Good Evening Dr. Evans and Members of the School Board.

My name is Cecilia Flores and I am a fifth grade teacher at Flynn Elementary School.

On January 8, 2002, when President George W. Bush, signed the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT, 2001, he said "too many of our neediest children are being left behind."

How true that was and still is… And how sad it is for me, as a teacher who strongly believes in our Providence children, to come to this meeting tonight to tell all of you, that our neediest children in Providence have been left behind…very behind… You only need to hear the news to find out how our middle school and high school children skip school… and are later found by police officers.

Soon our elementary school children from Flynn will do the same… How can we blame them? Educational leaders and school officials are turning a blind eye to the real needs of our students. It seems that the academic purpose of the school district drives everything…Everyday at our school children, faculty and staff are putting their lives at risk, due to very serious and chronic discipline issues…unhealthy building conditions, and lack of support from our administrators. We have the evidence, but our efforts to find someone at Central Administration to listen and take action, have been unsuccessful.

On October 16, 2007, Dr. Evans sent a memorandum to all the teachers, in which he said "our mission is to provide the students the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed… It is not possible for us to realize this vision or mission without each of you. It is also not possible to accomplish our goals unless we work together.

I am here tonight, to plead to you, Dr. Evans to take a few minutes of your time and listen to us…let us work together, as you have said. Your last visit to Flynn happened April of 2006. Don't you think that's awhile ago?

Our children at Flynn school are also yours. They belong to all of us. It is our duty to help then turn into healthy, competent and happy adults. A school cannot achieve academic goals, without strong leadership by denying to provide a respectful, and safe environment; or by ignoring the social and psychological needs of the children we serve.

The words on the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT, have been just that…"words"…I am afraid that our district's new vision, may turn, once again…, into words, just words….!

However, with or without "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND"…, with or without your support and understanding, we, the teachers at Flynn, will keep on struggling…, pushing aside every obstacle interfering with our very much loved mission. Because…we do care…, we do know and understand that EVERY CHILD DOES MATTER, here at Flynn, here in Providence, or in any other place where you find an EDUCATOR who believes in children and in their future…!

Thank you