TC Kudos Archives
April 2008:
We have new additions in our Prairie Lands family. Sara Capra (1998 Institute) has a son, Caelin Alesio, born April 2: 7 lbs 8 oz; 20 inches long. Stefanie Lyle, (2004 Institute), has a daughter, Abigail Caroline, born April 11: 7 1bs 2 oz; 20 inches long.
Donna Klein (2003 Institute) is a St. Joseph School District Teacher of the Year Finalist. Donna teaches grade 3 at Coleman Elementary School.
Mary Lee Meyer, (2002 Institute) our PLWP technology liaison, and Diane Goold, (1998 Institute) NIE director for the St. Joseph NEWS-PRESS, will be facilitating workshops this June about "Digital Literacy," and "PowerPoint" at Stanberry High School (Mary Lee) and "Newspapers in Education" at the St. Joseph News-Press (Diane). Read about and sign up for the workshops, each with optional Northwest Missouri State University graduate credits.
MWSU’s English faculty members Dawn Terrick (2000 Institute), Meredith Katchen (2007 Institute), and Bill Church accepted the Conference on Basic Writing’s 2008 Innovation Award for Western’s exemplary Developmental Writing Program, Eng 100 Introduction to College Writing, at the Conference on College Composition and Communication in New Orleans in April. The innovations, including an annual student publication, writing groups, and sequenced assignments using a textbook created by the course instructors were developed by Dawn as Developmental Writing Director in collaboration with ENG 100 faculty, including Tom Pankiewicz (PLWP Institutes Director).
Ann Dotson (2006 and 2007 Institutes) and Terri McAvoy (1998, 2006, and 2007 Institutes) represented Prairie Lands at the NWP’s annual Spring Meeting in Washington, D. C. As a part of that meeting, they were part of the Missouri Writing Projects Network delegation which met with Senator Claire McCaskill. They also provided Northwest Missouri’s U. S. House Representative Sam Graves with a booklet of student writings from St. Joseph Skaith Elementary School Students. We note with pleasure that Representative Graves has signed the 2009 "Dear Colleague" letter in support of funding for NWP.
February 2008:
Prairie Lands alums score Scholastic Contest entries: Thirty-eight writing project alums, pre-service teachers, and area educators spent two Saturdays at Missouri Western in January scoring over 3500 writing contest entries submitted by teenage writers, grades seven-twelve, from throughout the country. This was the fifth year that PLWP has served as a preliminary adjudication site for Scholastic’s Writing Awards contest. Prairie Lands alums who scored included: Jane Frick (2000-2007 Institutes), PLWP site director and MWSU English professor; Ann Dotson (2006 and 2007 Institutes), St. Joseph Skaith elementary teacher; Jennifer Vermillion (2007 Institute), Lathrop R-II high school French/Spanish teacher; Mike Epperson (2004 Institute), Lathrop R-II high school English teacher; Stefanie Lyle (2004 Institute), St. Joseph Benton high school language arts chair/teacher; Charlotte Grider (2005 Institute), freelance writer; Greg Gildersleeve (2006 Institute), Johnson County Community College English instructor; Tim Morrison (2006 Institute), Winston R-IV art teacher; Steve Frogge (2005 Institute); Missouri Western English instructor; Tom Pankiewicz (1987-2007 Institutes), PLWP Institutes director and Missouri Western English instructor; Mary Lee Meyer (2002 Institute), PLWP Technology Liaison; Shannon Harris (2007 Institute), St. Joseph Skaith elementary teacher; and Carma Burtnett (2001 Institute), St. Joseph Bode middle school math teacher. Check out the photos from our January 17 and 26 sessions in our PLWP Photo Album.
PLWP TCs at invited NWP sessions: Tori Grable (1991 Institute), St. Joseph secondary language arts coordinator and Benton high school teacher, and Kathy Miller (2001 Institute), West Platte R-II high school A+ coordinator and MWSU adjunct English instructor, participated in a training and scoring session using National Writing Project’s analytical scoring rubric at a regional NWP conference held in St. Louis in January. Valorie Stokes (1994 Institute), PLWP Web editor and Platte County high school media coordinator, participated in a NWP working retreat in Atlanta in January to develop/publish technology teaching tools for NWP’s Technology Initiative.
Stacia Studer (2007 Institute), St. Joseph Bode middle school communication arts chair and language arts teacher, had a baby boy, Satchel Robert Henry Studer, on January 21. Stacia will present her Middle School Literacy Academy classroom inquiry project in a poster session at this year’s Write to Learn Conference on February 15.
Looking for successful strategies for students to develop language skills and fluency without using deadly grammar skill/drill exercises? Check out the Parallel Structure Lesson Teaching Notes and Complex Sentence Lesson Plans which Sherry McGhay (2002 Institute), West Platte R-II high school Spanish/ACT prep teacher; and Jill Steinmetz (2007 Institute), Savannah middle school language arts teacher, have allowed us to publish on our PLWP WIKI. Sherry and Jill successfully implemented the lessons in their own classes last fall as a part of their participation in ENG 567 Grammar and the Teaching of Writing, a Missouri Western graduate course that counts as an elective in PLWP’s Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of Writing.
January 2008:
Prairie Lands Alums published in Missouri Teachers Write: Read the 2008 edition of Missouri Teacher’s Write, Literary Magazine of the Missouri Association of Teachers of English, especially the original writings published by NWP alums and friends from throughout the state. See “Just One Week and Transcend,” by Melissa Camarda (2006 Institute); “November” by Elizabeth Latosi-Sawin (1987 Institute); “First Stirrings of Awareness Even Out Here,” and “Witness” by Joyce Stohr (2003 and 2005 Institutes); and “Stories of Health” by Jenna Whittington (2004 Institute). Pieces—“Here We Go” and “Welcome Home”—by Mark Henderson, PLWP Research Assistant, are also included in MATE’s annual publication. Copies of Missouri Teachers Write are distributed free to MATE members; information and membership forms are available at the MATE website. Or, to purchase a single copy of this year’s Missouri Teachers Write, email Mary Kim Schreck, editor.
Debbie Schwebach (2002 and 2005 Institutes), is featured in the winter edition of Missouri Western, the university’s alumni magazine, for being Western’s first “graduate school graduate” (28). Deb received our PLWP Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of Writing last May. She’s the communication arts department chair, curriculum coordinator, and professional development coordinator at Lathrop R-II High School.
December 2007:
Prairie Lands at National Writing Project Annual Meeting in New York:
Jane Frick (2000 Institute), Christie Hofmeister, (2004 Institute) Heidi Mick (1996 Institute), Tom Pankiewicz (1987 Institute), and Valorie Stokes (1994 Institute) represented Prairie Lands at the 2007 National Writing Project annual meeting held in New York in November. At the meeting, Tom and Jane presented at the “Developing Site Leadership” workshop; Heidi described her work in facilitating Middle School Literacy Academies at the “From Preparing for Writing Tests to Assessing and Teaching Writing” session; and Jane made a presentation at the “Credit-Bearing University Courses as Strategy for Writing Project Sites” workshop. Valorie presented at two NWP Technology Initiative-sponsored workshops, where her presentation and presentation handouts were smash hits. See our NWP Meeting photo essay, and Valorie’s “Designing Writing and Technology Camps for Youth,” and “Planning for a Site’s Web Presence: What Have We Learned” handouts.
The St. Joseph School District’s Apple Seed Foundation recently announced its 2007-2008 grants recipients. This year’s roster of teachers being awarded dollars to implement innovative teaching projects in their classrooms includes five PLWP TCs: Tori Grable (1991 Institute), Stefanie Lyle (2005 Institute), and Amy Miller (2007 Institute), Benton High School language arts teachers, for their “Growing Readers” project; Roxanna Kerns (2002 Institute), counselor at Hyde Elementary School, for her “Assessing with High Expectations Project” grant; and Stacia Studer (2007 Institute), Bode Middle School language arts teacher, for her “Fostering Literacy Through Art and Image-Making Within the Writing Process” project.
TCs receiving their National Board Certification this fall include: Kelly Lock (2004 Institute), St. Joseph Truman Middle School language arts teacher; Angela Dorsey (2006 Institute), St. Joseph Central High School math teacher; Luanne Haggard (2002 Institute), St Joseph Central High School social studies teacher; and Gwen Funk (2002 Institute), St. Joseph Central High School science teacher.
Susan Garrison (2002 Institute) has agreed to join our PLWP Advisory Board. Susan is serving as our Local Site Coordinator for the National Writing Project’s Research Study conducted by SRI International for the NWP, 2007-2011. She is coordinating the collection of data and writing samples required for the study from teachers and students at Maryville, Excelsior Springs, and Platte County Middle Schools.
Mary Lee Meyer (2002 Institute), recently conducted a two-day ‘technology residency’ in daughter Stacey Meyer’s (2002 Institute) art classes at North Nodaway School. Mary Lee and Stacey worked with the students as they wrote poems and created art projects about them in digital formats.
Tom Pankiewicz has accepted an invitation to share his writing project wisdom with other site leaders and join the NWP’s Directors Retreat leadership team. As such, he’ll be part of the planning and facilitating team in modeling and leading other NWP site directors and leaders from around the country in how to become better institute facilitators and site directors at the annual NWP Directors Retreat—officially beginning fall 2008. Tom will be an active participant, however, in the 2008 retreat, July 30 – August 3. The retreat venue: Rock Creek Resort – Red Lodge, MT!
Valorie Stokes (1994 Institute) was a participant in a Paul Allison's weekly Skype live webcast at teachersteaching teachers.org. on November 7. You can listen to Valorie and the other writing project teachers discussing "Digital Composing at the National Writing Project Meeting" as an audio podcast at http://teachersteachingteachers.org/?p=141.
November 2007:
Michelle O'Connor (2004 Invitational Institute), received her Masters in Education degree from University of Central Missouri in August. She teaches at Lathrop R-II Middle School.
Carrie Lamm-Clark (2006 Institute) attended the “We the People” Summer Institute sponsored by the Center for Civic Education and the Missouri Bar this past summer. She is back on active status in the Missouri Army National Guard as a First Lieutenant in the 1128th Forward Support Company in Marshall, MO.
Charlotte Grider (2005 Institute) recently passed the PRAXIS test for teaching middle school in Missouri; her teaching certifications now include the following: English/Communication Arts 5-12, Speech and Theater 5-12, and French k-12.
Mary Lee Meyer (2002 Institute), recently conducted a presentation about century farms for third graders in Sharon Luke’s class at Stanberry Elementary School. Students wrote a word “Farm” poem which is published on Mary Lee’s blog. “The blog and poem creations are wonderful. Thanks for the precious time that you have given to our students,” Bob Heddinger, Stanberry Elementary School Principal, emailed Mary Lee.
Marie Puett (1999 Institute) is the President Elect of the Missouri STATE Council of International Reading Association. She is currently the General Conference Chair of MSC-IRA's state conference, “The Gift of Literacy.” For more information about the conference visit www.missourireading.org.
Dawn Terrick (2000 Institute), along with English faculty colleagues at MWSU, gave a panel presentation on "Applied Learning in English Studies: A Portrait" at the Purposes of English—A Conference on the Future of English Studies which was held at the University of Illinois-Springfield in October. She also made two presentations, "Using the Learning Community to Instruct and Engage Underprepared Students," and "Using a Student Publication to Motivate, Challenge and Retain Students in Developmental Writing Classes" at the 2007 Midwest Regional Association of Developmental Education Conference.
October 2007:
Kit Blake (2003 Institute) published “Partner Dialogue Journaling in Pre-service Teacher Literacy Courses,” in Professors of Reading Teachers, a peer-reviewed journal, last spring. She is an education faculty member at Missouri Western.
Stacy Cole (1999 Institute) is the new plant manager for EmPower Plant, located at the Heartland Foundation facility at Sixth and Messanie in St. Joseph. Stacy works with schools in 19 counties throughout northwest Missouri and bordering counties in Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas, engaging students in creative problem solving to make positive changes in our society.
Diane Goold, (1998 Institute) and St. Joseph News-Press Newspaper in Education (NIE) director, was honored by the Missouri Press Association in September. Her NIE program won second place among all daily newspapers in Missouri in the 2007 Better Newspaper Contest.
Kathy Kriepe (2000 Institute) is a Professional Learning Community coach at St. Joseph Robidoux Middle School where she teaches communication arts. Her one-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi won a Best of Breed award at a recent American Kennel Club all-breed dog show.
Kathy Miller (2001 Institute) is the A+ coordinator, EL coordinator and curriculum coach for the West Platte R-II School District. She is also an adjunct English teacher at Missouri Western this fall.
Michelle O’Connor (2004 Institute) received her Master’s in Teaching from Missouri Central University – Warrensburg this summer; she teaches communication arts at Lathrop Middle School.
Sandra Pettit (1998 Institute) completed her doctorate this year, and in July, became the executive director of SuccessLink, an online resource of lesson plans, technology materials, and best practice materials, sponsored in part by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and designed to “promote the best teaching ideas throughout Missouri.”
Jan Reeder (1991 Institute) occasionally conducts writing workshops for inner-city youth in Kansas City. She recently participated in a three-day walk for the cure for breast cancer in Chicago.
Debbie Schwebach (2002 Institute) is the new curriculum director for the Lathrop R-II School District, where she teaches communication arts, including dual-credit English through Missouri Western State University.
Susan Wright-Garcia (2003 Institute) has “jumped ship to become a pirate,” moving from the North Kansas City School District to the Platte County School District this fall. As a pirate [Platte County mascot], Susan teaches grade eight special education.
September 2007:
Please welcome Trish Donaher, Jerri Fischer, Cathy Fitzgerald, Shannon Harris, Meredith Katchen, Ruth Lovejoy, Amy F. Miller, Janis Pargas, Catrina Pelton, Tina Reineke, Melissa Robinson, Jennifer Schaeffer, Jill Steinmetz, Stacia Studer, Jennifer Vermillion, and Jo Ann Wann to the PLWP TC Family. They have sucessfully completed the 2007 Summer Invitational Institute and will receive their NWP Teacher Consultant Certificates at our October 6 “Twenty Years, 1987-2007: Twenty Moments” Saturday Seminar. Click here for photos of the 2007 Institute.
Christie Hofmeister (2004, 2005, 2007 Institute Participant) has agreed to serve as our Prairie Lands Program Director.
Stephen Kibler (2002 Institute Particpant) wrote The Boxcar Children and the Mystery of the Lost Village, a commissioned play which was performed last May at the Theater for Young America at Union Station in Kansas City, MO.
Terri McAvoy (1996 Institute Participant) has agreed to serve as our PLWP co-program director. Terri ‘retired’ as our program director when she retired from full-time teaching at St Joseph Skaith Elementary School last spring; we’re delighted that she’s agreed to work half-time for the SJSD this year as an Instructional Coach at Neely Elementary School and return to Prairie Lands as Christie’s mentor.
Valorie Stokes (1994 Institute Participant) wrote the successful grant application so that her school, Platte County R-III High School, has received a set of National Endowment for the Humanities “We the People: Picturing America” materials: large-scale reproductions of American Art and accompanying Teachers Resource Book.
Kimberly Warren (2001 Institute Particpant) received the 2006-07 Non-Rotarian of the Year Award from the St. Joseph East Side Rotary.
