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2 Teachers are Tops kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc. April 30, 2012

April 30, 2012 ©KPC Media Group Inc. • kpcnews.com Teachers are Tops 3

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOSTABOUT TEACHING? My favoriteaspect of teaching is, of course,the children! I love to hear theirthoughts and ideas and eachchild’s particular view of theworld and how it works. They arefun and funny, insightful andnaive and always, alwayschallenging! I want each one to besuccessful, and productive, andhappy, and I love being a part ofthat. Another favorite aspect ofteaching for me is being part of afantastic staff, an awesome team.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHANGE?It’s hard to think of just one bigchange in education. There havebeen so many! Obviously the everincreasing use of technology is abig one. The introduction of stateand core standards has been avery big, and very helpful,change. The increased emphasison assessment of students, ofteachers, and of schools has alsobeen a huge change.

WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE FORPARENTS? I would encourageparents to help their children seeeducation as a key to the futureand to teach them to value andappreciate it as something thatcan enable and empower them to

have the future that they desire.WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR

SOMEONE GOING INTO EDUCATIONTODAY? Don’t go into it if youdon’t love children and aren’tpassionate about helping themreach their potential. There are alot of changes taking place andwill continue to take place, andthat makes for a certain amount ofupheaval. But if you start out byloving kids and being passionateabout helping them, then you’llfind your way.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOURFAVORITE BOOKS? WHAT BOOK AREYOU READING NOW? I lovechildren’s books! I love Jan

Brett’s beautifully illustrated folktales. I love Daniel San Souci’s“North Country Night.” I love“Time For Bed” by Mem Fox,one of my former professors.Along with my second graders, Ilove “The Magic Tree House”stories starring Jack and Annie,the Junie B. Jones books, and allthe Henry and Mudge stories.Regarding adult literature, twobooks I read recently and enjoyedwere David Beniof’s “City ofThieves” and Julia Glass’s “I SeeYou Everywhere.” Right now I’mrereading Jan Karon’s Mitfordseries. I’m a bedtime reader andduring busy, stressful times (like

the end of the school year) I oftenreread old favorites that arecalming rather than challenging.

WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO INRETIREMENT? Upon retiring, I’mlooking forward to being moreinvolved in church activities. I’vepromised my co-workers that I’lldrop by from time to time withgoodies, and that I’ll be there tohelp out when they need me atschool. I’ll be spending more timewith my 90 year-old father who

lives nearby, and I hope to spendmore time with our daughters andson-in-law who live in othercities.

IS THERE ONE SPECIFICCLASSROOM MEMORY/EVENT THATYOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?Teaching in a Christan schoolwhere I have been able to sharewith children the wonderfulmessage that God loves them hasbeen a tremendous privilege. Ifeel very thankful.

Cindy Griebel, second grade teacherSt. John Lutheran School, Kendallville; 30 years

Cindy GriebelCHAD KLINE

Welcome to Teachers Are Tops, a newspecial publication of KPC Media Group.As the school year winds down, our goal isto recognize some of the outstandingeducators who have enabled our youngpeople to achieve in many ways. Ourschools have many “unsung heroes” whowork creatively and tirelessly to give theirstudents the best possible start as theyjourney toward adulthood and — we hope— a lifetime of learning.

The teachers in this section werenominated online at kpcnews.com. Manymore names were submitted for considera-tion. Eventually more profiles will appearonline in a Teachers Are Tops section atkpcnews.com.

We look forward to your input!

Welcome

“She always has a positive attitude, which rubs off on her

students and coworkers. She lights the school up and greets

all the students, staff and parents with a loving smile. Her

example has helped start many young people on the right

track in life. She truly walks the walk by example to all that

have the privilege to know her.”

Ethan Kessler and family

•

WHY DID YOU CHOOSEEDUCATION AS A CAREER? Ialways loved school growingup. It was what I was familiarwith, and my family had alwaysstressed the value of education.I also knew that I wanted a jobdealing directly with people.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITEASPECT OF TEACHING? One ofmy favorite things is when

students get excited by ideasthat have been triggered by ourclass discussions, our look atliterature, and the activities wedo. To have a student look at anissue in a new way, to take theimaginative leap, to see therelationship of literature to theirown lives is very rewarding. Ihave also enjoyed the manywonderful students and fellow

teachers that I have workedwith.

WHAT IS ONE OF THEBIGGEST CHANGES YOU HAVESEEN OVER THE YEARS?Obviously, one of the biggestchanges I have seen over theyears is the use of technology inthe classroom. I also have seenmore diversity in ourcommunity along with more

governmental input and require-ments.

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOUHAVE FOR PARENTS? It is veryimportant for parents to take anactive interest in their child’seducation,

Being supportive, involved,and having high expectationsalong with stressing student

Debra Hockley, English teacherEnglish teacher at East Noble High School, started in 1977,

retiring with 24 years of experience in the classroom

See HHOCKLEY Page 4


responsibility is paramount.Raising children in anatmosphere whereeducation is deemedvaluable and spoken of in apositive way helps , too!

WHAT ADVICE WOULDYOU GIVE SOMEONE

CONSIDERING EDUCATIONAS A CAREER? You willnever be bored! You willalso constantly bechallenged in a thousanddifferent ways. Be preparedto work many, many hoursoutside of the scheduledwork day and be ready todeal with lots of differentpersonalities. Above all,

you must have the desire tomake the world a betterplace through education.

WHAT ARE SOME OFYOUR FAVORITE BOOKS?WHAT BOOK ARE YOUREADING NOW? I have somany books that I love, itis almost impossible to saywhat my favorite is! I amcurrently reading “Flowers

for Algernon” (for aboutthe 10th time) along withmy freshmen students.

DO YOU HAVE A QUOTEOR INSPIRATIONALPASSAGE THAT GUIDESYOU? I have a poster on mywall at school that says,“We are what we repeat-edly do. Excellence then, isnot an act but a habit.”

Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)said that. There is a lot oftruth there. Ideally,everyone should care andtry to do their best!

WHAT DO YOU PLAN TODO IN RETIREMENT? I planon reading lots of books,volunteering, traveling, andturning off my alarmclock!

From Page 3

HOCKLEY

WHY DID YOU CHOOSEEDUCATION AS A CAREER? I choseeducation as a career because Ilove watching kids learn, grow,and succeed. I was a peer tutor inhigh schoool and helped in anelementary classroom. I knew assoon as I started working with thekids that education was the onlycareer for me.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITEASPECT OF TEACHING? Myfavorite part of teaching is justbeing able to watch the samegroup of students gain confidencein themselves and discover thatthey can ALL be successful.

WHAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGESTCHANGES YOU HAVE SEEN OVERTHE YEARS? There are higher andhigher expectations being placedon students and teachers at eachgrade level.

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HAVEFOR PARENTS? When parents trulycare about their child’s education,their child cares more too. Themore encouraging and supportiveyou are as a parent, the moremotivated your child will become.Teach them from an early age thattheir education is important. Themore time you spend readingtogether at home, the moresuccessful they will be in theclassroom.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOUGIVE SOMEONE CONSIDERINGEDUCATION AS A CAREER? Thinkoutside the box. When planning

lessons, think about hooks thatwill connect with kids and getthem excited about the topic. Ifwe can find ways to make the

learning “sticky” for kids, youwill see that they will rememberthe information much longer and,ultimately, be more successful.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOURFAVORITE BOOKS? WHAT BOOKARE YOU READING NOW? I loveSharon Creech and AndrewClements books. I also love toread “Escaping the Giant Wave”and “Shiloh” with the students inmy class. I love the conversationsthat take place and seeing theexcitement in their eyes as theywonder what is going to happennext. Right now I am currentlyreading “Catching Fire” from theHunger Games series.

DO YOU HAVE A QUOTE ORINSPIRATIONAL PASSAGE THATGUIDES YOU? I like the quote,“Today a reader, tomorrow aleader,” by Margaret Fuller

IS THERE ONE SPECIFICCLASSROOM MEMORY/EVENTTHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?Each year, I love taking my classto Pioneer Day over at Stone’sTrace. It is the best day becausethe students get a chance toactually see what it was like to bea pioneer. They get to experiencewhat school was like back thenand see how life was differentthan it is today.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONETHING ABOUT EDUCATION TODAYWHAT WOULD IT BE? I think it isimportant to have high expecta-tions for teachers and students,but I wish there was a way torelieve some of the pressure thatwe are all feeling.

Stacy Blosser, fourth grade teacherWest Noble Elementary; 6 years

Stacy BlosserCHAD KLINE

Stacy is a remarkable teacher.She is very creative andinnovative. She engages herstudents with a wide variety ofeffective instructional strategiesand activities. She createsalmost all of the activitiesherself based on the standardsand her students’ needs.When you go into herclassroom you see kids collab-orating together, engaged inhands on activities, andthinking and working at a veryhigh level. Each year, Stacyhas several English Languagelearners in her class. Thosestudents, as well as her otherstudents, achieve at a very highlevel in their daily work and onassessments. Her studentslove her and work for herbecause they know shebelieves in them and makeslearning fun. Stacy getsoutstanding results from herstudents.

-Mark Yoder

I have had the privilege to workwith Stacy Blosser for 5 years.I often take many of our newteachers into Stacy’sclassroom for peer observa-tions for it is within Stacy’sfourth grade classroom that thestudent enthusiasm for learningand the student confidencetoward difficult tasks is visibleon a daily basis. Stacy continu-ally relates difficult learningprocesses to current culturaltrends. Learning to write well isexperienced by being on afourth grade appropriate“American Idol” or “The Voice”.Learning to present anargument is experienced ascreating an infomercial. Stacyis so in tune to academicstandards and the lives of herstudents that she is never outof ideas to make fourth gradeconcepts relevant, authentic,and exciting. Stacy hasdeveloped the professionalhabit of mind of reflection thatleads to goal setting; this habitof mind is helping her build astrong foundation to continueto grow in her teaching. Stacydemonstrates the dynamic,always changing craft ofteaching that all students need.

- Ann VanDuyne

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE EDUCATION AS ACAREER? Out of a desire to help others tohelp themselves to become independentlife-long learners.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ASPECT OFTEACHING? Sharing my ability inmathematics with bewildered students.

WHAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGESYOU HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS?Technology

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HAVE FORPARENTS? Read to your children at anearly age and provide them with opportu-nities to explore, investigate, and test theirideas. Teach them respect and how to workhard. Engage them in intellectual pursuitsand conversation.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVESOMEONE CONSIDERING EDUCATION AS ACAREER? Develop relationships with all ofyour students.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITEBOOKS? WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READINGNOW? I enjoy reading biographies,financial articles, and newspaper. I amcurrently reading the book “Pistol: TheLife of Pete Maravich.”

DO YOU HAVE A QUOTE OR INSPIRA-TIONAL PASSAGE THAT GUIDES YOU? “Godhelps those who help themselves.”

WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO IN RETIRE-MENT? I plan on spending plenty ofquality time with my lovely wife, children,and grandchildren. I also am lookingforward to traveling around the world.

IS THERE ONE SPECIFIC CLASSROOMMEMORY/EVENT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TOSHARE? When a whole class rallied arounda student who was recovering from

surgery.IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING

ABOUT EDUCATION TODAY WHAT WOULD ITBE? The rush to computers across alldisciplines, which is robbing students ofthe attention to detail, deductive reasoningskills and the committing of knowledge to

long-term memory. Students oftenask,“Why learn it when I can use a searchengine to tell me the answer?”


Saint Joe, IN

Proudly Saluting

ALL OUR TEACHERS

“The Nation’s Largest Recycler”

for all your years of service!

301 S. Oak Street, Kendallville260-347-2444 • www.stjohneagles.org

St. John Lutheran School

Mrs. Griebel is everything you would want from a teacher and more. Cindy is warm, caring, loving, and professional. My son is a better person from having her as his teacher. She will be truly missed.”

- Beth Klink, 2nd grade parent

THANK YOU, MRS. GRIEBEL,

Jerry Disque, eighth grade math teacherTaught at Lancaster School (Northern Wells) and

currently teaches at DeKalb Middle School; 35 years

Jerry DisqueCHAD KLINE

“Mr. Disque is a wonderful teacher. All three of my children had him for

Algebra I. Mr. Disque made sure that they were very well prepared both for

the next math class and for the ECA required by the state. All of my children

enjoyed Mr. Disque and his class. The expectations were high and the help to

achieve was endless.”

Natalie Goings

•

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WHY DID YOU CHOOSE EDUCATION AS ACAREER? I love working with children andseeing them grow, learn, and mature.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ASPECT OFTEACHING? Each day is interesting becauseyou never know what is going to happen,something different happens every day. It’s agreat feeling when you see children smilingbecause they have learned something new.

WHAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGESYOU HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS? Thecurriculum is much more difficult andcertain skills are introduced at a lower gradelevel than when I started teaching.

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HAVE FORPARENTS? Spend quality time with yourchild, read with your child, and let them seeyou reading a book also. Show an interest inyour child’s school work and see that theirdaily assignments are completed.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONECONSIDERING EDUCATION AS A CAREER? Beprepared to spend lots of time outside of theclassroom making lesson plans. It is arewarding career but is also very timeconsuming.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITEBOOKS? WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?For myself I like to read biographies. I love toread books to students that make them smileand want to read more.

WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO IN RETIRE-MENT? I want to spend more time with myfamily and friends, knit and crochet for charityorganizations, travel, and enjoy relaxing times.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUTEDUCATION TODAY WHAT WOULD IT BE?Children need to have more time to bechildren rather than always being prepared forthe next test.

Phyllis Christner, third grade teacherTopeka Elementary School; 43 years

Phyllis ChristnerCHAD KLINE

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE EDUCATION AS ACAREER? The only thing I ever wanted to dowas to be a teacher. I think I started teachingwhen I was about five years old. I wasconstantly playing “school” in my basement.I’d beg, bribe, or coerce anyone I could tobe my students. I loved school, and being ateacher was my dream.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ASPECT OFTEACHING? The best part of teaching iswatching the children grow throughout theyear. Sometimes it is a real challengepresenting new skills in varying ways, butwhen a student’s eyes light up because anew concept is understood it is the bestfeeling.

I also love it when students that I’ve hadin the past come back all grown up to tellme where they are going to college or aboutanother big step they are about to take suchas joining the military or getting engaged.Knowing that something I said or did madean impact in their lives is a powerful thing.

WHAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGESYOU HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS? The useof technology in the classroom is the biggestchange I’ve seen over the years. When Istarted teaching computers were just beingintroduced into the classrooms. Childrentoday can go virtually anywhere in theworld. There is so much information at theirfingertips.

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HAVE FORPARENTS? Perhaps the most important thingI would want to tell parents is fathers shouldshow love and respect for the mother oftheir children, and mothers should showlove and respect to the fathers of theirchildren. I truly believe if a child witnessedthis each day many of the problems atschool would disappear. I also believe afamily should do at least one thing togethereveryday, maybe read together, play a game,take a bike ride, or do a craft. Make it apriority to read every day with your child.Make sure they see you reading. That way

they will know you feel it is important, andit will be important to them, as well.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVESOMEONE CONSIDERING EDUCATION AS ACAREER? If you are considering going intothe field of education, you need to know thatyou have to work really hard. However,there are few occupations that are asrewarding. You face new challenges everyday. Children come to you with differentbackgrounds and experiences. Meeting theirneeds means always searching for new waysto present ideas and new ways to practiceskills they need to master. The wonderfulaccomplishments, stories, ideas, and experi-ences you get to share are well worth theeffort.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITEBOOKS? WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READINGNOW? My favorite book is the Bible. Rightnow, I am reading “Lost Child in theWoods” by Richard Louv. I am also reading“The Lucky One” by Nicholas Sparks.

DO YOU HAVE A QUOTE OR INSPIRA-TIONAL PASSAGE THAT GUIDES YOU? Myfavorite inspirational verse comes fromPhilippians 4:13, “I can do all thingsthrough Christ who strengthens me.”Teaching is demanding and stressful attimes. Knowing I have help makes thechallenges less daunting.

WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO IN RETIRE-MENT? When I retire I hope to spoil myfuture grandchildren. I also hope to travel,and take up hobbies that I don’t seem tohave the time to do now.

IS THERE ONE SPECIFIC CLASSROOMMEMORY/EVENT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TOSHARE? It would be difficult to choose justone memorable event that was meaningfulfor me. Some things that I hold very dearare letters from past students or their parentswho are appreciative of something I’ve donefor them or their child. I also love thepriceless things children say. They have thebest ideas, opinions, and stories.

Kathy Beckman, third grade teacherCurrently at St. Mary of the Assumption School, Avilla, and has taught at

St. Therese School in Waynedale and at Sacred Heart School in Warsaw; 21 years


WHY DID YOU CHOOSEEDUCATION AS A CAREER? Iwanted to work with children, tohelp them experience happiness inlearning.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITEASPECT OF TEACHING? I love that Iplay so many roles in a child’slife. Being a teacher allows me toteach, counsel and be a rolemodel, along with being a part-time nurse, mom, and grandma tomy students.

WHAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGESTCHANGES YOU HAVE SEEN OVERTHE YEARS? As more families areaffected by unemployment, single-parent households and working atminimum wage jobs, it seems theschool has become an ever-growing crucial part of thecommunity. From church youthgroups to community outreachprograms, the public library, after-school supervised tutoring andactivities, we are all playing a vitalrole in the lives of children. It’snot just the parents raising thechildren, it’s a group effort forwhich we all must be responsible.

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HAVEFOR PARENTS? I would ask allparents to make it part of theirdaily schedule to spend qualitytime with their child. The timespent reading together, takingwalks, talking with your child,playing games, planning a meal,to name a few suggestions; totruly know your child, is to loveyour child.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE

SOMEONE CONSIDERINGEDUCATION AS A CAREER?Teaching is a very demanding, yetrewarding career. You can’t sethours to it — you arrive at schoolearly, you stay late, you take ithome with you, and it often wakesyou up in the middle of the night.You do it all for the children,because you care, and you want“your kids” to grow up and behappy and productive members ofsociety.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOURFAVORITE BOOKS? I love to readnonfiction books to my firstgraders. Some of my favorites areabout Helen Keller, Squanto andAmerican Indian weaving. I’mcurrently reading a fiction bookabout a young girl named Clemen-tine, written by Sara Pennypacker.

DO YOU HAVE A QUOTE ORINSPIRATIONAL PASSAGE THATGUIDES YOU? These words were

given to me once: “To a specialteacher who taught my mind tothink and my heart to care.”

IS THERE ONE SPECIFICCLASSROOM MEMORY/EVENT THATYOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? I waswith my class of first graderswhen our country was attacked on

9/11. My feelings went fromdisbelief, shock, and fear, to aneed to protect my children. It washard to focus on teaching for therest of the day.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONETHING ABOUT EDUCATION TODAYWHAT WOULD IT BE? Rather than

spending so many tax dollars onever-changing standardized tests, Iwould put some of that moneytowards helping to meet the needsof the students. Such areas mightinclude funding full-time elemen-tary guidance counselors andreading specialists.

Tammy Sherer, elementary school teacherJ.E. Ober Elementary (one year), Butler Elementary; 25 years

Tammy Sherer

CHAD KLINE

She is a dedicated teacher.She is the mother of a son inthe armed services and andbrings her patriotism to theschool. She has talked to thirdgraders on Veteran’s Dayabout showing this patriotism.She is a member of theDaughters of the AmericanRevolution. Many of ourstudents have competed andwon prizes in their annualcontest because of herenthusiasm and encourage-ment.

- Judy Miller

“Those who educate children well are more to be honored than they who produce them; for these only gave them life, those the art of living well.”

— Aristotle

“The great teachers fill you up with hope and shower you with a thousand reasons to embrace all aspects of life.”

— Pat Conroy


WHY DID YOU CHOOSEEDUCATION AS A CAREER? I grewup with 28 cousins. I was alwaysthe babysitter for the youngerones. I have always loved to bearound children. Their joy of lifeand learning is infectious.

WHAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGESTCHANGES YOU HAVE SEEN OVERTHE YEARS? The biggest changethat I have witnessed is thewaning respect for teachers. WhenI began my teaching career, mosteveryone was respectful andreverent towards teachers.

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HAVEFOR PARENTS? My message toparents is simple. From infancyon, read to your child. Hold them,sit beside them with your armaround them and read, talk aboutthe pictures, and what you thinkwill happen next in the story.

WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO INRETIREMENT? First and foremost Iplan to spend time with myfamily. I have seven grandchildrenwho live in the Muncie andNoblesville area.

IS THERE ONE SPECIFICCLASSROOM MEMORY/EVENT

THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?I had a physically and cognitivelydisabled six year old girl who hadnever spoke a word. She wouldonly coo or cry. One day I put heron my lap to swing and suddenly Iheard this little voice say, “I’mgonna go home and tell mymom.” Needless to say I about felloff of the swing. She neverstopped talking after that.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONETHING ABOUT EDUCATION TODAYWHAT WOULD IT BE? I would notput so much emphasis on a yearlygroup achievement test. TheISTEP test should be used only toinform the teacher about the skillsa student has mastered andretained over time. The deficitsshown should drive the educationof that child. The results shouldnot be used to drive pay or tojump to conclusions about aschool or an educator. There aretoo many variables that affect achild’s performance. We deal withhumans, not raw materials. I don’tknow of an educator that isn’thappy when they see a studentgrow and flourish.

Rebecca Young, special education teacherCarlin Park Elementary, Lakeland High School, Parkside Elementary,

and Wolcott Mills Elementary; 36 years

Rebecca Young

CHAD KLINE

“The world of literature has everything in it, and it refuses to leave anything out. I have read like a man on fire my whole life because the genius of

English teachers touched me with the dazzling beauty of language. Because of them I rode with Don Quixote and danced with Anna Karenina at a

ball in St. Petersburg and lassoed a steer in ‘Lonesome Dove’ and had nightmares about slavery in ‘Beloved’ and walked the streets of Dublin in

‘Ulysses’ and made up a hundred stories in the Arabian nights and saw my mother killed by a baseball in ‘A Prayer for Owen Meany.’ I’ve been in

ten thousand cities and have introduced myself to a hundred thousand strangers in my exuberant reading career, all because I listened to my

fabulous English teachers and soaked up every single thing those magnificent men and women had to give. I cherish and praise them and thank

them for finding me when I was a boy and presenting me with the precious gift of the English language.”

— Pat Conroy

“They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even when you don’t know it.”

— Nicholas Sparks, “Dear John”


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WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ASPECT OFTEACHING? My favorite aspect of teachingis having the opportunity, time and timeagain, to see the “light bulb” come on anda student’s face light up when they finallyget it.

WHAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGESYOU HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS? Thetremendous influx of technology integra-tion.

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HAVE FORPARENTS? Be involved in your child’seducation. Don’t be afraid to askquestions, we are always willing to help.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITEBOOKS? WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READINGNOW? I’m currently reading: “KillingLincoln: The Shocking Assassination ThatChanged America Forever” by BillO’Reilly and Martin Dugard

DO YOU HAVE A QUOTE OR INSPIRA-TIONAL PASSAGE THAT GUIDES YOU?“Don’t sweat the small stuff.”

IS THERE ONE SPECIFIC CLASSROOMMEMORY/EVENT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TOSHARE? There is a lesson I taught in 5thgrade science that I will never forget.During my second year teaching I decidedto take my class to the gym so they coulduse a roll of toilet paper to demonstratethe distance between planets in our solarsystem. Of course, I used single-ply, cost-saving toilet paper, which was not goodplan. As the groups stretched out theirrolls and began marking the planetlocations, the toilet paper started tearing.We mended what we could with tape,however, the worst came when theoverhead blower kicked on and our solarsystems went flying everywhere. I havenever heard so much laughter from thatmany ten-year-olds in my life!

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THINGABOUT EDUCATION TODAY WHAT WOULD ITBE? Smaller class sizes for more individu-alized instruction.

Stephanie Ortmann,middle school teacher

The Howe School, 7 years

Stephanie OrtmannPHOTO CONTRIBUTED

WHY DID YOU CHOOSEEDUCATION AS A CAREER? I justlove being with people. like totalk. I like to discuss ideas. I hadsome teachers who profoundlyinfluenced me. I lost my dad whenI was 8 years old. Several teachersencouraged me to write about it.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ASPECTOF TEACHING? Discussing bigideas. Discussing, “How does thisapply to me? How does this applyto the world?” I enjoy discussingwith students the impact big ideashave on us.

WHAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGESTCHANGES YOU HAVE SEEN OVER THEYEARS? Governmental interven-tion. That is a negative thing, Ithink. We are forced into a lockstep. It really bothers me. Weinterrupt education for testing.

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HAVEFOR PARENTS? Love your kids. Getinvolved with their life. Ask themquestions. Be present in their life.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVESOMEONE CONSIDERING EDUCATIONAS A CAREER? Have a passion forit. Never lose your passion. Beflexible. We are in a transition.Hang in there. As long aseducation is tied to politics, wewill be adjusting to every newregime, and it is difficult.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOURFAVORITE BOOKS? Some of myfavorites are ones that I teach:“Brave New World,” anything byAnna Quindlen, Toni Morrison,“The Bluest Eye.” The last page isjust amazing.

DO YOU HAVE A QUOTE ORINSPIRATIONAL PASSAGE THAT

GUIDES YOU? “Do what you canwith what you have where youare.”

IS THERE ONE SPECIFICCLASSROOM MEMORY/EVENT THATYOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?Mostly things that make youlaugh; I remember Brad Miller (atEast Noble). I am 5 feet tall. Isaid, “Brad, could you just benddown?” He got down on hisknees, and we were eye to eye,and he read his composition tome.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONETHING ABOUT EDUCATION TODAYWHAT WOULD IT BE? Get rid of theemphasis on testing. Return to theemphasis on individuality andindividual ways of learning. Iguess I am more Montessori in myapproach.

Shari Schippers, English teacherEast Noble High School, Bardstown, Ky.,

schools, currently at Prairie Heights High School; 26 years

Shari Schippers

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED


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“I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well.” — Alexander the Great

“Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself.” — Chinese Proverb

“The effects you will have on your students are infinite and currently unknown; you will possibly shape the way they proceed in their careers, the way they will vote, the way they will

behave as partners and spouses, the way they will raise their kids.” — Donna Quesada, “The Buddha in the Classroom: Zen Wisdom to Inspire Teachers”

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” — Albert Einstein

“The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called truth.” — Dan Rather

“One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched ourhuman feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the

vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.” — Carl Jung


West Noble School Corporation • 550 N. US Hwy. 33, Ligonier, IN260-894-3191 • 260-488-3191 • http://westnoble.K12.in.us

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TRIATHLONNewspaper in Education

2012

KPCSPRINT

DISTANCE

Saturday, July 14

BIXLER LAKE PARK, KENDALLVILLE, INDIANA

The beautiful shorter-distance course includes a competitive bike ride and a run through the

Mid-America Windmill Museum.

This event is perfect for both experienced triathletes

and those new to the sport! Teams are permitted!

Register now at kpctriathlon.com

Have Fun, Stay Fit and Support

Newspaper in Education

To learn more about Newspaper in Education, visit “Why NIE” at kpctriathlon.com

or contact Crystal at 260-347-0400 Ext. 109, [email protected]

With significant support from the KPC Sprint Triathlon fundraising, the KPC Media NIE

program distributed over 439,000 newspapers to students in the 4-county area in 2011!

COSPONSORS:

THE CITY OF

Proceeds will help

fund the KPC

Newspaper In

Education program

for schools in Noble,

Steuben, LaGrange

and DeKalb counties.

Early registration

discounts! SPECIAL AWARDS

FOR TEACHERS!

teachers are tops

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