#ACYPLMaccedonia in Florida -- Joint Pinellas County Commission and Pinellas Legislative Delegation meeting

I was honored to be the State Host of the delegation of Macedonian political leaders for the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) in December, organizing a 6-day visit in December.

We attended the Joint Pinellas County Commission and Pinellas County Legislative Delegation meeting in Clearwater -- a great opportunity to learn more about inter-governmental relations.  We listened to the exchanges between the Commissioners and the Senators and Representatives, learning more about the county's legislative priorities and the responses from the legislators -- trying to make state and local government work for the people and interests of Pinellas County.

For more about Pinellas County Commission, http://www.pinellascounty.org/commission/

For more about the Pinellas County Legislative Delegation, http://www.pinellascounty.org/delegation/

For more about the Florida House of Representatives, https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/

For more about the Florida Senate,  http://www.flsenate.gov/

heading in to the New Courthouse building for meeting with the Pinellas County Commission and Legislative Delegation

Representative Ben Diamond (D-St. Petersburg) speaks to the delegates

Chair of the County Commission Janet Long greets the delegation

 

Representative Chris Latvala (R-Clearwater) meets with the delegates

#ACYPLMacedonia in Florida -- Meetings at the Criminal Justice Center - 6th Judicial Circuit

I was honored to be the State Host of the delegation of Macedonian political leaders for the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) in December, organizing a 6-day visit in December.


A special thanks to assistant Public Defender Greg Williams for his help in arranging a courthouse visit for us -- at the Criminal Justice Center (of the 6th Judicial Circuit) with judges, prosecutors, and public defenders to learn more about the criminal justice system in the US.

After informative presentations by public defender Greg Williams, state attorney Fred Shaub, and Judge Joseph A. Bulolne, a thought-provoking discussion ensued about the rule of law and the prosecution of corruption.

Click here to see more about the visit on the 6th Judicial Circuit facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/SixthJudicialCircuit/posts/860266790800770

 Here is an overview of the 6th Judicial Circuit, from the jud6.org website:

"As Florida's third largest trial court, the Sixth Judicial Circuit is recognized as one of the most efficient trial courts in the nation. The circuit is also recognized nationally for its automation leadership in support of court operations.

Sixty-nine judges – 45 at the circuit level and 24 in county courts – hear cases in the Sixth Judicial Circuit. The Sixth Circuit is comprised of Pasco and Pinellas counties and is located on the Central West Coast of Florida.

In the Sixth Circuit, cases are assigned to one of 13 Court Divisions, nine at the circuit level and four at the county level. The type of case determines the division designation, and then the case is randomly assigned to a judge in that division."

To learn more about the 6th Judicial Circuit, seehttp://www.jud6.org/

To learn more about ACYPL, see http://acypl.org/
 
 

#ACYPLMacedonia in Florida - Lunch with Judge Raymond Gross

I was honored to be the State Host of the delegation of Macedonian political leaders for the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) in December, organizing a 6-day visit in December.

Prior to our meetings at the Criminal Justice Center (of the 6th Judicial Circuit) with judges, prosecutors, and public defenders to learn more about the criminal justice system in the US, we had lunch at the courthouse with Judge Raymond Gross.

Judge Gross has been a member of the Florida Bar for more than four decades and has had a distinguished judicial career.

Judge Gross met with the delegates over lunch, and we had a good discussion about the rule of law and judicial process in the US.

 

#ACYPLMacedonia in Florida -- Dinner with Pinellas County School Board Member Linda Lerner

I was honored to be the State Host of the delegation of Macedonian political leaders for the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) in December, organizing a 6-day visit in December.

Pinellas County Schools is the seventh largest district of Florida’s 67 public school systems and 26th largest out of more than 16,000 districts in the United States.  2016-17 Budget: $1,502,473,821 (Operating Budget: $928,285,040), enrollment PK-12: 103,242 and adult general education: 18,441, Pinellas Technical College: 5,172

We had the pleasure of dining with the longest-serving member of the Pinellas County School Board, Linda Lerner. No one has the breadth and depth of education in Pinellas County like she does. We had quite an informative exchange over dinner.

Also, one of my former students, USFSP alum, an Albanian native, was able to join us for this dinner. It was nice she could meet the delegates and participate in the discussion as well.  (It worked well for my schedule that the delegation arrived after final exams, but, my current students missed out on the visit. I was glad that one of my alums was able to join us.)

For more about Pinellas County Schools, see https://www.pcsb.org/

For more about ACYPL, see http://www.acypl.org/

#ACYPLMacedonia in Florida -- Meetings at Madeira Beach Fundamental School -- with Principal Chris Ateek and PTSA President Jennifer Hunter

I was honored to be the State Host of the delegation of Macedonian political leaders for the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) in December, organizing a 6-day visit in December.

We visited with the Principal - Chris Ateek - and President of the PTSA - Jennifer Hunter - of Madeira Beach Fundamental School to talk education policy in Florida.  Two members of the delegation were deputy Minister for Education and Science in the Republic of Macedonia. Lots of great questions.

Pinellas County Schools is the seventh largest district of Florida’s 67 public school systems and 26th largest out of more than 16,000 districts in the United States.  2016-17 Budget: $1,502,473,821 (Operating Budget: $928,285,040), enrollment PK-12: 103,242 and adult general education: 18,441, Pinellas Technical College: 5,172.

Madeira Beach Fundamental School consistently is ranked one of the best public schools in the state of Florida, and there is always a long waiting list to apply for one of the coveted slots.  The dynamic leadership of the principal, the devoted teachers and staff, and the highly engaged PTSA make this an example of the excellent education public schools can and should provide.

For more about Pinellas County Schools, see http://www.acypl.org/

For more about Madeira Beach Fundamental School, see https://www.pcsb.org/mb-ms

For more about ACYPL, see http://www.acypl.org/

enjoyed our visit to another beautiful waterfront campus

  

I spied "Ursula" as she was getting ready for "The Little Mermaid," the American Stage production for Middle School Drama (after school program)

I was so glad my daughter had the opportunity to meet the delegation, if only briefly. She absolutely loved our time living and working in Macedonia - and she can't wait to return.