Dr. Michael F. Rice Visits Two Flint Schools

FLINT – Students and staff in Flint Community Schools shared with Michigan Department of Education (MDE) staff today about a range of topics, including career interests.

An MDE group that included State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice visited Flint Southwestern Classical Academy and Doyle Ryder Community Education Center. At Southwestern, Rice participated in a discussion with the high school’s student council members. At Doyle Ryder, he discussed career dreams with third graders, who read and discussed the poem “Dreams” by Langston Hughes.

Rice asked the third graders to describe what they want to be when they grow up. “I want to be a nice teacher,” Doyle Ryder student Marcella Blackwell told him. Her classmate, Alonzo Williams, who aspires to be a film director, flawlessly read the Langston Hughes poem as Rice stood beside him.

Among other career dreams in the classroom—president of the United States, doctor, actor, artist, scientist, police officer, firefighter, basketball player, and football player.

“When I was 5, 6, 7 years old, I was going to be an artist,” Rice told the children. “But then I realized I couldn’t draw very well and I couldn’t paint very well.” He later dreamed of being a baseball player and studied to become a child psychologist before he decided to become a teacher. “You might say I was confused (about a career),” Rice said. “I was not confused. I was trying to figure out my dream for my life, just like you’re trying to figure out your dream for your life.”

At Southwestern, Student Council members shared their career dreams and talked about topics ranging from diversity to school cellphone policies.

Rice also met with Flint Superintendent Mr. Kevelin Jones.

“Today’s visit from Dr. Rice and his team from MDE underscores our shared commitment to nurturing the dreams and aspirations of our students,” Jones said. “Witnessing our young scholars at Doyle Ryder openly discuss their future career paths, and our student council at Southwestern Classical Academy engage in substantive dialogue about their educational environment truly exemplifies the spirit of growth and achievement we strive for in Flint Community Schools. We are immensely grateful for the continued support from MDE and our local partners, which enables us to make tangible progress in our academic and systemic goals. This collaboration exemplifies that when a community comes together with a focused vision, nothing is out of reach for our children.”

Just last week, Flint Community School announced that it had met its 18-month benchmark goals in literacy, mathematics, and systems improvements under its Partnership Agreement with MDE.

“Hard work by Flint students, staff, and families is paying off,” Rice said. “MDE will continue to partner with and provide support to Flint and other Michigan districts that particularly need to improve academic achievement.”

MDE’s Office of Partnership Districts is responsible for supporting Michigan districts with low-performing schools that have entered into partnership agreements with the state and with their local intermediate school district and local partners. In Flint, MDE works with the Genesee Intermediate School District, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and the Michigan State University College of Education Office of K-12 Outreach.

Rice was joined at the schools today by Ms. Gloria Chapman, director of the Office of Partnership Districts; Mr. Bob Wheaton, director of the Office of Public and Governmental Affairs; and Mr. Paul Schummer, partnership agreement liaison.

Dr. Rice and Alonzo Williams, third grade, Doyle Ryder Community Education Center, reading the poem "Dreams" by Langston Hughes to Alonzo's classmates.

Dr. Rice meeting with the Flint Southwestern Classical Academy, discussing topics that included career plans, the school’s diversity, and school cellphone policies.

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