Maryland Institute for Minority Achievement and Urban Education
to receive Community Excellence for Minority Achievement Award, April 20

COLLEGE PARK, MD (April 2007) – The College of Education’s Maryland Institute for Minority Achievement and Urban Education (MIMAUE) is the 2007 recipient of the Community Excellence for Minority Achievement Award representing Prince George’s County Public Schools. The Institute will be recognized at a gala ceremony and dinner on Friday, April 20 at Martin’s West in Baltimore.

"It is great to be recognized for the partnership we have developed with Prince George's schools over the past six years," said Martin L. Johnson, Associate Dean for Research, Urban and Minority Education, and Director of MIMAUE. "The future looks bright for even greater progress."

The Community Excellence Award is bestowed by the Achievement Initiative for Maryland's Minority Students (AIMMS) Council and Steering Committee, which was established by the Maryland State Department of Education to assist in the advancement of success among minority students throughout Maryland. The award recognizes outstanding contributions that have promoted a better understanding of diverse groups, and advance achievement among minority, economically disadvantaged, and disabled students. Recipients are selected from the community by each of the 24 local schools.

Founded in 2001, MIMAUE links the intellectual capital and resources of the College of Education with area school districts. Through a process of collaborative school reform, the Institute works with schools and teachers to build robust educational climates that support high achievement while addressing the minority achievement gap and issues in urban education. Comprehensive initiatives are developed in partnership with local administrators and teachers to target real-world problems. Efforts to date include programs to develop innovative strategies to increase achievement, along with professional development to improve teachers' knowledge and skills and administrators' school management proficiency.

"We believe that in some small way, we have helped both students and teachers increase their education knowledge and competence," said Johnson.

To learn more about MIMAUE's work, visit www.education.umd.edu/MIMAUE.