The Prince George’s Post

1 The Prince George's Post A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR Prince GEORGE'S COUNTY Since 1932. Vol. 75, No. 28 July 12 - July 18, 2007 Prince George's County, Maryland Newspaper of Record Phone: 301-627-0900 25 cents Hurricane Resource Fair Links Families of Children with Simulation at Developmental Disabilities with Local Resources Melwood Tests, 3rd Annual Resource Fair for Children with Developmental Disabilities Held in Largo Trains Caregivers By ANATH HARTMANN Several churches, including PG. County's Bridges Ministry and Reid Contributing Writer Disaster Readiness Exercise Temple Church in Glenn Dale, (LARGO, MD) The 3rd Annual were represented at the fair. Rates DDA Employees, Resource Fair for Children with The Resource Fair was sponsored Developmental Disabilities on Saturday, by the Arc of Prince George's County, Measures Effectiveness June 30, drew over 200 families to the the Developmental Disabilities By KATE QUERAM Arc of Prince George's County in Largo.

2 Administration's Southern Maryland Contributing Writer The fair is held annually to educate regional office, Resource Connections the families of developmentally-dis- of Prince George's County, Inc., and (UPPER MARLBORO, MD) In the second abled children and young adults and "to Melwood, a social services not-for-prof- annual disaster readiness training exercise for care- link people to resources," according to it that helps the developmentally dis- takers of individuals with developmental disabilities Melonee Clark, a family specialist at the abled. last week, professionals were observed as they Arc. The Arc is an organization that Every child who attended the event responded to a hurricane scenario. advocates for individuals with autism, received a goody-bag containing a col- The hurricane simulation occurred in real-time, cerebral palsy, and Down's Syndrome, oring book and information on available beginning when the participants were briefed aboutt and other developmental disabilities.

3 Resources. a disaster. Participants in the training were separat- Interested persons could find 14 cat- Lillie Bond, a Bladensburg resident ed into three groups, each staffed by a controller egories of information at the fair, on and vice president of SECAC, the who provided periodic updates about the ongoing topic ranging from health care and men- Special Education Citizens Advisory disaster. tal health to summer camps, recreation, Committee, brought her 12 year-old During the exercise, each player or participant and financial planning. daughter Krystal Adams, who has performed their regular roles and responsibilities MetroAccess, the transportation Down's Syndrome, to the fair. as caretakers. Among the players this year were service Metro provides to the disabled, At the event, "Krystal was just pick- over 40 representatives from 100 DDA-licensed ser- was one among the organizations repre- ing up materials all over the place.

4 Vice providers, including the Prince George's sented at the fair. Also in attendance Bond said, laughing. County Emergency Preparedness director and the were representatives from the Sarah "This was my first year in atten- Charles County Department of Health, as well as Petit Fund, which provides funds to the dance, but I thought it was a very suc- some of Melwood's disabled residents. disabled for recreational activities and cessful, very well-attended disabilities Professional observers were stationed in one of travel; Kamp A-Kom-Plish of fair. I use the Arc's services all the time- three rooms where the simulations occurred, on site Nanjemoy, MD, which welcomes -they provide me with respite care, with to document the participants' performance. campers who have various types of dis- funds for activities [for Krystal] and abilities; and representatives from the with advocacy.

5 I don't know where I'd be See Melwood, Page A7. Medicaid-funded Auction Waiver, a pro- without them.". PGCPS. gram that can be used to supplement the Bond said the information she income of parents of developmentally received at the fair about Bowie's disabled children. "If the child possesses Unicorn Center, a group that offers Appoints New PHOTO COURTESY THE ARC OF Prince GEORGE'S COUNTY less than about $2,000 in personal funds, horseback-riding lessons to individuals Latanya Sothern and her son, Tre', explored the resources the waiver provides his or her family with developmental disabilities, has provided at the Children's Resource Fair held at the Arc of with in-home support services and after- prompted her to decide to sign Krystal Prince George's County in Largo on Saturday, June 30. Principals care respite," Clark explained.

6 Up for horseback-riding lessons there. Prince George's County County Government Brings 11 Deasy is Receives 29 New Principals Courtesy PGCPS. New Local Women on Board Excellent . Prince George's County Public Schools Highly Qualified Members Join Commission on Women Superintendent Gets (PGCPS) announced the appointments of 29 new of from BOE. principals during the Summer Principal Leadership Institute held last week. The new leaders received Courtesy PGCPS. training through the PGCPS New Principal Induction Program, held as part of the Leadership The Prince George's County Board Institute, introducing new principals to the impor- of Education announced Monday, July 9, tant role of school leadership. that it has completed its evaluation of the When you have great school leaders you have Superintendent of Schools, Dr. John E.

7 Great success. Our principals are to be commended Deasy, for the period of December 4, for their growing success with our students, said 2006-May 30, 2007. Dr. John E. Deasy, Superintendent of Schools. The Board utilized a standard evalu- Together, new and veteran principals serve as the ation instrument that included 106 indi- instructional leaders who will help every child cators in 13 categories. Categories achieve at high levels. included areas such as educational lead- The new principal appointments are: Stephen ership, student achievement, account- Green Jr., Lake Arbor ES; Carolyn Poole, ability, business and finance, student Perrywood ES; Rhonda Green, Rosaryville ES; responsibilities and community relation- Judith Bissett, Northview ES; LaChon Winston, ships. Overall, the board rated the super- Waldon Woods ES; Jane W.

8 Spence, Bowie HS; intendent's performance as a on a 5- Beth A. Linn, Apple Grove ES; Kimberly S. Seidel, point scale. The Board then discussed Greenbelt ES; Daniel H. Heller, Ridgecrest ES; the instrument and came to common Raymond J. Miller, DuVal HS; Kona-Facia Nepay, concurrence on a set of strengths and BY MICHAEL J. YOURISHIN/ OFFICE OF COUNTY EXECUTIVE. Robert Goddard French Immersion; Suzanne J. Prince George's County recently added 11 members to the county's areas for improvement that it shared with Johnson, Goddard Montessori; Lysianna Essama, J. Commission on Women. (L-R): Lisa Proctor, Diane Williams, Amanda the superintendent. Hanson French Immersion; Lita Kelly, Carole Welch, Yvonne Walker, Linda Johnson,Thomas, Dr. Jane Ross, Mi Young The overall process of the evalua- Highlands ES; Audrey Briscoe, Oaklands ES; Pak, Jennifer Jones, Penelope Guzman, Oretha Bridgwater.

9 Tion enabled us to have a very productive Nathaniel R. Laney, Jr., Andrew Jackson MS;. Courtesy OFFICE OF THE conversation with the superintendent on Angelique D. Simpson- Marcus, Largo HS; Jeffrey the Commission will work to the County Executive. She is COUNTY EXECUTIVE a range of issues, said Board Chairman J. Parker, G. James Gholson MS; Charles E. ensure that women in our county also a Mentor in the Young R. Owen Johnson, Jr. We want John Wilson, Sr., Drew Freeman MS; Charles E. Eller, (UPPER MARLBORO, are afforded quality services and Ladies of Distinction program at Deasy to stay with us for the long term, See Principals, Page A7 MD) Prince George's County programs. Bladensburg High School and a and we are committed to working Executive Jack Johnson's nomi- A resident of Upper Member of the Maryland together to advance student achievement nees for the Commission on Marlboro, Oretha Bridgwater is Multicultural Youth Center in Prince George's County Public INSIDE Women on Monday, July 2.

10 All new members were sworn in the Acting Assistant Superintendent for Region II, Advisory Board. A resident of Bowie, Schools.. The Board assessed Superintendent immediately following the con- Prince George's County Public Jennifer Jones is Vice President Deasy's overall performance as excel- COMMUNITY BUSINESS firmation hearing. These Schools and Chair of the for Administration Operations lent. He has demonstrated a powerful Wilmer's Park Black Enterprise eleven outstanding women pos- Maryland State Advisory with Diversified Sports Concepts sincerity and commitment to student Development May Recognizes County sess extensive background and Council for Gifted and Talented LLC and President and CEO for achievement and equity. He has clearly Bring Big Names in Businesses A5 knowledge and an avid interest Education. Brimailia, LLC, a recruiting and articulated the school system's core Entertainment Back to in issues facing women in our Penelope Guzman, a resi- placement company.