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School News - Tip Sheet - 8/20/2008

Memorial Teacher Takes Part in Science Foundation’s Project 

8/15/2008

Memorial High School chemistry teacher Darla Coghill has been selected to receive what’s termed a “graduate assistanceship” offered by the National Science Foundation. She’ll be teaming with other scientists on an NSF-funded project called Developing Inquiry-Based Instruction Skills.

“In science we encourage our students to ask questions and learn hands on,” Coghill said, “and on our project we’ll be looking at teacher direction.”

A former engineer, Coghill has taught at Memorial for close to a decade.

“We are very proud to have her as part of (our) staff,” said Memorial Principal Elizabeth Martin.

The assistanceship’s benefits include a $3000 stipend, tuition and fees totaling $1017 and a $1000 travel stipend to the foundation’s annual conference in New Orleans.

 

School Board Approves Contract Hiring Dr. Keith Ballard 

8/18/2008

The Tulsa Public Schools’ Board of Education unanimously approved a contract hiring Dr. Keith Ballard as the district’s new superintendent.

Board president Gary Percefull called the contract a “very fair compensation package…fair and equitable.” A committee examined comparable salaries in districts across the state.

The contract, with a base salary of $200-thousand annually, begins in October and expires in June of 2012. It’s divided into four terms with room for annual evaluations.

The contract is the latest in Ballard’s long foray into education. He cut his teeth in the classroom, beginning his academic career as a teacher in 1972 in the Coweta Public Schools system. Holding multiple degrees, Ballard lobbied the state legislature numerous times on behalf of the Oklahoma’s students, meeting with legislative committees and assisting in drafting state law. He’s also served on several committees examining statewide educational issues.

Ballard has a massive list of accomplishments outside of the political arena, a few of which include: Founding member of the Oklahoma Education Coalition, terms as both chair and member of the Oklahoma Educational Technology Trust’s Board of Trustees and terms as president of the Oklahoma Educational Technology Trust, the United Suburban Schools Association, the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators and the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators. In 1988 the National School Board Association cited Ballard as one of the top 100 administrators in North America with 10 years of administrative experience or less.

He has most recently been executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association and a professor at both the University of Oklahoma and Southern Nazarene University.

Ballard has been married to his wife Christie for 36 years and has two grandchildren.

 

Pack the Train!—TPS Employees Donate To Tulsa Students 

8/18/2008

Employees of Tulsa Public Schools are dipping into their own pockets to ensure that no child in the district goes without essentials during the school year.

A fairly realistic large-scale reproduction of a train—complete with engine, lead car and caboose—has been placed inside the Education Service Center for our workers to pack with supplies, including books, hand-sanitizer, zip lock bags, tissue paper, colored pencils, paper towels and backpacks.

The train will be in the Selman room from Aug 18-22. The address is 3027 South New Haven Avenue.

 

Input Wanted On Alternative Ed. 

8/20/2008, 5 p.m.

Tulsa Public Schools wants your input as part of an alternative education audit. The effort, mandated by the TPS Board of Education, is all about keeping the district at the head of the class.

“We look at all of our alternative education sites,” said Roberta Ellis, Assistant to the Superintendent for Accountability and Research. “We want to be at the cutting edge of what alternative schools do nationally.”

The district is partnering with MGT of America, Inc, one of the nation’s leading educational management consulting firms, in hosting an Alternative Education Community Open House. The public is invited to participate in what’s called a “Walk About”—essentially sharing ideas through written comments. Topics will be varied and open, ranging from accommodations and eligibility to professional development and parent involvement.

The Walk About is 5-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 20, at the Education Service Center, Cheryl Selman Room, 3027 South New Haven Avenue.

 

Emerson Back-To-School-Night  

8/21/2008, 5:30 p.m.

Emerson Elementary is welcoming students that are returning back to the 'ole drawing board. Appropriately titled a back-to-school-night, the event features PTA representatives with information about vacant officer positions and volunteer opportunities, a chance to meet the school’s teachers and a yummy dinner of hot dogs, chips and soda. A throwback to simpler times occurs in the Emerson gym with an old-fashioned sock hop.

The cost is $1, money that’s earmarked for additional socks and underwear for any student in need.

 

Award-Winning Author Coming to Barnard 

8/22/2008, 9 a.m.

Award-winning author Louis Sachar is coming to Henry Barnard Elementary School on Friday, August 22.

Sachar is perhaps best known for his 1998 novel “Holes” and the "Sideways Stories from Wayside School" book series, with the former netting him a National Book Award and the Newbery Medal. “Holes” brought Sachar a wider audience when it was made into a feature in 2003 starring Shia LaBeouf, Sigourney Weaver and Jon Voight. Sachar wrote the screenplay.

Barnard librarian Cindy Barber said students at the school are “thrilled” Sachar is coming as they are major fans of his works--especially the “Marvin Redpost” series.

“He’s an author that writes about things that could happen in a child’s life, but it’s a really spiced-up version,” she said. “He writes on their level and kids really enjoy him.”

Test scores in the district have gone up. Barber says events like Sachar’s visit contribute to an increased level of intellectual activity.

“When students are presented with an opportunity to meet a favorite author in an intimate forum such as a school visit they become motivated to read as many works by this author as possible,” she said. “An increase in the amount of time students spend reading will always have a positive influence on test scores.”

Sachar will be at Barnard from 9-10 a.m. Later that day he’s making an appearance at Central Library at 7p.m.

Originally from New York, Sachar published his first book in 1974. In 2006 Sachar was asked if he includes any of his own childhood experiences in his books.

“Not really. It's more how I felt as a child. How I viewed the world. What I thought of girls, for example, when I was 9. That kind of thing.”

 

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