Polk County Public Schools
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Available below is a newsletter that highlights the results, accomplishments, and successes from the Office of Diversity Management. Posted on 1/26/09.
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Otis Anthony, Senior Director of Diversity Management
1915 South Floral Avenue - Bartow, FL 33831
519-3670 Ext. 51341 Fax: (863) 519-7548
Angelita Medina, Secretary
519-3671 Ext. 53815
Otis Anthony is a native of Tampa, Florida, and a graduate of Blake High School. He hails from a family of nine children, wherein he was the first in the family to attend and graduate from college. Mr. Anthony has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, a Bachelor of Arts degree in African Studies, and a Masters degree in Urban Administration.
Mr. Anthony has served as the Executive Assistant to the Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri and to the Mayor of Tampa, Florida. He has also served as a Conciliator for the U.S. Justice Department on minority relations issues. He has taught alternative education, peer mediation and students with learning disabilities. Mr. Anthony has given motivational speeches and lectures on public policy.
Mr. Anthony has been the host of his own television talk show, entitled “Keep the Dream Alive“ and the host of a popular radio talk show. He is a published poet and the author of Black Tampa, The Roots of a People, and A History of African-Americans in Tampa. The oral history component of his research is rich with the history and characters of the Hispanic communities in Ybor City and West Tampa where Anthony spent his childhood. His record of service to the community has also been featured in La Gaceta, the well-known Hispanic newspaper.
Mr. Anthony has received numerous awards; recognition and fellowships for his leadership ability and his work with young people. He was awarded a “Distinguished National Urban Fellowship, New York City." He is a graduate of Leadership Tampa and Leadership Florida sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce to ensure leaders of tomorrow. He is the recipient of the Martin Luther King Leadership Award from Tampa Organization of Black Affairs and the Youth Leadership Award from the Junior League of Tampa.
Otis Anthony believes in the power of mentorship for young students and developing professionals. His mentor in Polk County for two years was Ann Darby, former Mayor of Winter Haven and current Director of the Elderly Services Division, Polk County. His work with elderly services gave him the opportunity to serve a vulnerable population and their caregivers in workshops throughout the county. He currently plans to work diligently with parents and students throughout the district, implementing the educational vision of Dr. Gail McKinzie, Superintendent of Polk County Schools.
The Diversity Management office provides effective leadership to ensure the issues of diversity and inclusion are addressed:
Diversity Awareness means that Polk County School district is cognizant of the students, parents, volunteers, and communities we serve. We are proud to recognize that our district includes: Hispanic/Latino Americans, African Americans, Asians Americans, Native Americans, Arab Americans, Haitian/Creole Americans, Americans of European Descent and others.
Our goal is to be responsive to the diverse learning needs of all students regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender or national origin. Our success is based on a collaborative working relationship with our diverse stakeholders.
Rationale:
Diversity and the District, Diversity implies a clear grasp of demographic change and a willingness by leadership to examine the following:
Diversity and Barriers, Diversity is a leadership strategy that addresses possible systemic barriers to academic access and performance. Diversity strategies are data driven to determine such issues as:
District's Collaborative Diversity Plan
SP Strategy 1: We will ensure each student meets his/her academic and personal goals.
Diversity Goal: Ensure that pro-active strategies are implemented to both detect and eliminate any systemic barriers to minority students reaching his/her academic and personal goals.
SP Strategy 2: We will ensure that our instruction and curriculum meet the educational needs of each student.
Diversity Goal: Incorporate diversity benchmarks into the performance evaluation process for instructors and administrators. Recognize and provide incentives for those who initiate and implement innovative activities that make a difference in learning, diversity, multicultural education, and the unique contributions of minority history.
SP Strategy 3: We will establish a learning environment that ensures the academic and personal success of all students.
Diversity Goal: Promote initiatives that increase multicultural cooperation within the schools and community. Implement leadership team strategies that are designed to comprehensively impact academic performance, discipline sanctions and technology standards of low performing schools.
SP Strategy 4: We will guarantee effective staff.
Diversity Goal: Increase recruitment, retention, support, and professional development to ensure that instructors, staff and administrators reflect the changing demographics of our diverse community.
SP Strategy 7: We will acquire the resources necessary to accomplish our mission and allocate them pursuant to the strategic plan.
Diversity Goal: Encourage inclusive practices to ensure that every group in our community is a stakeholder and advocate for increased funding for Polk Schools.
SP Strategy 8: We will create a culture of articulation within a strategic organization to accomplish our mission.
Diversity Goal: Maintain a keen awareness of how traditions, customs, events and calendars are impacted by the broad diversity of a changing community.
*Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census
(Published in The Lakeland Ledger March 20, 2005)
| Education Level: | Number: | Percentage: |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 9th grade | 22,100 | 6.8% |
| 9th-12th, no diploma | 61,682 | 18.9% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 106,917 | 32.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 32,360 | 9.9% |
| Master’s degree | 8,771 | 2.7% |
| Doctorate degree | 3,758 | 1.2% |
*Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2003 Community Survey
Polk County School District is the largest employer within the county. There are 155 schools in the district. There are over 6,000 teachers with a projection of 1,100 more to be hired for the 2007-2008 year. Overall the school district employs almost 12,000 individuals.
Total Students 90,900
| Race: | Number: | Percentage: |
|---|---|---|
| White | 45,708 | 50.3% |
| Black | 21,569 | 23.7% |
| Hispanic | 20,370 | 22.4% |
| Asian | 1,344 | 1.5 % |
| Indian | 226 | .2% |
| Other | 1683 | 1.9% |
The article below from the Lakeland Ledger, June 9, 2009, gives a brief description regarding the change in demographics in Polk County during the 2008-2009 school year.
Census Estimates: Polk More Youthful, Hispanic
The Polk County School District believes that all children can learn and that it takes a whole community to produce a successful child.
The Diversity Council consists of leaders, professionals, parents and various community members who are known for their compassion for others.
This advisory council reviews various practices to ensure greater equity, inclusion, and respect for cultural diversity. Senior Staff members and administrative leaders are made available to the Council to help examine and resolve a range of issues with district programs, initiatives, and policies.