turning the page

ANNUALREPORT2008–2009 1

AnnualReport2008–2009

LinkingD.C.publicschools,familiesandourcommunitysothattogether,wecanensurethatD.C.studentsreceivevaluableeducationalresourcesandahigh-qualitypubliceducation.

TurningthePage

2 TURNINGTHEPAGE ANNUALREPORT2008–2009 1

Mission,Vision&PartnersALetterFromJasonDear Friend,

It is my great pleasure to introduce to you this year’s Turning the Page annual report. Turning the Page enjoyed our most successful year to date as we were able to serve more D.C. public school parents and students than ever before. More importantly, we believe that the quality of our programs and the impact we are having in the DC community, is now at its highest.

When we started our parent leadership program nearly five years ago, we knew that parents were yearning to get more involved in their school. With parent leaders from our program taking leadership positions across newly revitalized parent-teacher organizations, we expect that the successes that we share with you in this report will only grow and become more sustainable.

Our Community Night workshops continued to engage parents in new and varied ways. We are particularly proud of the deeper parent-teacher connec-tions that we have been able to foster at our partner schools. This year, nearly sixty teachers from our partner schools co-facilitated workshops with us on topics such as reading, special education and summer learning loss.

Our Community Visions and Literacy Through Photography programs demonstrated once again the impact our city’s great museums, active parents, dedicated teachers, and inspired students can have on student learning.

Thank you again for your interest in Turning the Page and in improving educational outcomes for D.C. public school students.

Jason KingPresident, Turning the Page

OURMIssION

Turning the Page links D.C. public schools, families and our community so that, together, we can ensure D.C. students receive valuable educational resources and a high-quality public education.

OURVIsION

Turning the Page is confident that with hard work and continued cooperation, we as a community can make sure D.C. public school students receive every opportunity to succeed in school and in life. Turning the Page’s most important belief is in D.C. public school stu-dents themselves: Every child has the potential to achieve, if given the resource-rich learning environment that families, schools and commu-nity members can provide.

OURCOMMITMENT

Since its founding, Turning the Page has earned the trust of the school community. We believe in the importance of consistency, having worked tirelessly over the last decade to build supports and programs that D.C. public school parents, children and community members can rely upon.

TEACHERsANDPRINCIPALs

Principals and teachers face many challenges every day in their schools. They often don’t have the time or skills needed to connect with parents and community organizations on a regular basis. Turning the Page enables teachers and principals to build upon their skills through extensive training and support and to create infrastructures within the school for successfully integrating com-munity talent and resources into their instructional programs.

PARENTs

Family involvement is fundamental to students’ success, and many D.C. parents can benefit from additional support, training and resources. Turning the Page provides parents with new skills and resources that enable them to become more effec-tive educators of their children at home, advocates for their children in school and leaders within their school community.


71%ofparentsreadmoreoftentotheirchildrenasaresultofattendingCommunityNights.

82%ofparentsreadwiththeirchildrenatleastonceaweek,with40%readingthreeormoretimes.

77%ofparentsbelievethattheirchildren’sacademicperformanceimprovedasaresultofCommunityNights.

50%ofparentsfeltthattheirchildbenefittedsociallyfromtheCommunityNightsprograms.

Turning the Page’s Community Nights program provides families, educators, and community members with opportunities to come together as a family, build and strengthen relationships, and learn from those who share in supporting the academic growth and wellbeing of children. In 2008 – 2009, Turning the Page hosted 56 Com-munity Nights across our seven partner schools, serving 605 parents. We are especially proud of the strong support demonstrated by community

partners and teachers; 59 teachers facilitated workshops with parents, or worked with their students to plan class performances welcoming visiting authors and illustrators to their schools. This deep investment demonstrated the community’s commitment to the Community Night program.

It is the teacher involvement, the shared stories of parents, and the true sense of family that empowers the school community during a Community Night workshop. Parent workshops focused on giving parents tools to use at home and at school to help them support their children’s education. Covering topics from health and wellness to community resources to summer learning opportunities, workshop facilitators provided guidance even as parents added their own insights and advice. The power of reciprocal education is inspirational, as demonstrated by Ms. h’Enri Whitseyjohnson (5th grade teacher, Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School), who believes that “This two-way communication helps [parents] understand the education system....and [Community Nights] help me understand their concerns about their child’s education…This understanding helps me…by continuing to provide programs that enhance the curriculum through ‘real world opportunities for student learning’, and building and strengthening teacher-parent partnerships.”

Mr. Phillip Frazier, a teacher at River Terrace Elementary, commented that the family and teacher interactions during Community Night were, “a chance to break bread with my students and their parents and we represented a family. I felt that our students could really get the chance to see the exchange between teacher and parent.”

sTATs: Families

LearningTogether


In October 2008, Turning the Page welcomed children’s authors Kim Wayans and Kevin Knotts to M.C. Terrell, Martin Luther King Jr., and Tyler Elementary Schools as part of Turning the Page’s Author Visit series, hosted twice yearly at each partner school. Kim and Kevin’s fame acting and writing for shows such as In Living Color and My Wife and Kids preceded them, drawing 159 parents and setting a one week attendance record.

Kim and Kevin delighted audiences with their book, Amy Hodgepodge All Mixed Up! Families enjoyed Amy, a new student in school struggling to find her place. Parents asked the authors questions about their childhood and about what inspired them to write.

One Tyler student was so enamored with the visit that she quickly read the book and then wrote a thank you card. She was thrilled when Kim and Kevin responded and included a picture of themselves that she could post on the “celebrity wall” in her bedroom. Other volunteer authors this year included Kwame Alexander, Sheree Fitch, Robyn Ringgold and Zaccai Free, Auntie Oye (Vera Oye Yaa-Ana), Eloise Greenfield and Fred Bowen.

KimandKevin’s“visitgeneratedpositivediscussionsandinteractionsamongourstudents.Thejoyofreadingdemonstratedthateveningcontinuestobea‘hot’topic.Thisactivity/eventhasclearlyhadapositiveeffectonlearning!”

DR.VALORIABAyLOR,PRINCIPAL,MARTINLUTHERKING,JR.ELEMENTARysCHOOL

“MeetingauthorsKevinKnottsandKimWayanswasagreatexperienceformeandmyfamily.Myoldestdaughter,whoisanavidreaderandgreatwriter,wasinspiredbythecreativityandconceptofAmyHodgepodge.”

Ms.RENEEGOss,PARENT,TyLERELEMENTARysCHOOL

KimWayansandKevinKnotts

AuthorVisits

Visiting author Eloise Greenfield

TOMDOOLEy


“Theparentsenjoyedworkingwiththeirchildrenandtakingpicturesoffamilylife.”

Ms.PATRICIAJONEs-FERGUsON,TEACHER’sAIDE,MARTINLUTHERKING,JR.ELEMENTARy

“[Mystudents]learnedabouttheirindividual,familyandcommunitylifeexperiences.Theyenjoyedwritingandinterpretinglifeexperiencesthroughphotography.”

Ms.CLAUDETTECARsON,TEACHER,GARFIELDELEMENTARysCHOOL

More than 600 students were able to use their homes and their own Washington, DC community as a powerful learning vehicle this year. Literacy Through Photography reached students in 26 classrooms while the Community Visions program was successfully piloted in nine classrooms.

Both programs empower children as documentarians of their community through writing and visual art. The standards-driven curriculum allows students to express themselves through the lens of the camera and with a connected written piece. Before taking photos, students toured exhibits at museums, studying community and photography themes. Throughout the year, TTP conducted 60 museum tours at the Anacostia Community Museum, National Building Museum, National Museum of the American Indian, National Postal Museum, and The Phillips Collection.

More than 300 parents, grandparents, siblings and friends were excited to see the photographs and writing on display at exhibits hosted at each school and, for classrooms participating in the Community Visions program, at The Phillips Collection. During the summer months, Turning the Page continued to connect families with local museums, leading six field trips for students and their parents to The Phillips Collection, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Capitol Visitor’s Center, the Museum of American History, the National Postal Museum and the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.

Linking CommunitiesandClassrooms


During the 2008 –2009 school year, TTP’s Parent Leadership program helped parents reach their fullest potential as leaders in their communities. Eighty-two parents participated in one of four Parent Leadership Trainings offered, devoting a Saturday to meeting with fellow parents and discussing important issues surrounding public education in this city.

Meeting with education leaders and city decision-makers was an integral part of the Parent Leader-ship Program this year as parents met DC Council Chairman Vincent Gray and At-Large Councilmem-

ber Kwame Brown. Both council members spoke with parents on issues concerning DC public schools, parental rights and responsibilities, and the potential of parents to influence and implement school change.

At each of the trainings, parents explored topics such as The No Child Left Act, Adequate Yearly Progress, and the DCPS leadership structure and budget. The conversations with council members introduced them to ways to have their voices heard at DC City Council meetings. According to one participating parent, “I‘ve learned that being more involved in the school will strengthen our ability to maintain stability and improve our school scores…”

ParentLeadership

Trainings

InscanningthepackedroomattheFebruary28thtraining,ChairmanGraycommented,“Howcometherearen’tmoreeventslikethistakingplacethroughoutthecity?”VINCENTGRAy,DCCOUNCILCHAIRMAN

Councilmember Kwame Browne


“ThePTAwalk/runwasnotjustawalk;itwasaboutusconnectingasoneandsocializingwitheachotherandmakingabond.”

Ms.GLORIALEE,PTAVICE-PREsIDENTANDPARENT,AITONELEMENTARysCHOOL

The PTA at Aiton Elementary School made tremendous progress and introduced many exciting initiatives during the 2008 – 2009 school year. Ms. Patrina Swinson, PTA president, dedicated countless hours to establish and grow an active PTA at Aiton. She stated, “We tried to go beyond the call of just the basic PTA; we did more outreach and provided job training, health fairs, and more curriculum training beyond the school and with the community.” In December, the PTA organized a “Motown Christmas” event. A PTA Health Initiative consisted of wellness classes, exercise classes, and Saturday runs. Additionally, Linda Stroman from Capital Area Asset Builders conducted a financial literacy workshop where parents learned about budgeting, saving and free tax services. An Everyday Math workshop, led by teacher Ms. Angela Boudreaux, was held in May to help parents support their children’s math lessons. Finally, parents surprised teachers with a PTA-sponsored breakfast during Teacher Appreciation Week.

Each of these events demonstrated the deep impact that a PTA can have under the dedicated leadership and commitment of committed public school parents. The Aiton PTA is ready to build upon the great success of these events, and introduce even more community-building opportunities in the coming school year.

AitonParentLeadership andPTAInitiatives


Carpe Librum VIII reached soaring heights of success in the spring of 2009, outpacing the revenue earned at last year’s sale by 20 percent. Over five weeks, the sale netted $53,000. Generous donors con-tributed 80,000 books, 5,000 VHS/DVDs, and 2,000 CDs in support of our programs. Approximately 100 individuals, college students and community volunteers provided 120 hours of support by sorting books.

As we turn pages yearly we recognize the powerful impact reading has on a child’s future. Two frequent customers this year each

purchased hundreds of children’s books to be sent overseas. Through these generous customers, children in Africa and the Philippines will expand their horizons (while reading wonderful books purchased for them at Carpe Librum!)

Special thanks to friends, family, businesses, and local organizations who hosted book drives. Special thanks to The Shops at 2000 Penn for generously donating this year’s sale space. As always, we give thanks to our customers for their support and look forward to seeing you again!

CarpeLibrumVIII


DonorsTHANKsTOOURsUPPORTERs

The work of Turning the Page is dependent on the participation of many groups and individuals, contributing both in-kind and financially. We would like to thank everyone who contributed financially to our organization from July 1, 2008 – October 31, 2009.

$200,000+Office of the State Superintendent of

Education

$40,000+The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz

FoundationDC Children and

Youth Investment Trust Corporation

$20,000+Commonweal Foundation Fund

of the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region

Corporation for National & Community Service

District of Columbia Public SchoolsThe J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott

FoundationThe World Bank

$10,000+DC Commission on the Arts and

HumanitiesThe Herb Block FoundationEugene and Agnes E. Meyer

FoundationWeissberg Foundation*

$5,000+Anonymous Gannett FoundationNEA FoundationThe Phillips CollectionReading is Fundamental Silvian FoundationHattie M. Strong

Foundation

$2,000+Anonymous Dimick FoundationAnna McWaneVenableVerizon FoundationMacy’s/RIF Book a Brighter Future

Campaign

$1,000+Build-A-Bear Workshop FoundationWilliam W. FlowersChristine Hsu & Doran FlowersJason S. KingRick & Eileen Rice

$400+AnonymousEmployees of Latham & Watkins LLPEmployees of Legal

Services Corporation

Friends of Gabe Feldman, in honor of his Bachelor Weekend

McBride Real Estate ServicesPatrick & Jennifer Ballen Riccards

$200+AnonymousJohn & Catherine BabelAmy B. ConnellyJustin DillonMichelle E. Hynes &

Patrick LemmonEmployees of Katten, Muchin,

Zavas, RosemanKenzo & Irene KawanabeFred & Leslie KingDavid LansingTola LifeL. MerrittCynthia RedickCatherine RibnickMaria B. SalvadoreJamie & Komal Bazaz Smith The Smith Club of

WashingtonThomas A. SpiegelVasken & Marilyn TenekjianJames van der Klok

$100+Gi-Hyun AnAndrew BartlettFred Bowen & Peggy JacksonAnthony & Teddie BrownPatrick J. & Judy ClancyKent C. & Ann CooperDennis & Donna CryerJohn & Lynn DillonJeff & Kelly EdmondsonKelley Ellsworth

Employees of the DOL Office of Civil Rights Labor Management Programs

Arnold F. FegeMartha HanEric Kaufer & Tracy KritzDorota LysieniaMichael E. & Hannah MazerDaniel & Marie McNamaraJulie Mikuta & Everett HarperMichael NesbittNorthwestern Mutual Financial

NetworkAnita SegretiRebecca Ann SibiliaKathryn SpeakmanPerry Steiner in honor of

Max KanefieldMichael Steinig & Lara FlintSusan StockdaleLisa M. ThamasettWilliam Thornton on behalf of

Tom & Leslie ThorntonRobert WollinThe World Bank Community

Connections Fund

$50+Anonymous (3)David S. Barsky & Patricia PetroccioneEllen BehrstockCaryn GachMai-Chi HoangDavid & Andrea Hoffman on behalf of

Heather FreymanDavid & Andrea HoffmanKimberly JessupDeborah KalbElaine Menotti & Nat GillespieJim McCormack


Madaket LLC T/A Surfside ResturantMandarin Oriental, New YorkMandarin Oriental, Washington, DCMatchboxNBC Universal Niche Marketing and SalesNikeBruce NovozinskyPaolos RestaurantPetree PressPiaf Salon and Day SpaPr@ PartnersJames PetersenJohn & Jean PetersenJoe PowerRipken Baseball IncRMA Worldwide Chauffeured

TransportationRoxanne RukowiczKen RynneSarah Duke Biscoe

PhotographyDeborah SchuleAnita SegretiSusan StockdaleSusan StockmanJennifer VessioWashington CapitalsWashington Redskins Charitable

FoundationWarner TheatreWestend Bistro by

Eric RipertThe Wine Specialist

IN-KINDPROGRAMsUPPORTThe Adams National BankAmerican OfficeChildren’s Book Guild of

Washington, D.C.Costco WholesaleDC LEARNSTom DooleyTimothy KovacsKramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLPOlympus Imaging America, IncO2 Collaborative, Inc.Peachtree PublishersTHEARCThurgood Marshall Academy Public

Charter SchoolThe Shops at 2000 PennWal-MartJim WidmaierThe World Bank

Sarah McPhieLindsay MuscatoMichael & Claudia NaganRick & Lynn Otty on behalf of

Mary EdmondsonRick & Lynn Otty on behalf of

Kelly EdmondsonEd & Stephanie PorterEllen RiceLaurent RossLarry & Suzanne

SchmidlinRichard & Joyce SchwartzCraig StrentWilliam Thornton

on behalf of Liz and Carlisle Bowling

John White

We would like to thank the follow-ing individuals who contributed undisclosed amounts to Turning the Page through the Combined Federal Campaign:Anonymous (8)Deborah BrownDiann GaltmanKenneth KatzDonn ScheederTaurica Wallace

* First year of a three-year grant award.

Special thanks to the Corporation for National and Community Service for making our AmeriCorps*VISTA program possible, and to George Washington University and Howard University DC Reads for supporting our federal work-study program.

IN-KINDsILENTAUCTIONANDGALAsUPPORTACKC Cocoa Bar Alex HotelAmerican OfficeAmerican Visionary Art MuseumAmanda BalluteBaltimore Comedy FactoryBaltimore Symphony OrchestraTerrell BradenThe Brewer’s ArtCactus CantinaComcast SportsNetChris DunneCristina CurcioGeorgetown CupcakeGeorgetown UniversityGeppetto Catering IncEric GlantzGrant ThorntonDenise HartInn at Henderson’s WharfJack’s RestaurantKeith Mathis & Exclusive ReportAli KianersiLauriol Plaza Inc.Stephanie LipscombLloyd Meurer Portrait Studio


TURNINGTHEPAGE10THANNIVERsARyGALA

The Turning the Page Third Annual Gala, held on Saturday September 12, 2009, was a huge success, thanks in large part to the support of our friends and sponsors. Revenue generated from sponsorships, ticket sales, donations, and silent auction sales raised more than $17,500 to support TTP programs. Thank you to the following individuals and corporations for their monetary support of this event.

$1,000+The Adams National BankThe George Washington University Dawn A. KumJohn & Jean PetersenThomas J. & Kathy RaffaJeffrey Thompson

$500+Shulman Rogers Gandal Pordy &

Ecker, P.A.Hilma Stanley

$300+Terrell J. BradenAndre ChrekyDennis & Donna CryerShervin EftekhariMichael & Melissa FoxAlex S. Gordon & Samantha MazoFred & Leslie KingJason S. KingEdward LevinFrederick & Christine L. Haggard

Brad & Conner HermanClaudia HinojosaChristine P. Hsu & Doran FlowersPilar LaugelRobert & Rhoda MorrisSamuel Ozeck & Karen JupiterRick & Eileen RiceMaria B. SalvadoreRebecca Ann SibiliaAndrew & Alicia SokolSung Peng & Amy Hsu

$200+Chris Brandaleone & Cristina CurcioAmanda Dallo and Brad CarrollJames C. DooleyKelly EdmondsonArnold F. FegeGabe FeldmanBryana FrenchRonald LongJillian Villars & Bryce ParentCharlotte Walker & Maher Said

$100+Yolanda AcreePelin AylanganCalvert GroupColin M. ClarkSophia CurcioDenise HartMarion HechtBill HincherLaneyse HooksMatthew KellyMaria KessidesTola LifeFrances MelsonShayam MenonJulie McMillan

Claudia NaganJames PetersenNicholas A. PirulliAnita SegretiTodd SherbacowMark TenekjianMatthew TobiaWachovia SecuritiesKatherine WallatErika Widmaier

20 TURNINGTHEPAGE

BOARDOFDIRECTORs

Terrell BradenVice President, The Adams

National Bank

Kelly N. Edmondson Adjunct English Instructor,

University of Cincinnati

Arnold F. Fege Founder and President of

Public Advocacy for Kids; Director of Public Engagement and Advocacy for the Public Education Network

Doran Lee Flowers (ex-oficio)Attorney-at-Law

Rhoda MorrisCreative Memories© consultant

Christine P. Hsu Partner at Shulman, Rogers,

Gandal, Pordy & Ecker, P.A.

Jason Scott King President, Turning the Page

Maria SalvadoreAdjunct English Professor,

University of Maryland, College Park

Rebecca SibiliaPrincipal, RightSource, LLC

sTAFF

Many thanks for the dedication of our staff:

Jason King, President

Doran Flowers, Senior Advisor

Kathleen Rice, Development Manager

Wanda Polite, Outreach Manager

Mark Tenekjian, Program Manager

Erika Widmaier, Program Manager

Dave Petersen, AmeriCorps*VISTA Coordinator

Song Nguyen, AmeriCorps*VISTA Coordinator

Carli Wulff, AmeriCorps*VISTA Coordinator

Thank you to Mary Beth Kochman, Senior Program Manager, and Katie Wallat, Program Coordinator, for their contributions to TTP’s programs during the 2008-2009 school year.

Thank you to our 2008–2009 AmeriCorps*VISTA Fellows:Bryant Gilchrist, Sarah Leinwand, Audrey Lester, Song Nguyen, Dave Petersen, Dan Schweickert, and Carli Wulff

Welcome to our 2009–2010 AmeriCorps*VISTA Fellows:Yolanda Acree, Sean Lorenz, Julie McMillan, Carla Mike, Chelsea Paige, Jason Shachner, and Garth Walker

FinancialstatementsStatement of Activities for the Year Ended June 30, 2009

sUPPORTANDREVENUE Unrestricted Restricted 2009Total

Contributions and grants $ 178,648 $ 272,385 $ 451,033Consulting and contract income 266,408 - 266,408Donated rental space 36,599 - 36,599Investment income 1,474 - 1,474Other 965 - 965Net assets released from restriction:

Satisfaction of program restrictions 297,578 (297,578) -Satisfaction of time restrictions 45,000 (45,000) -

TOTAL SUPPORT AND REVENUE 826,672 (70,193) 756,479

EXPENsEs

Program services $ 814,777 - $ 814,777Fundraising 132,284 - 132,284Management and general 28,255 - 28,255

TOTAL EXPENSES 975,316 - 975,316

Change in Net Assets (148,644) (70,193) (218,837)

NET ASSETS, BEGINNING OF YEAR 214,239 185,568 399,807

NET ASSETS, END OF YEAR $ 65,595 $ 115,375 $ 180,970

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