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THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
July 2009
Dear Members and Friends of Michigan Association of State
and Federal Program Specialists,
I am honored to greet you and thank you for your continued
support of the Michigan Association of State and Federal Program
Specialist organization. This year, MAS/FPS celebrates 40
years of service to educators in Michigan and across our nation.
This marks a time of special reflection for us as we assess
and examine our past accomplishments and plan for what we
know will be many successes in the future.
Working to improve our service and advance the beliefs on
which we were founded is one of our primary goals. Our beliefs
are the ideals that fuel our quest to help ensure that all
students attain academic and life-long success. These guiding
tenets become realities as we identify what it means we, as
educators, must do to help our beliefs transform into reality.
MASFPS believes that: Everyone can learn. As educators, we
must do all that we can to ensure that the children we serve
do learn. Risk-taking is the foundation of innovation. We
must promote innovative risk-taking that is fearless and thoughtful,
but not careless. Educators, parents, employers, and community
members have a common, direct investment in and responsibility
for education. The stakeholders involved in our children’s
education must recognize, utilize, and appreciate the various
contributions each brings to the table and recognize and value
the interdependence we have on each other.
Government involvement in education provides opportunities
for change. We have been presented with an opportunity for
change in our educational systems, by our government, which
has not been seen since the inception of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965. We must meet this challenge
to change effectively and efficiently, swiftly and soundly!
Individuals can influence government. Our organization must
continue to appreciate individual contributions knowing that
as the individual units come together they become a powerful
unit that can impact governmental decisions and lead to positive
change. Accountability provides opportunities to impact legislation
and improve programs. The transparency that is being called
for in the ARRA is a manifestation of accountability that
has the potential to impact educational legislation, and I
am responsible, trustworthy and dependable.
During this time of organizational review and evaluation,
we will examine these guiding principles, and the role we
must play in ensuring that these beliefs become and remain
reality. We are being challenged not only to raise the bar
for students and educators, but we are being challenged to
meet high standards, attain the superior goals, and be victorious
in ensuring that ALL students are successful.
The Michigan Association of State and Federal Program Specialists
looks forward to implementing a program that will guarantee
that we continue be a valuable and viable resource and support
for educators here and throughout the nation. May the ideals
found in our organizers forty years ago continue to be a guide
for the workers going forward with our mission today. Join
with us as we take this opportunity to dream big dreams for
the educators and students of Michigan. Let us come together
to ensure that these dreams become reality!
Again, thank you.
Dr. Paula Y. Daniels, President Michigan Association of State
and Federal Program Specialists
MISSION
MAS/FPS: Empowering leaders
to implement effective State and Federal programs to increase student
achievement.
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