Shannon says goodbye
By Alvin A. Reid Of the St. Louis American
Calling it “an awesome night,” Dr. Henry Shannon officially said farewell to St. Louis last Friday while being honored as the St. Louis American Foundation’s 2007 Lifetime Achiever.
Shannon, Stellar Performer in Education Don Danforth III, eight Excellence in Education awardees and a Counselor of the Year were honored Friday evening during the 20th annual Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Banquet at America’s Center.
“As I move to California, I say please don’t forget St. Louis Community College,” said Shannon, a St. Louis native and former chancellor of the SLCC system.
Shannon is now president of Chaffey College, a three-campus junior college with its main campus in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
“This is an evening about the vision and the village. Having the vision is so important,” Shannon said while praising the evening’s honorees.
He shared a story of his late grandmother’s vision, which predicted his success in education.
“From the day I was born, she called me professor. That was part of my village. The village includes the community, the church, the schools.”
He also reminded the audience of more than 1,500 people that “St. Louis Public Schools need your help. Now, more than ever.”
Shannon received a $3,500 education grant from the St. Louis American Foundation, which will endow the SLCC Henry Shannon Scholarship Fund.
Stellar Achiever Don Danforth III, a co-founder of The City Academy at Penrose and Kingshighway, thrilled Salute guests when he said, “I wanted to create a school with the same high standards I want for my four children.”
A member of one of the region’s – and nation’s – most prestigious families, Danforth was a volunteer, then an education administrator at the Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club.
He said at City Academy “rigor and work ethic are the norm.”
He also said he was told by several people, “Your school will never work here – take it to St. Louis County.”
“But people stood behind us.”
A highlight of the evening was when former Sen. John Danforth told his nephew in a video, “You make your family very proud.”
“You had a bold idea, you ventured out and created a jewel in our community.”
Martin Mathews, Mathews-Dickey co-founder, said Danforth “grew up in the best family in the world, had the opportunity to go to the best schools and had the opportunity to live in the best community.”
“But he was not satisfied. He wanted to do something else.”
Herzog Elementary School was honored as the 2007 Monsanto School of Excellence and will receive eight Dell laptop computers, Pete Heidelberg, Monsanto vice president of global talent management, announced.
“For our kids at Herzog, access is a problem. Some have too much. We have to find a nice balance and teach them about the real world,” Principal Deirdre Jackson said.
She said today’s children “need more culturing up close and personal interaction.”
“They have the same abilities as those before them, but to realize it, we have to work with them closely, really get involved with them.”
For the 10th year, Southeast Missouri State University presented its Counselor of Year Award, which went to Thomasina Hassler of Webster Groves High School.
She called the recognition “marvelous” and added “what an affirmation.”
“What a wonderful family reunion. Thank you to Webster School District.”
The eight Excellent in Education awardees were each presented with $500 educator grants from the St. Louis American Foundation, as well as $150 gift certificates from Macy’s.
Before accepting their awards in person, each shared their thoughts via video:
Luella Atkins, Airport Elementary – “I love building relationships with children and their families. I love to hear their success stories. It’s up to adults to find out the best ways for children to learn and succeed.”
Haliday Douglas, College Bound – “We hope we can shape a better life through education – even when it is not the most logical choice. We have an obligation to teach, and the family and community must support students so they can do their job without worrying about where they will sleep or how to make money to supplement the family income.”
Sonja P. Little, Beaumont High School – “I tell my students to be excited about life. We work as a team. I tell my students, ‘I work for you. You don’t sign my paycheck, but you probably should.’ I do almost anything to help them succeed.”
Romona Miller, Kirkwood High School – “The key thing is the passion for what I do. Sometimes I bring home my work – which means I bring (a student) home. It’s not like 30 years ago. We have to be there for the whole child, and they bring a lot more baggage. It’s not just a job, it’s a calling.”
Tyrone J. McNichols Jr., Ed.D., Jamestown Elementary – “My role is to prepare kids for the future. This has to be something you want to do. You have to love kids; you have to love families. At public schools, the accountability function is our biggest challenge. How can we have an impact on all kids?”
Darlene Norfleet, St. Louis Science Center – “There are no simple problems. There are so many issues. Children are so much smarter in many ways, but they are still the same children. Getting to know their needs is important. And you must understand they want immediate answers.”
Victor Poindexter, Dunbar Elementary School – “You have to let children understand they are not going to get it right the first time, every time; be patient and work with them. They can become a better student and a better person.”
Brian Rogers, Nathaniel Hawthorne Elementary – “As a physical education teacher I teach them that they can have fun, be educated and learn how their body works. I teach them that there is nothing that they can’t do. All teachers can help all children grow.”
Meredith Johnson, the 2007 University of Missouri-Columbia Donald M. Suggs Scholar, was also introduced during the Salute to Excellence in Education by Mike Middleton, UM-Columbia deputy chancellor.
The Columbia Hickman graduate receives a four-year scholarship, for $10,000 per academic year from Columbia that is supplemented by an additional $2,500 each year from the St. Louis American Foundation. It also provides an opportunity for an additional $7,000 to study abroad. She was also presented with a Dell laptop computer from the St. Louis American Foundation.