RUGGLES ASPIRE LSC COMMUNITY CANDIDATE SLATE

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Terria K. Dunlap Margaret Genovese Sharon C Powell Angel Smith Rhonda Smith
Dear Parents, Park Manor and Chatham residents:
We are a group of five women dedicated in our desire to help restore the level of education that was once a prominent reason for raising a family in either the Park Manor, or Chatham community. Our children can no longer be victimized by a public school system that allows the Ruggles Elementary School to wallow in years of probation. Whatever the cause: lack of resources and funding, unsuitable teachers, lax parenting and deteriorating school infrastructure, we are ready to tackle the problems, identify the options and execute the solutions. We ask that you read the following five bios that begin after this page. Or you can meet us in person by attending the RUGGLES LSC CANDIDATE FORUM on: Tu e s d ay, Ap ril 1 0 T H a t R u g g l e s Elementary School, 7831 S. Prairie Avenue at 5:00 pm. There you can learn even more about us and ask any questions you may have regarding our vision.

LSC REP VOTING DAY @ RUGGLES April 18th from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. 7831 S. Prairie Avenue

TERRIA K. DUNLAP BIO

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ASPIRE LSC CANDIDATE SLATE

Terria K. Dunlap

Terria K Dunlap is the mother of three (3) children who attend Martha Ruggles Elementary School. Besides being a stakeholder in the Chatham community and in Ruggles Elementary School, Terria has a Masters degree in Public Service Management from DePaul University. She has over 15 years experience in social services. Terria's parenting and professional experience makes her a viable candidate for the LSC. Terria is currently involved w/PAC @ Ruggles and the LSC in the Englewood community, where she works and serves @ Children's Home + Aid.

MARGARET GENOVESE BIO

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ASPIRE LSC CANDIDATE SLATE

Margaret Genovese
Neighbors, I am fighting for the future of this community. The future as determined by the educational training made available for our children. No nation or group of people who neglect the training of its children has ever sustained or grown its economy. Chatham is facing the neglect of a large portion of its community; that a portion of parents who cannot afford to send their children to selective enrollment schools or those schools requiring large tuitions. The media portrays the blue collared working class of Chatham as parents unconcern about the education of its youth. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I am a long time resident of Chatham. I graduated from Ruggles. I retired from CPS. I am a former Community Representative to the LSC. I am the President of the Ruggles PTA, Secretary of the Parent Advisory Council, Secretary of the Chicago Public School Skyw ay Collaborative of PAC and a school volunteer. I am a member of Greater Chatham Alliance, Educational Village Keepers and the NAACP Southside Education Committee. For the last five years that Ive been involved with building Local School Based-Governance at Ruggles, our parents ran organizations that have assisted with graduations, end-of-the-year Fun Day, Back-to-School Carnivals and Parent Cafes. As the former vice president of PTA, this organization gave each student Christmas gifts, as well providing gift cards and food baskets donated by GCA, and coordinated with CFD Local 2 (Chicago Fire Department) in the gifts of five, Huffy Bikes to needy families. This year, as President of PTA, we collaborated with PAC in sending 100 students to see Red Tails during Black History month. The education of our children is very important to me. I am capable and willing to help build a better relationship between the school, parents and community. Changing a culture of acceptance of substandards and excuses is a fight that by necessity must be led by those being abused. My name is Margaret Genovese. I am running for Community Representative of the Martha Ruggles Elementary Schools Local School Council. I need your vote!

SHARON C POWELL BIO

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ASPIRE LSC CANDIDATE SLATE

Sharon C Powell
A VOTE FOR "C" IS A VOTE FOR TRANSPARENT"C"
Parenting is the most important role I will ever have in life. As a mother of four, three of my children are graduates of the Chicago Public Schools, so I take my responsibility seriously. I am here not only for my child, but for ALL the children, parents, staff and the communities surrounding Ruggles. I have served as a parent volunteer, PTA member, former LSC chairperson, PAC (Parent Advisory Council) vice-chairperson, and currently, a PAC chairperson. I am also a member of edVK (Educational Village Keepers), NAACP Southside Educational Committee and the Greater Chatham Alliance (GCA). When I ran for the LSC in 2010, I said I wanted to educate the parents on the important role they play in the educational success of their children. Since that time, I have held true to my word regardless of any obstacles I encountered. I have taken numerous LSC trainings, attended workshops and networked with other schools to bring information to the parents at Ruggles. I hosted workshops for parents such as helping parents transition from pre-K to Kindergarten, Parent Cafe, understanding the SIPAAA (School Improvement Plan) and learning the Parent Compact just to name a few. Ive obtained donations of refreshments, enlisted a friend to put on a dog training demonstration for added entertainment and recruited PTA and PAC members to volunteer for the Back-to-School carnival in 2011. To date, Im working to have the Guardian Angels host a workshop on rape awareness and safety at Ruggles for parents and girlsages 13 and older. I organized a field trip to view the movie Red Tails for Black History Month by getting a donation from the PTA to cover the student admission. In addition to soliciting donations from Alderman Sawyer, Greater Chatham Alliance and Tony Scoufield. Each of these sponsors donated a bus for the field trip. I continue to work tirelessly to get information, workshops and programs that will help enhance the quality of education in our school and community. This summary shows only a sample of my commitment to Ruggles. It also demonstrates that Im not afraid of hard work, challenges, or stepping on a few toes when it comes to educating our children and serving our communityespecially considering whats going on with our educational system today. If reelected, I will continue to serve and fight for our childrens education, provide information to our parents and assist our community in any way I can.

ANGEL SMITH BIO

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ASPIRE LSC CANDIDATE SLATE

Angel Smith
It takes a village to raise a child! This has been my motto since 1999, the first year I stepped foot into Martha Ruggles Elementary School. Since my first day there, I have done nothing but contribute my time, ideas and positive attitude. I hav e witnessed children that I saw as pre-schoolers graduate from the eight (8th) grade. Knowing that because of my hard work, Ruggles is becoming a better learning environment, I am a happy woman. I want to give back to the community in ways that follows my footsteps. If I help these children, maybe an idea will sprout into their minds and they will have an urge to help others. I have served as a Parent Volunteer, former Chairperson of the Parent Advisory Council, presently serving as Vice Chairperson of PAC, formerly PTA Treasure r, currently the PTAs Secre tary and formerly the Chairperson of the Local School Council for six years. I know without a doubt that being elected as a member of the LSC will b e b en e ficial to all in v olv e d par ents, communitie s and Ruggles. My desire to remain a prominent member of the aforementioned village will assure that I serve our communities and these children with the best of my ability.

Please cast your vote for me Angela Smith.

RHONDA SMITH BIO

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Rhonda Smith
Hello my name is Rhonda Smith and I am running for a second term on the Ruggles Elementary School LSC. I am the natural mother of three girls. And I also adopted another 6 children two of which still attend Ruggles school. Thre e of my daughters graduated from Ruggles. One of my daughters is now serving in the Navy and is stationed in Japan. Another daughter lives in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where she works as a DHS/DCF worker supervising a caseload of 43 cases. I am a solid, child advocate for a better education. I believe a child can achieve much more than a standard education and go on to do far greater things than usually expected. I believ e each child deserves to have a voice and an ear representing them on the LSC I know I am that someone. Im a retired work er who formerly work ed for Northwe stern Memorial Hospital, Michael Reese Hospital and the Sears Tower. I am currently an activ e member on th e Ruggles LSC, Parent Advisory Council and the PTA Treasurer. I work with the members on PAC on behalf of the children at Ruggles. As a group, our PTA held a Valentine Dance and Dress Down Day for the students. The PTA and PAC took the children to see Red Tails at the ICE Movie Theater during Black History Month. At this time, our PTA is working toward developing the planning stages for future endeavors at Ruggles. So I am asking for your support and your vote to continue the work I am trying to do on behalf of our children.