Minority Contractors Speak Out

Student Leader Elected

Student leaders chose a sophomore from Crossland High in Temple Hills last week to replace outgoing student school board member Haywood L. Perry III.

Edward Burroughs III defeated four other candidates in the annual election held by the Prince George's Regional Association of Student Governments, which represents more than 30 schools. He will take office at the end of next month.

Burroughs is president of student government at Crossland. He has a 3.68 GPA and is a member of two honor societies and the varsity golf and baseball teams.

Through an adult adviser at Crossland, Burroughs declined to be interviewed on his agenda. In a statement, the school system said Burroughs had advocated in a pre-election speech for extra security and metal detectors at high-risk schools.

"I am confident that Mr. Burroughs will not only continue the powerful tradition of excellence I have contributed to but broaden it," Perry said.

Perry, meanwhile, has been accepted at his first choice for college, the University of Pennsylvania, where he said he intends to study philosophy, politics and economics. But look out for his return to Prince George's.

"There's no question that Prince George's County is home," Perry said. "Prince George's County is where my roots are, and Prince George's County is where I plan to continue my future."

Teach Got Mad Skills

When you think of successful rappers, your mind might turn to Jay-Z, Kanye West and perhaps Young Jeezy. Add this one to your list: Jessica Beamon, a third-grade teacher at Rockledge Elementary in Bowie.

With a rap song describing four rules for keeping students safe from predators, Beamon won a $10,000 classroom makeover and an America's Safest Teachers award from Honeywell and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

Addressing a safety curriculum that didn't have songs or a memorable icon, such as McGruff the Crime Dog, Beamon composed the song with the idea that children like to sing. With lines such as "Rule number three,/Is about one's place,/To never invade your personal space," she finished it in 20 minutes, she said. She said she didn't expect to win, especially after feedback from her husband.

"He started reading it in a way that it didn't sound like in my head," Beamon said. "I said, 'That is not the way it goes!' He said, 'How does it go?' " and Beamon began singing it for him. Her husband, she said, was not particularly impressed.

All third-graders at the school are learning it now, Beamon said, and they'll be singing it over lunch.

Staff writer Hamil Harris contributed to this report.