By Staff
PAYING RESPECTS Superintendent Janet McLin, left; Sylvia Autry, assistant superintendent for supervision and instruction; and Hargie Crenshaw, assistant superintendent for human resources for Meridian Public Schools view a memorial set up at the Pentagon. Submitted photo.
By Steve Gillespie/The Meridian Star
Oct. 4, 2001
Meridian Public Schools was one of 32 school districts honored in Washington on Saturday at a luncheon sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus Education Braintrust.
Meridian School Superintendent Janet McLin received a School District Leadership Award during the Decision Makers' Luncheon at the Capitol Hilton Hotel. The district won the award because of its overall efforts in education and its use of technology.
The main focus of the Education Braintrust is minority education. More than 70 percent of students in the Meridian Public School District are black.
Every classroom in Meridian Public Schools is connected to the Internet. The district provides ongoing technological training for teachers. And students are encouraged to use the latest technological tools for research in and out of the classroom.
BellSouth nominated McLin as one of the award recipients through its association with the Superintendents Leadership Network, of which McLin is a member. Network members include about 50 superintendents from several Southeastern states.
The luncheon was part of a two-day conference attended by McLin, Sylvia Autry, assistant superintendent for supervision and instruction, and Hargie Crenshaw, assistant superintendent for human resources.
McLin, Autry and Crenshaw traveled to Washington on Amtrak.
McLin was planning the trip the week of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Because airline travel was so uncertain at the time, she said, she decided to travel by train.
The trip included a technology fair and conference hosted by the Education Braintrust. It's chairman, U.S. Rep. Major Owens, D-N.Y., spoke to educators about the importance of American children being the best educated in the world.
The women also visited the Pentagon while in Washington.
Steve Gillespie is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3233, or e-mail him at sgillespie@themeridianstar.com.