"Hurricane" Phillips Takes Gates Foundation By Storm

Not many figures in the world of education have colorful nicknames, but Gates Foundation's new education guru Vicki Phillips does.  Back in her former Portland school district, they called her "Hurricane" Phillips. 

No word yet whether she likes to be addressed that way in her current post, but in a new Q and A Phillips debunks the notion that the foundation is trying to take over the world and says she thinks she might be able to take EdSec Spellings in a powerful-women-of-education showdown on "Jeopardy." 

Check it out:  Meet the Gates Foundation’s Education Honcho.

Comments

[Rick Lee]

I'm glad to see that after more than a year, the Gates people are finally allowing Vicki to speak. She has been barred from talking to the media up til now. Another reason they call her "Hurricane" is because she blew in and out of town like one after becoming superintendent.

[Rhonda La Venuta]

The fact that over 125 of public school students are identified as having a disability must be accointed for when preparing ALL students for post-secondary activities - including college. Programs that empower students to be self-advocates are much-needed in our nation's high schools. Students must be able to articulate their learning profiles as well as what strategies and supports they require to be successful duirng and after high school. I have worked with PEATC (Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center), an outstanding resource for schools and families w ith children with disabilities. The "Next Steps' series developed by PEATC should be in every high school in teh country and yet it is under-utilzed despite years of working hard to "get the word out". I am eager to share information with the Bill and Melinda Gates Education Foundation about this program and other initiatives devepoled by PEATC over the years. Please contact me if you wish more information about effective programs to help students with disabiites become productive members of society.

[Rhonda La Venuta]

The fact that over 12% of public school students are identified as having a disability must be accounted for when preparing ALL students for post-secondary activities - including college. Programs that empower students to be self-advocates are much-needed in our nation's high schools. Students must be able to articulate their learning profiles as well as what strategies and supports they require to be successful during and after high school. I have worked with PEATC (the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center) , an outstanding resource for schools and families with children with disabilities. The "Next Steps" series to assist students with transition activities following high school graduation was developed by PEATC. This comprehensive program should be available in every middle school and high school in the country and yet it is under-utilized despite years of working to "get the word out". I am eager to share informaiton with the Bill and Melinda Gates Education Foundation about this program as well as other initiatives developed by PEATC. Please contact me if you wish for more information regarding effective and highly qualitative programs to assist students with disabilities become productive members of society.

[Rhonda La Venuta]

Please disregard message sent at 16:09 as I was testing a "voice-to-text" program and did not intend to post but rather preview the first message.

Please see message posted at 16:24 - thanks!