Information Channel

Youth Violence: What is the Solution?

Bookmark and Share

On this episode, we launch the first in a five-part series on Youth ViolenceWhat is the Solution? Were going to look at this problem from all sides. How big a problem is youth violence? How effective are the approaches being created by schools, communities, and the government? And if more police and more metal detectors are the not the answer, what are the real solutions, and who can provide them? Well search for the answers with William G. Andrekopoulos, Superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools, and Pastor Torrey Barrett, and founder of the K L E O Community Family Life Center in Chicago.

Episode Segments

Superintendent William G. Andrekopoulos

William G. Andrekopoulos is known as “Mr. A” and he has been the superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools since August 2002. Mr. Andrekopoulos talks about how violence is interfering with a child’s ability to gvet an education, and the unconventional ways he is fighting the problem.

Superintendent William G. Andrekopoulos Part Two

In part two of our conversation, William discusses how his anti-violence programs are working in his schools, how they have impacted academic performance, and how teachers and students have reacted to them.

Pastor Torrey Barrett

ur Second Guest today on the subject of youth violence is Torrey Barrett, Pastor, and founder of the K L E O Community Family Life Center in Chicago; a non-profit organization and facility dedicated to strengthening families and providing a safe haven through education, training, support, and fun for people of all ages in the Washington Park community. Mr. Barrett talks about the recent rash of student violence in Chicago, and what is being done about it by the communities.

Pastor Torrey Barrett Part Two

Pastor Torrey Barrett discusses some of the positive outcomes of the work he has done with kids at the Center, the steps he is taking to reduce the violence further, and possibly introducing the Violence-Free Zone to Chicago.

Guest(s) Appearing on this Episode

William Andrekopoulos

Superintendent William G. Andrekopoulos has been the superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools since August 2002. During his 27 years as an educator, Mr. Andrekopoulos has worked at the high school and middle school levels, and has taught both exceptional education and regular education students. Prior to August 2002, he served as principal of Fritsche Middle School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for 14 years. As principal, his vision for continuous improvement enabled the school to move forward in the area of providing quality and excellence in education for all students. This same vision is evident in his role as superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools. During his first years as superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools, Mr. Andrekopoulos\' priority has been the development of a framework for improving student achievement through quality teaching and learning. This framework is based on the district\'s core beliefs of: children come first; parents are valuable partners; Central Services support student achievement; the classroom is the most important place in the district; community partnerships add value; and leadership and accountability are keys to success. This framework articulates capacity building and accountability for students, parents, staff, schools, the district, and the community. In addition, the Milwaukee Partnership Academy, a consortium of education, business, and community leaders united to ensure academic success in MPS, has aligned itself to these capacity builders. Mr. Andrekopoulos shares his expertise with others as a part-time professor of Administrative Leadership at Cardinal Stritch University. He has been a participant on the National College Board Equity 2000, a principal advisory panel for the national mathematics initiative, and is the vice-chair of the North Central Association (NCA). He has been a major contributor to the development of a national model for an administrative leadership-training program in conjunction with the North Central Regional Education Laboratory. The Superintendent received his B.A. in Sociology from Marquette University in 1970, his M.A. in Special Education from Cardinal Stritch University in 1985, and his superintendent certification through the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is married and the father of three sons.

Friday • March 20

CST 9:11 | EST 10:11 | MST 8:11 | PST 7:11 | GMT 6:11

Click to Listen Live