Principal Florene McMurtry led the school for 20 years.

Kayron Huitt, 11, of Detroit listens to the program.

marked for technological improvements for
students and staff," McMurtry explained.
"This includes more computers, visual arts
aids and staff training. The grant also will
fund a General Education Diploma pro-
gram for parents of Glazer students who
have not completed high school, providing
funds for them to attend courses to better
support students at home."

Temple Ties To Glazer
The Glazer family and Temple Beth El
members provide assistance to the school
through various temple funds, "and our
family is proud to be carrying on my
father's work and traditions',' stated Mark
Glazer.
Temple volunteers visit the school every
Thursday on a rotating basis and give
tutoring and reading assistance to first-
graders, one-on-one, usually for 30 min-
utes per student.
Each child gets a free book to take home
for the summer.
Many of the books are collected in
an annual Temple Beth El book drive to
stock the school's library. The synagogue's
fifth-graders adopted the school as their
"Tzedekah Rocks" partner. The Detroit
Jewish Coalition for Literacy, organized
through the Jewish Community Relations
Council, donated several hundred addi-
tional books to the school.
The library was one of several rooms
damaged — with many books ruined
— by a freak tornado that hit the neigh-
borhood in 1997, also destroying a num-
ber of nearby homes that have never been
rebuilt.
Computers, printers and large picture

books also were donated to the school
through Beth El's Alfred and Marian
Lindenbaum Memorial Youth Lecture
Fund. The library is dear to the hearts of
Beth El members and McMurtry because
it was the pet project of Ada Glazer, Rabbi
Glazer's widow, who died at 89 in 1999
after being hit by a car.
"She used to come here a few times
a week with friends and help fix up the
library; we have no full-time librarian','
McMurtry said. "She was really devoted
to books and reading, and we named
the library after her. Portraits of her and
Dr. Glazer are in the library. She was my
friend and mentor; just a wonderful
woman."
Mark Glazer attends graduation cer-
emonies each June and awards dictionar-
ies to the top students, a custom started by
his mother. His wife, I\,/ania, and daughter,
Catherine Benedict Glazer, a University of
Michigan student, also are active in year-
long library work.
Added McMurtry: "We hear from many
Temple Beth El people, and I just can't
say enough about them. The sisterhood
members also bring underwear, socks
and sweaters for the students, and I often
received anonymous checks of $50 or
$100 from temple members to help the
children."
"It's an amazing accomplishment:' Mark
Glazer said, "that this school in a poor sec-
tion of Detroit, that's almost 100 percent
African American, can have such a close
relationship with a highly affluent, all-
white synagogue in the northern suburbs
— but it's happening and has been for
years." I I

Principal's Principles

F

lorene McMurtry, who
retired last month after 20
years as Glazer Elementary
School principal, was an exemplary
educator for 35 years in the Detroit
Public Schools and developed a num-
ber of exciting, innovative programs
at Glazer, including "Second Cup of
Coffee" sessions to encourage paren-
tal involvement in the school.
"The school has a special parents'
resource center where they can have
refreshments and use our computers
to update their resumes and seek
jobs, or use the computers for other
business purposes," McMurtry said.
"The school's reputation attracts
students from distant neighborhoods,
who would rather attend Glazer than
closer schools. With no school buses
available, they must walk to school
or be driven by their parents. Some
retiree parents stay around until
school ends."
"Ms. McMurtry has been a vision-
ary and a resourceful leader, who has
consistently provided a well-rounded
curriculum that includes technology,
art, instrumental and vocal music,
after-school tutoring, dance, sports
and summer school," said Stephanie
Glazer Ettelson, daughter of the late
Temple Beth El Rabbi B. Benedict
Glazer, after whom the school is
named.
"One of her special skills was
forging partnerships that brought
members of the community, business
leaders and school personnel togeth-

er to create resources to benefit the
students."
McMurtry's other innovative
achievements include: Partnership
with Focus HOPE in an initia-
tive called Advancing Beyond the
Classroom (ABC) for computer
training for youngsters; launch-
ing iKeepsafe, an Internet safety
program to protect children from
online predators; an annual Staff
Walk Through the Neighborhood to
welcome children back to school
in the fall; InsideOut Literacy Arts
Project with a writer-in-residence
who infuses creative writing into the
curriculum; Success for All, a school-
wide, research-based reform model
reading program; and establishing a
Technology Learning Center in 1992
with a $265,000 Ameritech grant.
With a bachelor's of science
degree in elementary education from
Wayne State University in Detroit
and a master's degree in special
education from the University of
Detroit, McMurtry has received many
awards and honors as an educator.
She has been married for 42 years
to Dr. James M. McMurtry, and they
have two adult sons and three grand-
children.
She has been replaced as Glazer
principal by Bennie Glenn, principal of
Fairbanks Elementary School, which
closed last month. Asked what she
plans to do in retirement, she quickly
answered: "Rest!"

- Bill Carroll

juiv 5 2007

17