If there is one thing that students in Oakland need it is a safe place to call home. The passion and drive of Jerome Gourdine has been to provide this ‘home away from home’ for all of his students and families. His energy at Frick Middle School is not spent merely focused on increasing test scores. His focus is on student engagement and meaningful parent interaction. Many people have a similar focus, but it is rare to find someone who puts the work in to make it happen. Mr. Gourdine has done just that and more.

J.Lollie

When I came to teach at Frick, Mr. Gourdine told me that I needed to think about becoming an Being an administrator was the farest thing from my mind. Mr. Gourdine then told me that the magic that I created in my classroom should be shared with the entire school.

I am in the process of completing my Masters of Science in Educational Leadership along with my National Board Certification in English. Thanks to Mr. Gourdine's words of encouragement I have taken to steps necessary toward becoming as administrator.

Friends of the Earth just released a report on toxic fire retardants in baby products and upholstered furniture. The report, called "Killer Cribs," can be accessed online at: http://www.foe.org/pdf/Killer_Cribs_Report.pdf

For more information about the campaign to reduce the use of chemical fire retardants in common household products, please visit: http://killercribs.org

Natalya Blumenfeld
Safe Kids Campaign Intern
Friends of the Earth

A variety of thoughts and philosophies have come into the public schools: results based budgeting, small schools, charter schools, teacher accountability, API scores, teach to test or don't teach to test, etc. Philosophies come and go in the school district but there are a few things that always remain in any good school and they are hard work, dedication, imagination, and a love for working with youth.

Mr. Gourdine embodies hard work, dedication, imagination, and a love for working with youth. These qualities allow him to be an affective and effective administrator for his staff as well as his students. Mr. Gourdine definitely deserved to be recognized for his continued service and dedication to the families in the city Oakland. He is helping the city of Oakland become a better place to live and receive a quality education.

M. Essien
Past Master Monarch Logde #73, PHA

Achievement, collaboration and support are three words that come to mind when I think of Mr. Gourdine. Beginning my teaching career over six years ago as a substitute teacher, also working summer school sessions, Frick Middle School came to my attention as student behavior and academic achievement expectations remained high. Although my first permanent teaching assignment wasn't at Frick, I subsequently joined "The Frick Family" two years ago and have been thrilled to be part of a community that not only works well together and holds its children to a higher standard (including a "college-going culture"), but enthusiastically supports those efforts. All of this would not be possible without the leadership of Mr. Gourdine, and I'm quite pleased that he is receiving well-deserved kudos! I suspect there will be much more to come in the future...

R. Dixon