Members of the Rotary Club of Toledo were taken on a virtual field trip Monday in the Glass City Center ballroom downtown.
Romules Durant, superintendent of Toledo Public Schools, sought to engage local business and community leaders to “visually see the intentionality about more than just textbook, but hands-on learning,” he said.
“These kids are working with multimillion-dollar equipment, literally within their schools,” said Mr. Durant, keynote speaker at the Rotary’s luncheon at the convention center.
A member of the Rotary Club for 10 years, Mr. Durant marked the occasion by addressing fellow club members with updates on the district’s programs and proposed new educational opportunities.
“These are public schools with private school privileges,” Mr. Durant said.
“We have intentional efforts regarding kids,” he said. “When they graduate at 18 years of age, they will have certification in industries, they will have associate degrees or even college credits towards a bachelor’s degree — but more importantly, at no cost to themselves.”
This year also marks his 10th year since gaining his current position with TPS. Since becoming superintendent, Mr. Durant has expressed his goal to place students in the best school to foster their talents and to produce competitive college and career-ready graduates.
He stressed the importance of getting elementary school-age children interested in industry-related fields.
“Our Aerospace and Natural Science Academy of Toledo has always had waiting lists on the agricultural side and the aviation side,” Mr. Durant said. “We now have two campuses. If you want females in the STEM field, you have to get to them in fourth and fifth grades,” he said using the abbreviation for a science, technology, engineering, and math education.
“If you want to get minorities into STEM fields and other fields, you have to get to them at an earlier age before social media gets to them or another way that will discourage them elsewhere,” Mr. Durant said.
Rotary Club board member Candice Harrison said she thinks it’s good for fellow Rotarians to hear the positive things happening within the school district.
“Dr. Durant presents to the club because he is a member, but also because he's the superintendent, to update the rotary community on the great things going on at TPS,” she said. “I think one of the good things that I know we like as Rotarians is to hear about dispelling some of the myths about TPS,” Mrs. Harrison said.
People would look at statistics, and they think it's comprehensive, she said.
“They think the district is failing and that nothing good is coming out of the district without really knowing how districts are assessed and not knowing how many students are doing incredibly,” Mrs. Harrison said.
“I think it is helpful for the club to hear this so that then we can serve as ambassadors in our network to kind of lift up, and advocate for our public school district,” she added.
Mr. Durant highlighted the many specialized programs offered within the district. They include drone technology, aerospace, airplane engine repair, animal science enrichment and zoology, pre-med, natural science agriculture, and even a Bloomberg financial lab.
“We are one of two school districts to have a Bloomberg financial lab,” Mr. Durant noted. “These kids are exposed to a variation of stock market trades. We put ticker symbols throughout the entire school, cafeteria, office library, before they even get into the Bloomberg lab itself.
“We want kids to embrace the market, not fear the market,” he said.
Mr. Durant said the lab teaches students how to embrace the stock market so they won’t just work for money, but understand how money can work for them.
“Rotary is a worldwide organization,” said Monique Ward Redmond, Rotary Club member and local radio show host on 92.5 KISS FM. “It's a service organization. A lot of people don't know that.
“It definitely means a lot to me that Rotarians who are successful, career businesspeople to actually care enough about the community to have a member like Dr. Durant speak,” she said, “and then care enough to invest into the community so that we can have the kids benefit.”
Mr. Durant said people are bringing their children from different communities to take advantage of outstanding educational opportunities, and he wants Toledoans to do likewise.
“These people know something,” he said. “They clearly recognize the academic and financial advantage they give their child in advance.
“It gives their child an advantage when they are 18 years of age, and I am sitting next to someone with just a diploma and their child has three certifications and an associate degree,” Mr. Durant said.
First Published April 24, 2023, 10:27 p.m.
