My thoughts about Education
Dr. Shirley Thornton has more than three and a half decades in education as a
teacher, guidance counselor and administrator at the district and state level. She recently became national spokesperson for College Partnership, an organization that provides educational opportunities and access to university level education for children from families of all geographic and socio-economic backgrounds. College Partnership -- the organization that she talks so glowingly about -- is a national company that offers college-bound students educational planning and study programs that help raise test scores and match students to the most appropriate college, career track and field of study. With the capable assistance of College Partnership, middle and high school students and families successfully navigate the complex transition to a college education. Before becoming a teacher, Dr. Thornton's enrolled in the U.S. Army right out of high school, like many who can not afford access to college. After enlisting, she excelled and became a technician in an Army Physical Therapy Clinic. After her tour of duty, she went to college on the G.I. Bill and enrolled in the Army Reserves, earning a bachelor's degree with hopes of returning to the military as a physical therapist and an officer. Dr. Thornton's early dreams were shattered due to a doctor's misdiagnosis of glaucoma that prevented her from becoming an officer in the military, but it opened the greatest door of opportunity that Thornton could have found, education. Dr. Shirley Thornton can be reached at drtea@earthlink.net.
For more information on College Partnership visit http://www.collegepartnership.com or call 800-207-1877.
Q: Tell us about how you got your start as an educator? A: In 1967, I went back to school, this time as teacher and then as a guidance counselor in California, teaching in schools with some of the worst reputations. It was a tough environment, but it was one where I was needed. Later as a principal, working with teachers, parents, community members and other related agencies, we were able to turn around the Benjamin Franklin Middle School and later Balboa High School, considered two of the worst schools in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Q: Aside from serving as teacher, guidance counselor and
principal you have held other key educational positions. Tell us
about these.
A: After the success of San Francisco's Ben Franklin and Balboa High
Schools I was made Area Superintendent of High School Operations
and Instruction in the San Francisco Unified School District. Then from
1986-1995, I was appointed Deputy Superintendent of Public
Instruction, California Department of Education, where I was the
highest-ranking African American female in the state's public school
history.
Q: Why did you gravitate toward education?
A: Education is a calling. If people go into it thinking it's a job, then there's
a problem. In teaching, if a student has a problem, you work with that
student until the problem is alleviated or dissipates.
Q: How did you approach the challenges at some of the so-called
"bad" schools that you turned around?
A: The reason that sometimes we don't have success in our schools is
that we do not have a structure. I thought, `What if there was a true
organizational approach to teaching?' So I created the California Local
Education Research Network that brought a systematic structure to
teaching based on the best educational practices and a belief that all
students can learn and all teachers can teach until proven otherwise.
Q: Who were the type of students you most tried to reach during
your years as a teacher and principal?
A: The students I tried hardest to reach were the students whose parents
could not afford to send them to private educational counselors, tutors
and other expensive programs.
I was most interested in the child who was going to be the first one of
their family to go college. I thought to myself, `Who helps this child,
especially with all of the cutbacks our schools face?' That is part of
the reason I am such a proponent of College Partnership. College
Partnership is a program that helps these children whether they are
urban, rural or suburban. America is about bettering yourself through
education, but it takes perseverance and motivation to succeed by
overcoming obstacles of poverty and limited educational
opportunities.
College Partnership is able to be a bridge between a youngster and
college because the program removes the mystery surrounding
college preparation and planning.
Q: How did you become involved with College Partnership?
A: As an officer with the America's Schools Program, a not-for-profit that
works with School Board Associations representing sixty-five percent
(65%) of Americas K-12 school districts, we began to take a closer
look into the program. The more I looked into what College
Partnership was doing and the dire need for a comprehensive
program that helps prepare a child for post-secondary education, the
more I loved it. College Partnership has really thought through what
a child and family needs to give them a better chance to attend the
right college, improve test scores and study skills, and obtain a fitting
financial aid package.
I worked at inner-city schools my entire career. I also know what it's
like to be a teacher and counselor and almost singularly be responsible
for 300, 400 or even 1,000 kids. There may be other college planning
programs on the market, but the comprehensiveness and affordability
of College Partnership set it apart.
I see firsthand how College Partnership is there for the students +
and their families + every step of the way.
Q: Where does the program help fill the biggest need?
A: College Partnership adds another tool in a family's arsenal. As a
former school counselor, it was difficult to match each student's
interest with all the colleges and universities in America, cut down that
list, fill out admission application on time, prepare their essays, give
them the proper feedback and provide day and night access to
educational coaches that will help guide them. These are all things
that College Partnership does offer.
Counselors are overwhelmed, they have so many responsibilities.
Helping students prepare for college is just one of their many jobs.
Q: What are your expectations for students and families enrolled
in the College Partnership?
A: Students gain the opportunity for higher education, and their own life
circumstances do not become a barrier to the fulfillment of their
dreams. In countries such as China and India, where jobs are being
outsourced, education of their youngsters is a priority.
Before, America's children only had to compete with others in their
local community, city and state for jobs. Now, they have to compete
with their peers around the world. To do that and succeed, college is
becoming a necessity. What I want is for any child to have the
opportunity to get that education.
With College Partnership, they have the tools at their disposal that
will afford them a better chance of fulfilling that dream of college.
Q: Where do you see the College Partnership program in
another ten years?
A: I think College Partnership program can and should be a tool in the
repertoire of all school counselors and school districts. I want the
program to be something that a school counselor can turn to for
assistance routinely.
In conjunction with the America's Schools Program, I am confident that
this can be accomplished. In fact, given the strength of its program,
College Partnership was recently named the official collegeplanning
company of the America's Schools Program.
Q: Finally, looking at your bio, you have a list of prestigious
awards given to you over an illustrious career in education.
Some of those are: The Marin County (CA) Office of Education
2003 Trustee of the Year, The Barbara Jordan Award for
outstanding service from the Los Angeles Unified School
District and the Los Angeles African-American Women PAC -
Leadership in the Education Field Award. Considering your
original desire was to be a career US Military Officer, what
does this mean to you?
A: Being an educator is a life fulfilling dream. Nothing could be better
than helping children learn and excel -- making something significant
of themselves. The many awards I received over the years validated
that I made the right decision to be an educator. Also, the
misdiagnosis of glaucoma was corrected and I was able to become an
Army Officer and retire a full Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves.
Dr. Thornton takes a few moments to reflect with us about her life and career:
Fifteen Minutes With ...
Dr. Shirley A. Thornton
Former Deputy Superintendent of California Schools
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