Latest news with #SeanRoss
Business Wire
14-07-2025
- General
- Business Wire
Arizona Literacy Plan 2030 Outlines Key Strategies to Boost Third Grade Reading Scores
PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--To help more of Arizona's youngest students develop the literacy skills they need to be proficient readers and successful in school, partners in Read On Arizona, our state's early literacy initiative, have come together to launch Arizona Literacy Plan 2030. 'Arizona Literacy Plan 2030 is a rallying cry for committing to what works," Sean Ross, Executive Director, Arizona State Board of Education Share Literacy impacts every aspect of academic achievement. Research shows that students who don't learn to read well by the end of third grade are likely to fall behind in all subject areas and much more likely to drop out. But less than half of Arizona's third graders passed the state's most recent English Language Arts assessment, which encompasses reading, language, and writing. Arizona Literacy Plan 2030 outlines the proven strategies and actions required to improve literacy outcomes for Arizona students. Read On Arizona gathered input and commitments from state and local partners to align efforts and collaborate over the next five years toward the goal of 72% of third graders at reading proficiency. 'With the right instruction and support, almost all children can learn to read proficiently,' said Read On Arizona's Terri Clark. 'Our educators are working hard to teach students to read every day, but they need support. This plan is a framework for Arizona to scale up evidence-based strategies so that all of our young learners can develop the literacy skills they need.' Scaling Up Successful Strategies Arizona Literacy Plan 2030 highlights several 'scale-to-succeed' strategies and goals, including expanding the number of literacy coaches to support educators in early grades and sustaining Arizona's K-5 Literacy Endorsement so that all new and certified early grades teachers are supported with training in the most effective literacy instructional practices. 'Evidence-based reading instruction and interventions work for all students, including English learners and students exhibiting characteristics of dyslexia,' said Sean Ross, executive director of the Arizona State Board of Education. 'Arizona Literacy Plan 2030 is a rallying cry for committing to what works. We know the direction to head, and we're all heading in that direction together.' Other key strategies outlined in the plan include increasing access to quality early learning for preschool-age children and reducing chronic absence to pre-pandemic levels. 'Attendance is critical,' said Janice Palmer, senior vice president of government affairs and public policy at Helios Education Foundation. 'We need our students in the classroom, especially in the early grades, when they're learning foundational literacy skills.' Partner Action Commitments Arizona Literacy Plan 2030 also includes commitments from a wide range of partners across the state, including state agencies, philanthropy, community partners, and more, to take specific, measurable actions over the next five years aligned with its key priorities. As part of the roll-out and implementation of the plan, Read On Arizona will look to connect with and collaborate with additional public and private sector partners in the coming months. 'The plan is the framework,' Clark said. 'Everyone has a role to play.' Arizona Literacy Plan 2030 is available on LitHubAZ, a free online resource for educators, administrators, community partners, and families to find effective ways to help students learn to read at grade level and be successful in school. About Read On Arizona Launched in 2013, Read On Arizona is our state's early literacy initiative. Partners in Read On Arizona are committed to working together to improve language and literacy outcomes for Arizona's children from birth to age 8, with strategic focus on school readiness and third grade reading proficiency. The Read On Arizona collaboration provides leadership at the state level through an advisory board consisting of representatives of founding partners — Arizona Department of Education, Arizona Community Foundation, First Things First, Helios Education Foundation, and Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust — as well as the Arizona State Board of Education, the Governor's Office and several other key education stakeholders and philanthropic organizations. Read On Arizona also supports local literacy efforts through a network of Read On Communities. Learn more at
Hamilton Spectator
22-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Lyme Timber Receives the 2025 SFI Leadership in Conservation Award for Advancing Nature-Based Solutions in SFI-Certified Forests
MINNEAPOLIS, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is pleased to announce The Lyme Timber Company as the recipient of the 2025 SFI Leadership in Conservation Award. Lyme Timber, certified to the SFI Forest Management Standard , is being recognized for a longstanding commitment to advancing conservation outcomes across its land base. SFI specifically recognizes Managing Directors Peter Stein and Sean Ross for their instrumental leadership in partnering on meaningful conservation efforts related to biodiversity conservation, research-based forest management practices, and climate smart forestry. L-R: Lauren Cooper, Chief Conservation Officer, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Sean Ross, Managing Director, The Lyme Timber Company, and Kathy Abusow, President and CEO, Sustainable Forestry Initiative Lyme Timber is committed to managing forests in ways that protect and promote biological diversity and is a collaborator on an SFI grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) that aims to enhance songbird habitat in West Virginia through sustainable forest management. Through this partnership, they worked with West Virginia University researchers on focal songbird species monitoring, directly contributing to a deeper understanding of the conservation benefits of SFI-certified lands. Lyme Timber continues to work with the SFI geospatial team to explore how GIS data and mapping tools can be used to identify and quantify conservation value across Lyme Timber's land base. This demonstrates their commitment to applying knowledge gained through research, science, technology, field experience and the results of monitoring to manage wildlife habitat and contribute to the conservation of biological diversity. 'Lyme Timber exemplifies the kind of partnership that makes our conservation work impactful,' said Lauren T. Cooper, Chief Conservation Officer at SFI. 'As part of the SFI 2025-2030 Strategic Direction, we are focused on advancing data, tools, and practices that drive measurable conservation outcomes. Peter Stein, Sean Ross, and the Lyme Timber team are helping SFI bring that vision to life across North American forests with collaboration on climate and biodiversity.' Stein and Ross have also served as valuable advisors to SFI in advancing the development and implementation of climate smart forestry practices in the United States and have been supporters of multiple successful proposals that have resulted in the SFI Climate Smart Forest Initiative. 'We are delighted by this recognition and value the opportunity to collaborate with SFI on advancing scientific research and the conservation of biodiversity in working forests,' said Sean Ross. 'In a time when our investors are increasingly interested in addressing these issues through their investments, Lyme's ongoing partnership with SFI has helped us understand, quantify, and continue to improve how our forest management practices contribute to protecting and promoting biological diversity.' The award was presented to Lyme Timber at the 2025 SFI Annual Conference , where leaders from across the forest and conservation sector celebrated shared achievements and innovations in sustainable forestry. Ross also spoke at the 2025 SFI Conservation Impact Workshop on the importance of evolving management practices informed by climate adaptation and mitigation. ABOUT SFI The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) advances sustainability through forest-focused collaborations. We are an independent, nonprofit organization that leverages four interconnected pillars of work: standards, conservation, community, and education. SFI works with the forest sector, conservation groups, academics, researchers, brand owners, resource professionals, landowners, educators, local communities, Indigenous Peoples, and governments. Collaborating with our network, we leverage SFI-certified forests and products as powerful tools to help solve sustainability challenges such as climate action, conservation of biodiversity, education of future generations, and sustainable economic development. ABOUT THE LYME TIMBER COMPANY Founded in 1976, The Lyme Timber Company LLC is an employee-owned timberland investment manager based in Hanover, NH. They focus on generating long-term financial returns for our investors through sustainable forestry, land conservation, and supply chain improvements. Their strategies protect biodiversity, improve wildlife habitat, mitigate climate change, and create high quality forest-sector jobs in rural communities in the US and Canada. Their portfolio includes 1.3 million acres of forestland in Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Alabama. They specialize in the management of natural landscapes, including naturally regenerating hardwood forests, unique softwood plantations, and wetland ecosystems. Alongside the lands they manage, they invest in supply chain businesses, including sawmills, forest management companies, and innovative logging operations. They invest in mitigation banks and other ecosystem services projects that restore wetlands and rehabilitate critical habitats. Recognized as a leader in conservation, their company has protected over 1 million acres of land through conservation easements, mitigation banking instruments, and 100-year carbon sequestration projects. MEDIA CONTACT Christine Leduc VP, Communications and Government Relations Sustainable Forestry Initiative 613-706-1114 media@ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lyme Timber Receives the 2025 SFI Leadership in Conservation Award for Advancing Nature-Based Solutions in SFI-Certified Forests
MINNEAPOLIS, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is pleased to announce The Lyme Timber Company as the recipient of the 2025 SFI Leadership in Conservation Award. Lyme Timber, certified to the SFI Forest Management Standard, is being recognized for a longstanding commitment to advancing conservation outcomes across its land base. SFI specifically recognizes Managing Directors Peter Stein and Sean Ross for their instrumental leadership in partnering on meaningful conservation efforts related to biodiversity conservation, research-based forest management practices, and climate smart forestry.L-R: Lauren Cooper, Chief Conservation Officer, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Sean Ross, Managing Director, The Lyme Timber Company, and Kathy Abusow, President and CEO, Sustainable Forestry Initiative Lyme Timber is committed to managing forests in ways that protect and promote biological diversity and is a collaborator on an SFI grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) that aims to enhance songbird habitat in West Virginia through sustainable forest management. Through this partnership, they worked with West Virginia University researchers on focal songbird species monitoring, directly contributing to a deeper understanding of the conservation benefits of SFI-certified lands. Lyme Timber continues to work with the SFI geospatial team to explore how GIS data and mapping tools can be used to identify and quantify conservation value across Lyme Timber's land base. This demonstrates their commitment to applying knowledge gained through research, science, technology, field experience and the results of monitoring to manage wildlife habitat and contribute to the conservation of biological diversity. 'Lyme Timber exemplifies the kind of partnership that makes our conservation work impactful," said Lauren T. Cooper, Chief Conservation Officer at SFI. "As part of the SFI 2025-2030 Strategic Direction, we are focused on advancing data, tools, and practices that drive measurable conservation outcomes. Peter Stein, Sean Ross, and the Lyme Timber team are helping SFI bring that vision to life across North American forests with collaboration on climate and biodiversity." Stein and Ross have also served as valuable advisors to SFI in advancing the development and implementation of climate smart forestry practices in the United States and have been supporters of multiple successful proposals that have resulted in the SFI Climate Smart Forest Initiative. 'We are delighted by this recognition and value the opportunity to collaborate with SFI on advancing scientific research and the conservation of biodiversity in working forests,' said Sean Ross. 'In a time when our investors are increasingly interested in addressing these issues through their investments, Lyme's ongoing partnership with SFI has helped us understand, quantify, and continue to improve how our forest management practices contribute to protecting and promoting biological diversity.' The award was presented to Lyme Timber at the 2025 SFI Annual Conference, where leaders from across the forest and conservation sector celebrated shared achievements and innovations in sustainable forestry. Ross also spoke at the 2025 SFI Conservation Impact Workshop on the importance of evolving management practices informed by climate adaptation and mitigation. ABOUT SFI The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) advances sustainability through forest-focused collaborations. We are an independent, nonprofit organization that leverages four interconnected pillars of work: standards, conservation, community, and education. SFI works with the forest sector, conservation groups, academics, researchers, brand owners, resource professionals, landowners, educators, local communities, Indigenous Peoples, and governments. Collaborating with our network, we leverage SFI-certified forests and products as powerful tools to help solve sustainability challenges such as climate action, conservation of biodiversity, education of future generations, and sustainable economic development. ABOUT THE LYME TIMBER COMPANY Founded in 1976, The Lyme Timber Company LLC is an employee-owned timberland investment manager based in Hanover, NH. They focus on generating long-term financial returns for our investors through sustainable forestry, land conservation, and supply chain improvements. Their strategies protect biodiversity, improve wildlife habitat, mitigate climate change, and create high quality forest-sector jobs in rural communities in the US and Canada. Their portfolio includes 1.3 million acres of forestland in Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Alabama. They specialize in the management of natural landscapes, including naturally regenerating hardwood forests, unique softwood plantations, and wetland ecosystems. Alongside the lands they manage, they invest in supply chain businesses, including sawmills, forest management companies, and innovative logging operations. They invest in mitigation banks and other ecosystem services projects that restore wetlands and rehabilitate critical habitats. Recognized as a leader in conservation, their company has protected over 1 million acres of land through conservation easements, mitigation banking instruments, and 100-year carbon sequestration projects. MEDIA CONTACT Christine LeducVP, Communications and Government RelationsSustainable Forestry Initiative613-706-1114 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at in to access your portfolio
Axios
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Axios
ICE warns Laken Riley Act could force it to release detained migrants
Federal immigration officials are warning Congress that the Laken Riley Act could require detention for 60,000 people — needing billions of dollars and thousands more detention beds to comply, Axios has learned. Why it matters: The bill requiring detention for undocumented immigrants accused of certain nonviolent crimes has received stunning bipartisan support in Congress this year. Driving the news: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sent details to congressional offices in December on what they would need to enforce the Laken Riley Act if it became law, according to a copy of the report obtained by Axios. ICE warned that without emergency funding, they could be forced to release tens of thousands of immigrants — including potentially some deemed to be public safety threats. Zoom in: The agency identified more than 60,000 undocumented immigrants who would meet the criteria requiring detainment in the bill. ICE currently only has funding for 42,000 detention beds. They already have 39,000 immigrants in custody, as of December, with 62% of them required to be detained by law. Over the weekend, ICE told Congressional offices that of the nearly 67,000 undocumented immigrants who would meet the Laken Riley Act criteria for detention — more than 59,000 have final orders of removal. Between the lines: The Laken Riley Act does not include money for enforcing the new detention requirements. ICE said it would need more that $3.2 billion in extra funds for the 2025 fiscal year if the bill became law, according to the document. The money would go toward an additional 64,000 beds — bringing the total to more than 100,000 — as well as hiring more law enforcement officers. What they're saying:"We're prepared to give ICE the resources it needs to properly enforce federal law and protect American families, both through the appropriations and reconciliation processes," Sean Ross, deputy chief of staff for Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) told Axios. Britt introduced the legislation in the Senate. Editor's note: This article has been updated with additional reporting.
