Faculty Student Records Maintained by VICC The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords to parents/guardians Help Turn Student Around (“parents”) of students, and to students themselves who are over 18 years of age by Peggy Magee (“eligible students”), certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. Although FERPA does not apply to VICC, VICC as a matter of policy intends to comply with the provisions of FERPA and to afford parents and eligible students certain rights set forth in FERPA with respect to education records maintained by VICC. These rights, as they pertain to education records maintained by VICC, are outlined below: 1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day VICC receives a written request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to VICC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. VICC’s CEO or his/her designee will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. 2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. Parents or eligible students who wish to ask VICC to amend a record should write VICC’s CEO, clearly identify the part of The faculty at Rockwood’s D’Autrail Wafford, now a freshman at Missouri Western State University, says his teachers and principal at Rockwood’s Marquette High the record they want changed, and specify School cared about him so much that he felt empowered to make changes in his life. Here he stands with teachers Valerie Kamhi, left, Ami why it should be changed. If VICC decides Marquette High School didn’t Holthouse Meals and principal Greg Mathison. Photo by Rockwood School District not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, VICC will notify just throw out a life jacket to the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing flailing transfer student D’Autrail Holthouse Meals, who taught His parents are indeed proud. she points out. “We thought regarding the request for amendment. D’Autrail for three years. As And the faculty at Marquette is if we could just make him Additional information regarding the hearing Wafford, they swam out as far procedures will be provided to the parent or a result of his misbehavior, ecstatic that their efforts paid off. understand that he had a lot eligible student when notified of the right to a as they could with it until he D’Autrial says he was suspended It wasn’t easy, to be sure, of potential, and with this hearing. grabbed hold. Their efforts, twice, with the second one almost as if they were starting potential comes options, he 3. The right to privacy of personally identifiable information in the student’s combined with his own desire to resulting in two failing classes. from scratch, according to would turn himself around.” education records, except to the extent that Even so, the bright teen resource teacher Valerie Kamhi. Greg Mathison, D’Autrail’s FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. make his parents proud, resulted One exception which permits disclosure managed to pull in respectable “We had many serious talks on principal, was also dedicated without consent is disclosure to school or in a complete turn-around for grade point averages, though everything from making good to the teen. “D’Autrail knew VICC officials with legitimate educational not at all reflective of his choices, being accountable and he could come to me with interests. A school or VICC official includes a the teen who got caught up in person employed by VICC as an administrator, potential. choosing a better peer group.” any issues that he was facing,” supervisor, instructor, counselor or support the negative influences of his But come junior year, he Discussions between reports Dr. Mathison. “I was staff member; a person serving on VICC’s Board; a person or company with whom VICC Walnut Park neighborhood, one finally allowed himself to be D’Autrail and his teachers also there to listen and guide him has outsourced services or functions it would of the most crime-ridden in all of rescued. He saw how many centered on setting goals through the good times and the otherwise use its own employees to perform people were trying to save and creating a plan -- both bad.” So, according to D’Autrail, (such as an attorney, auditor, transportation St. Louis. contractor or transportation manager); any of him -- his family, his church, academically and socially. They when the principal -- whom he the member school districts participating in his school. “They cared about tracked his grades and behavior, liked and respected -- initiated VICC and the school officials, employees and agents of such districts; or a parent, student “I didn’t care about school,” me and encouraged me,” he making sure he stayed on a zero tolerance behavior or other person serving on an official VICC recalls D’Autrail, admitting that reports. And he saw firsthand, course. Close connections were contract with him, it made him committee or assisting another school official his apathy and misbehavior in his neighborhood, the kind formed. D’Autrail is a talented sit up and listen. “Dr. Mathison in performing his or her tasks. A school or VICC official has a legitimate educational started when he was in fourth of life he would have if he didn’t athlete and Kamhi attended basically told me that if I didn’t interest if the official needs to review an grade and continued into high get an education. “I didn’t want his track meets and football change my act, I would not be education record in order to fulfill his or her responsibilities for VICC with respect to school. He talks about the to end up in the streets.” games. “I wanted him to realize able to continue at Marquette,” transfer students and the transfer program. influence his neighborhood had Senior year he really that people were invested in explains D’Autrail . “That upset Upon request, VICC discloses education on him: “I was into stealing, rallied, earning a 3.6 grade him, that we saw his potential my mother greatly and I didn’t records without consent to officials of a school district in which a student seeks or fighting, bad stuff. I didn’t point average. He not only and wanted more for him,” she want to do that.” intends to enroll, or is already enrolled if the know anything else.” graduated, but he is off to explains. But she warned him Surrounded by caring disclosure is for purposes of the student’s Naturally his street life college at Missouri Western that it was up to him to change. people whose actions showed enrollment or transfer. 4. Although not applicable to VICC, FERPA affected his school life. “Let’s State University in St. Joseph, Ami Meals also believed how much they wanted him generally affords the right to file a complaint just say he was a handful, always a recipient of academic and there was something special to succeed, D’Autrail began with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged violations of FERPA by in a lot of trouble, committing athletic (track) scholarships. He about D’Autrail. “Unfortunately, to exhibit drive and focus, school districts receiving federal funds. repeated acts of misconduct,” is the first among his six siblings he had gotten good at negative according to Meals. “When he The name and address of the Office that reports English teacher Ami to attend a four-year university. behavior as a means of survival,” earned a 25 on the ACT, that administers FERPA are: was the crowning moment.” Family Policy Compliance Office U.S. Department of Education Upon seeing D’Autrail’s 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W. improvements, Meals wanted to Washington, D.C. 20202-8520 give him a chance to be a leader The Family Educational Rights and and work with other students. Privacy Act (FERPA), a Federal law, requires that schools receiving Federal funds, with She arranged for him to serve as certain exceptions, obtain your written a teacher aid in her classroom consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child’s for an hour each day. “It was a education records. However, VICC may CEO chance for him to demonstrate disclose appropriately designated “directory his maturity and responsibility,” information” without written consent, unless Message from the she says. you have advised VICC to the contrary in accordance with VICC procedures. The David S. Glaser Bolstered by this privilege, primary purpose of directory information is to allow VICC to include this type of information D’Autrail became a positive from your child’s education records in certain influence on her students. “He school or VICC publications. Examples worked with them on papers, include: • VICC newsletters; projects, and even reading with • A playbill, showing your student’s role in a students when they missed drama production; Did you get a chance to hear or read President Obama’s recent back to school speech? It could school.” For those who had • The annual yearbook; have been headlined, “America’s Future Depends on You!” • Honor roll or other recognition lists; behavior issues, “He would talk His comments included several good insights, but one of the things which connected with me and • Graduation programs; and to them and let them know it is • Sports activity sheets, such as for ties into several of the success stories in the current issue of Parent Link was the importance of taking never too late to make an about- wrestling, showing weight and height of advantage of the opportunities that you are provided. He said, “. . .but at the end of the day, we can team members. turn,” she notes. He also took a • Directory information, which is have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, the best schools in the world – and leadership role in the school’s information that is generally not none of it will make a difference, none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities, considered harmful or an invasion of newly-formed Academic and unless you show up to those schools, unless you pay attention to those teachers, unless you listen to privacy if released, can also be disclosed Cultural Club by recruiting new to outside organizations without a your parents and grandparents and other adults and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.” members. parent’s prior written consent. Outside And that is exactly what transfer student D’Autrail Wafford did. While he was initially reluctant organizations include, but are not limited D’Autrail received his to, companies that manufacture class to work hard and make the right decisions, he eventually turned his life around, is now studying school’s VICC award for rings or publish yearbooks. mechanical engineering at Missouri Western, and wants to be someone other people look up to. If you do not want VICC to disclose outstanding senior by Similarly, Eugene Dokes, Tishaura Jones, and Clem Smith took advantage of the opportunities afforded directory information from your child’s exhibiting academic excellence, education records without your prior written to them in county schools and are now serving in leadership positions in government. community involvement and consent, you must notify VICC in writing A common thread runs through all of these stories. Each of these students put forth his or her best within 20 days after this notice has first been high character. Explaining disseminated in the school year. VICC has effort and each are now or will soon be successfully contributing back to our society. Even when they his metamorphous, he cites designated the following information as struggled or became discouraged, they didn’t give up on themselves and continued to press on. While directory information: the help he received from his they may have had some failures along life’s path – as all of us do – they did not allow their failures 1. Name teachers and principal. “They 2. Date and Place of Birth to define them but instead allowed their failures to teach them. They all faced challenges but they wanted me to succeed. They 3. Grade Level refused to give up. made me realize that getting an 4. Dates of Attendance Similarly, each of us have a responsibility to discover our strengths and apply those strengths, 5. Degrees and Awards Received education is the most important 6. Photograph talents, and abilities to our lives, to our studies, and ultimately to our careers. Indeed, that is a thing in life.” 7. Participation in Officially Recognized challenge for all of us. We need to set clear goals for ourselves and focus daily on their achievement. Activities and Sports D’Autrail holds tight to those 8. Weight and Height of Members of Your teachers, your school leaders, your parents, and your family will never give up on you. Don’t ever aspirations while studying Athletic Teams give up on yourself! As President Obama said, “Not only are all of us counting on you, America’s future mechanical engineering at 9. The Most Recent Previous Educational depends upon you.” Institution Attended by the Student Missouri Western. “I want to be Any claims or disputes arising under or someone others look up to.” relating to the matters set forth in this David S. Glaser notification are subject to the binding arbitration provisions and remedial CEO limitations contained in paragraphs 23 and [email protected] 24 of Appendix C of the 1999 Settlement 314.721.8422, ext. 3013 Agreement.