VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 OCTOBER 2014
Transcription
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 OCTOBER 2014
A Quarterly Newsletter for Employees of Mercer County Schools OCTOBER 2014 VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 EDITOR: TERESA RUSSELL GRAPHIC DESIGNER: CARLA NEELY Ms. A. Gail Shrewsbur y Named the 2014 West Virginia Board of Education Ser vice Personnel Employee of the Year Mercer County Schools’ is elated to announce that Ms. A. Gail Shrewsbury, Instructional Aide at Spanishburg Elementary School, was recently named the 2014 Service Personnel Employee of the Year. She will be recognized at the September meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education. She is now entering her 15th year at Spanishburg Elementary, and she has been an employee of Mercer County Schools for 33 years. In 2002, she earned her Paraprofessional Certification. Shrewsbury’s principal, Ms. Melissa Boothe, says, “Gail is skillful, and she is dedicated to her job. She has never been able to beat her to school. She does not stop. Throughout the day Gail is a multi-tasker who, at any time, can be seen helping with unpacking backpacks, unlocking lockers, tugging stuck coat zippers, supervising bathrooms, monitoring hallways, organizing fundraisers, and making the school more attractive, healthier and safer.” This past year, Gail’s compassion and vision for children led her to start a Buddy Table during lunch. Students who follow the rules of the cafeteria are invited to sit at a specially decorated table with the buddy of their choice. The table has fresh flowers and special treats – snacks or small toys which Gail purchases from her earnings. The principal observes that children want to sit at the Buddy Table. As a result, cafeteria behavior has improved dramatical- Special School Levy Election will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2014 ly. In her community, Gail is an associate member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 628, of Princeton. She volunteers many hours fundraising, cooking for and ministering to veterans and their families. She also helps feed the hungry and advocates for community members who lose their homes due to fire. Gail has been married to Gilmer Shrewsbury for forty years. She has three children: Sandra Fox of Flat Top, West Virginia; David Shrewsbury of Glenwood, West Virginia; and Tina Markland of Rupert, West Virginia. Gail and her husband reside in Flat Top, West Virginia. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. What the Levy pays: Employment and retention of qualified teachers School support of service personnel employment not provided within State funding formula Employee salary supplements including medical reimbursements and dental and optical coverage Print and electronic textbooks; electronic devices to utilize textbooks Computers and technical support to maintain, repair, and upgrade computers, software, and other technology Continued support of public libraries and health services for students Support of extracurricular activities Fire Marshall requirements, equipment lease, tools, equipment, and vehicles; provide maintenance and delivery services Secure Environment Constructing new facilities, remodeling Utility/operational cost, custodial supplies Transporting students to and from school A Teacher Ref lection Mercer County Board of Education Member Takes Official Oath At the regular Mercer County Board of Education meeting on Monday, July 7, 2014, new member J. B. Hurt was sworn in by Mercer County Judge Omar Aboulhosn. Members of the Mercer County School Board are elected for a four year term. Elections are held in May every two years. Following Monday night’s meeting, Hurt says, “I am looking forward to serving the people of Mercer County and making a difference for the children of Mercer County communities.” Hurt is the executive pastor at the Princeton Church of God. He and his wife, Dana, have three children, Bradford who is nine, Carley who is seven, and Rebecca who is three. Judge Aboulhosn also swore in current board members Gene Bailey, who is beginning his seventh term and Greg Prudich, who is beginning his fifth term. Prudich was re-elected as board president while Bailey was re-elected as vice president. In other board action, Mary Alice Kaufman was elected to serve on the RESA I Advisory Board. Following the regularly scheduled meeting, Dr. Akers said, “We are excited about Mr. Hurt’s election to the board, and we look forward to working with him during his term.” Mercer County Teacher Receives West Virginia House of Delegates Legislative Citation Susan French, Mercer County Schools Teacher of the Year and 6th grade teacher at Montcalm Elementary, received a Legislative Citation on September 19, 2014, from Mr. Cliff Moore, State Delegate for the House of Representatives, at Montcalm Elementary School. French is the district’s 50th teacher of the year. August 4, 2014, began her 37th year teaching in the same classroom. Sharon Reed, principal at Montcalm Elementary, says, “French has touched/ influenced over 1700 students. She exemplifies the model teacher. She is consistent in using best practices and keeps her students engaged in learn- ing. Her efforts have produced some of the highest WESTEST scores in the county.” Reed continues by saying, “She is dedicated and loyal. She is the go to person in the building, and she is always encouraging and willing to share her wealth of knowledge.” In addition to inspiring and influencing her students to always be the best that they can be, French also provides staff development opportunities for her fellow teachers. She is always willing to help or assist fellow teachers in their quest to educate students. Coworkers believe French goes above and beyond in serving her faith, her family and her students. In addition to being an exemplary teacher, she is also a wife, a mother, a daughter, a mentor and a friend. Also in attendance to the ceremony were Mr. John Shott of the West Virginia House of Delegates, Mr. Marty Gearheart of the West Virginia House of Delegates, Mr. Joe Ellington of the West Virginia House of Delegates, and Senator Bill Cole of the West Virginia State Senate. It is with great pleasure and honor that Mercer County Schools announces the presentation of this prestigious honor to Susan French. By: Gail Webb—Bluefield Middle School Nearly a half century ago, my parents, with four children in tow, piled into a colossal brown station wagon in the wee hours of the morning to head to Myrtle Beach, SC, where they splurged on an efficiency apartment in a motel located two blocks back from the shore. My dad belted along with John Denver’s hit, “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” The siblings collectively groaned and reminded Daddy that we lived in Virginia, not West Virginia. “Your grandfather was a coal miner in Gary,” he said. “I was born there. West Virginia is home.” Well, after thirty years of teaching, I reckon I’m finally home. Last year was my first year in Mercer County, and what a year it was. I’ve been introduced to Westests, Edline, and truancy reports. For all the veteran MCPS employees, you’ve been blessed. You have dedicated leaders, professional peers, and challenging students. You receive faculty senate monies for supplies; your students receive free meals. I’m beginning to think that Denver and Daddy were right about West Virginia being “almost heaven.” When I began my career, teachers’ smoke filled the lounge. Oh, how times have changed! My first day of teaching at Princeton Middle, the seventh grade team taught me how to operate a risograph machine in the teachers’ lounge. Team? Yes, that is correct! Mercer County provides teachers with team planning. Now that I’m at Bluefield Middle School, I’m impressed with the way Mrs. Ivory Rowe organizes the grade eight teachers. I’m experiencing collaborative learning at its best. Not only am I afforded this opportunity, I also have personal planning! The eighth grade English teacher who shares my schedule, Mrs. Darlene Browning, works with me during personal planning to write plans using the Literacy Design Collaborative (LDC). Mercer County provided us with the training this past summer, paid us to attend, and provides time for us to write and implement our plans. When I reflect upon my good fortune, I can’t help but mention how impressed I am with this county’s push to keep up with technological demands. One of my assistant principals this year has implemented a free App for Mercer County Public Schools. Right now, the only school operating the app is BMS, but when I asked Mr. Johnson about it, he said that any school interested could join. The cost is about $.60 a student and if anyone needs information they can email Mr. Johnson at [email protected]. Students and parents receive notifications, check edline, and view menus and sports schedules. My favorite feature is the tip line. Students or parents can send confidential tips to an administrator. Just last week, Mr. Johnson said that a parent relayed a tip to him from an away sporting event. Mr. Johnson was able to take care of the issue in a timely manner. The best asset of Mercer County is its students. Many of them carry baggage much heavier than I’ve shouldered, but I think, somehow, their burdens endear them. I remind myself every day to share a smile, and even though I’m not allowed, sometimes give a hug. Mercer County, it’s good to be in “the place I belong.” Thanks for providing your students with a safe environment, professional personnel, and a shared dream for a productive future. My daddy’s been in heaven for thirty-four years now. I think he’d be proud that I’m “almost” there. PikeView High School Track Dedication The long-awaited dream of a new track for the PikeView High School students, staff, and community has now been realized. The dedication of the track was Wednesday, August 27th at 2:30 in the afternoon. The celebration was held on the field adjacent to the track. PikeView High School comprises the largest track team in the county with 35 – 40 athletes participating in track and field sports each year. In addition to PikeView High School, PikeView Middle School also uses the facility. They usually have around 60 student athletes participating in the sport. This ceremony provided an opportunity for students, past athletes, guests, and members of the community to visit the new, state of the art track. The ceremony also offered an opportunity to thank all the individuals and businesses whose contribu- tions enabled the project to get off the ground. Additionally, it allowed Mercer County Schools to thank the representatives of some of the local foundations who contributed to the project. These foundations included The Hunnicutt Foundation, The Skewes Family, The Tierney Foundation, Frank Litz Smoot Foundation, and The Community Foundation of the Virginias. The gifts from these foundations enabled the project to keep growing. During the ceremony, local legislators who secured substantial legislative grants were also recognized along with the project’s largest benefactor, The Shott Foundation. The generous gift of $180,000 put the track replacement campaign in a position to be highly successful. According to Paul Hodges, who ten years ago initiated the fund drive and now serves on the Mercer County Board of Education, this project has truly been a community effort. He says, “We are so very grateful to all the many individuals, businesses, legislators and foundations that have made it possible for the PikeView track to be safe for our athletes and to be a show place for Southern West Virginia.” Furthermore, Hodges would like to make sure that all the individuals, friends, and ex-athletes who gave $25, $50, and $100 know they are appreciated and know that without their support this project would have never been possible. The Mercer County Board of Education, PikeView High School, the community, and Dr. Akers would like to thank all of those who contributed to this project. These individuals have made a lasting difference for the students, athletes, and the PikeView Community. Kudos to . . . Sam Hill, Bus Operator—May 110% Club Susan Moore, Teacher, PSHS—Completion of Transition to Teaching Program Victoria Grogan, Teacher, PMS—2014 Cole Chevy/Bluefield Daily Telegraph Excellence in Education Teacher of the Year Mr. David Kade, Teacher, Glenwood School , Finalist—2014 Cole Chevy/ Bluefield Daily Telegraph Excellence in Education Teacher of the Year Montcalm Elementary School Administration and Faculty—earned the 20122013 High Progress Reward School, WVDE , for superb progress on WESTEST scores Jill Devault, Teacher, Princeton Primary, recognized by the Charleston Gazette for “The ABC’s of West Virginia Judy Foster-Holland, teacher at PSHS, recognized as Outstanding Faculty Advisor for the State of West Virginia at the Key Club International Convention in Anaheim, California during the week of July 3-6, 2014. K. D. Hill, Bus Operator, won second place in the Transit Division at the West Virginia ROAD-E-O Competition. He also won eleventh place at the National Competition held in Huntsville, Alabama Ashley Shaw, Teacher, Montcalm Elementary—presented with the RESA1 Exemplary Educator Award Julia E. Kade, Teacher, PSHS —received a Proclamation from Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and a Resolution from the County Commission establishing September 15, 2014 at “Julie Kade Day” Angela K. Neal, Teacher, Mercer School—wrote and received a Donors Choose Grant HATS OFF TO EVERYONE!!!! UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT . . . Rachel Cole, Central Office, Secretary, Special Education Department Debbie Ball, WVEIS Facilitator Courtney Gracon, Career Connections Facilitator Shelly Harman, Central Office, Secretary, Title I Denise Johnson, Secretary, Central Office, Special Education Department Krista Kessinger, Central Office, Director of Child Nutrition Carla Neely, Central Office, Secretary, Department of Supervisory Services Teresa Russell, Central Office, Data and Information Specialist Anita Thomason, Central Office, Secretary, Department of Supervisory Services Eddie Thornton, Central Office, Secretary/Switchboard Operator Kemberly Whitlow, Central Office, Coordinator of Services/Executive Secretary Tammy Argyrakis, Counselor, Princeton High School Stephanie Blankenship, Counselor, Bluefield High School Christine Buckland, Counselor, PikeView Middle School Crystal Goddard, Counselor, PikeView High School Mark Godfrey, Principal, PikeView High School Gretchen Harshbarger, Assistant Principal, PikeView High School Craig Havens, Principal, Montcalm High/Middle School Anna Lilly, Assistant Principal, Bluefield High School Lynda Lyndsey, Assistant Principal, Princeton High School Kim Miller, Principal, Bluefield Middle School Amanda Mountain, Counselor, Princeton High School Ricky Mullins, Assistant Principal, Princeton High School Beth Palko, Counselor, Princeton Primary School Jennifer Perdue, Dean of Students, Princeton High School Beth Stone, Assistant Principal, Montcalm High/Middle School Mercer County Schools Presents Proud to be an American Teacher Chilling. Secretive. Entertaining. Inspirational. Informative. These are just a few of the descriptors used by Mercer County employees to describe Dr. Deborah Akers' presentation of Proud to Be An American Teacher. When Mercer County teachers returned to work on August 4, 2014, they were treated to a unique oratory display featuring the exceptional talents of Dan Turner, guidance counsellor at PikeView Middle School, and Angie Sharp, music teacher at Montcalm High School. Preparing the music with Dan is not work at all. We seem to have such a natural chemistry." "It was a secret," Turner says. "Dr. Akers wanted the presentation to be a surprise to teachers and staff before returning to their classrooms. How cool is that? Angie and I were intrigued by the idea. Each rehearsal was a unique learning experience for the three of us. We laughed at times and became tearful at times. Dr. Akers' creative vision to integrate music with her welcoming address proved to be a powerful experience. I'm grateful for that opportunity. It felt good to be a part of something so motivating." Sharp reiterated Turner's view when she commented about her role in the presentation. She said, "It was such a pleasure working with Dr. Akers once again. Working with her allowed me to see her in a capacity that I don't normally see her in - relaxed." Courtney Gracon, Career Connections Facilitator, continued the applause of the presentation by saying, "Dr. Akers' speech ignited a sense of ownership and pride in Mercer County teachers and administrators. She gave an encouraging and challenging reminder that we as educators are on the front lines of preserving the American dream." Gail Webb, English teacher at Bluefield Middle School, continued the praise by saying, "The inspirational speech from Dr. Akers combined with the musical talents of Angie Sharp and Dan Turner inspired teachers as they began the 2014-2015 school year. Mercer County certainly utilized and celebrated the talents of teachers and staff members." The presentation included a variety of songs such as Ally Oop which was used to hammer home the point that Mercer County teachers no longer live in yesterday's world to the Beatle's Hard Days Night in which Turner and Sharp masterfully blended their voices to demonstrate the view that even though change is hard, "we will be all right." Hoping to inspire a sense of pride in employees, Akers' produc- tion took a patriotic turn. By incorporating Brooks & Dunn's Only in America, she reminded educators that Americans have many blessings for which to be thankful. She said, "Our forefathers wanted freedom to worship...freedom to live...and freedom to learn without having restraints placed on those freedoms." Akers closed her production of Proud to Be An American Teacher with a challenge to all educators. She asked each of them to consider the question, “What do we have to do to ensure that we continue to live in a state and live in a country where we can openly speak and learn?” As she uttered the challenge, Turner and Sharp chimed in with the chilling lyrics of Lee Greenwood's Proud to Be An American. As the words rang out over the audience, a visual presentation of the sacrifice American service men have made in order to preserve America's educational freedoms illuminated the stage of the Chuck Mathena Center. After the program, Shannon Honaker, Technology teacher at Bluefield Middle School, described her vision of the morning event. She said, "It was an opening to the school year that was not only informative but entertaining. Dr. Akers' production made us proud to be teachers, and it brought us to our feet." September 15, 2014, Proclaimed “Julie K ade Day” During the halftime ceremonies at Princeton Senior High School, one very special Mercer County Schools’ Teacher received quite a surprise. When the announcer said that Monday, September 15, will be a special day in Mercer County for a long time employee of the Mercer County Board of Education who would be honored for her contributions to Princeton Senior High School, to the community, and to the students she served, unbeknownst to Kade, he was talking about her – the band director at Princeton for the last 27 years. After a moment, Kade realized she was the deserving employee who was receiving a Proclamation from Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and a Resolution from the County Commission of Mercer County establishing September 15, 2014, as “Julie Kade Day.” At the conclusion of the halftime ceremony, Princeton High School Principal Lori Comer presented Kade the Governor’s Proclamation while Commissioner Terry Basham presented her the Commission's Resolution. Former member of the Mercer County Board of Education and former principal of PSHS, Ted Gillespie, presented her with a new custom designed bullhorn. Sheriff Don Meadows presented her with a gift card to McDonalds good for one full year of “Free Coffee.” To the residents of Mercer County, this announcement was long overdue. Kade began working for Mercer County Schools 30 years ago, but she has taught for 36 years. She is known for conducting exemplary performances. She gets outstanding results from her students. Not only do her students excel on the field, but many of them have become champion caliber people in life as well. When speaking with Kade, she humbly said, “This is truly an honor. I think there are a lot of people in the Mercer County School system and in the community who deserve to be recognized like this. I am honored.” The Mercer County Board of Education, Dr. Deborah Akers – Superintendent, parents of current and former band members, and the community of Princeton would like to express their sincere gratitude to Julie Kade for her dedication and devotion not only to her students but to the residents of Mercer County as well. We’re on the web! http://boe.merc.k12.wv.us/downloads/onboard.pdf