Cherokee principal to receive equal opportunity award

A press release from the Urban League:

Media Release April 26, 2007

Contact: Scott Gray
(608) 251-8550
sgray@ulgm.org

Cherokee Middle School Principal to Receive the 2007 Whitney M. Young, Jr. Equal Opportunity Award

Madison, WI: The Urban League of Greater Madison recently announced that it will present Cherokee Heights Middle School Principal Karen Seno with the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Equal Opportunity Award.

The award is given annually by Boards of Directors of Urban League affiliates from across the country in memory of the great civil rights leader and former head of the National Urban League. Young was one of America's most charismatic, courageous and influential civil rights pioneers. He worked tirelessly to gain access for blacks to good jobs, education, housing, health care and social services.

“The Urban League is honored to recognize Ms. Seno for her lifetime of work ensuring that all students have the educational opportunities that will allow them to realize their dreams and aspirations,”
explained Urban League Chairman of the Board Derrell Connor. Seno has spent much of her life educating children in the Madison community. She currently serves as principal of Cherokee Heights Middle School.

Following an achievement gap analysis completed in August 2006 by Standard & Poor's School Evaluation Services, Cherokee Middle School was recognized as one of only 18 other Wisconsin schools that had significantly narrowed the racial achievement gap.

"It is difficult to narrow achievement gaps," noted Thomas Sheridan, vice president of Standard & Poor's School Evaluation Services. "This analysis shows that there are a number of schools that have made outstanding progress. Their practice should be more closely examined to illuminate the strategies that can be implemented by educators in other parts of Wisconsin who are working hard to raise the performance of all students." (Capital Times, 8/31/06)

Seno has also been a strong advocate for community involvement at her school, including working closely with many of the Urban League’s College Readiness and Career Development Programs such as Schools of Hope, Project REACH, and the 100-Hour Youth Volunteer Challenge. Cherokee has also consistently been a leader in the number of students earning the Urban League’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Outstanding Young Person Award.

The awards will be presented at Spring Into Jazz, the Urban League of Greater Madison’s 39th Anniversary celebration and benefit. The event will take place on Friday, May 11, at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center beginning at 6:00 PM. For ticket information, contact the Urban League at (608) 251-8550, email jazz@ulgm.org, or visit our website at www.ulgm.org.

Posted by Ed Blume at April 26, 2007 10:31 AM
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