PUPILS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

PUPILS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Off to military academies
U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, D-Lisbon, announced that nine high school seniors from the 12-county 6th Congressional District were accepted to military academies in the fall. Of the nine, four attend Mahoning Valley schools. Brian Hewko of Canfield High School, son of Kathryn Hewko, and Lauren Teal of Salem High School, daughter of Ronald F. and Linda D. Teal, will both attend West Point. Matthew Linsley of East Palestine High School, son of Lynn and Roger Linsley, and Jefferson Sarchione of West Branch High School, son of Joseph and Annette Sarchione, will both attend the Naval Academy.
K-12 NEWS
Entries sought for award
KnowledgeWorks Foundation is conducting a national search for excellent schools that seek to build schools as centers of community by being open to community use and welcoming resources that support the success of pupils and the community. A winning school will receive an Award for Excellence and a $5,000 grant. The contest is open to all current public schools now being designed and developed. Entries will be accepted until July 23 and a winner will be announced Sept. 28. Schools, architects, community groups and others wishing to participate can find criteria and other details at www.kwfdn.org/ProgramAreas/Facilities/index.html.
Skate Connection trips
BOARDMAN -- The Skate Connection on Tiffany Boulevard is donating free, private daytime field trips to area public schools at the end of the school year. The business will waive the $200 rink fee. Groups must be 150 or more and skaters can rent skates or bring their own. Call Kim Kyle at (330) 758-6989 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Virtual-school information
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Ohio Virtual Academy, a public community school, will sponsor information sessions at 1 and 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Best Western Meander Inn, 870 N. Canfield-Niles Road. Presented will be a demonstration of the virtual school, curriculum and materials and 2004-05 enrollment information. The academy is a statewide public community school serving pupils in kindergarten through seventh grades. Pupils work at home with a parent or responsible adult and receive instruction and guidance from teachers who operate remotely; each pupil receives a computer, access to the online school and other needed equipment and materials. For more information, call (419) 482-0948 or visit www.ohva.org.
EDUCATOR NEWS
Campbell teacher's award
CAMPBELL -- Karen Carney, a first-grade teacher at Campbell Elementary Middle School, was recently named Elementary Educator of the Year for 2004 by the Ohio Council Teachers of English Language Arts in Columbus.
Carney is also the school's literacy specialist, and has served as president of the Mahoning Valley Council of the International Reading Association. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member for the Beeghly College of Education at Youngstown State University.
2004 Honors Professor
YOUNGSTOWN -- Rosemary D'Apolito, associate professor of sociology and anthropology at Youngstown State University, was named 2004 Honors Professor at the recent YSU 2004 Honors Luncheon. The award is based on a vote by graduating seniors in YSU's honors program. The luncheon was held to acknowledge the contributions of faculty to the honors program and to celebrate the 2004 graduates of the program.
ITEA award winner
Joe DiNobile of Youngstown, a teacher of technology education at Southeast High School in Ravenna, was one of 37 teachers nationwide to receive the International Technology Education Association's Teacher Excellence Award. DiNobile was honored at the ITEA's annual conference last month and was given the award based on his contribution to the profession and to his students' learning.
Golden Apple Awards
YOUNGSTOWN -- Four local teachers are among the 10 named as winners of the Golden Apple Award by the Office of Catholic Schools, Diocese of Youngstown. Local winners are Bernadette Hogg of Holy Family School in Poland; Diane Mastro Nard of Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown; Linda Miller of Ursuline High School in Youngstown; and Patricia Wills of St. Christine School in Youngstown.
The $2,500 awards honor individuals who devote their lives to teaching in Catholic schools and includes a certificate and Golden Apple paperweight and lapel pin. Criteria are having taught full-time at a school for three years; professional development; commitment to pupils and the school; leadership; service to the church and community; teaching skills; and role modeling as a Catholic educator. The awards were established by the Donahue Family Foundation of Pittsburgh, which also supports similar awards in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Winners will be presented the awards by Bishop Thomas Tobin at a dinner Thursday.
Clinic for math coaches
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- The second Mathematics Coaches Clinic will be held at Westminster College from 4-6 p.m. Thursday in the McKelvey Campus Center. The event, sponsored by the Westminster College Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and the Tri-State Area School Study Council, is open to all mathematics teachers, administrators, department heads and all interested education personnel.
The agenda includes teaching fractions, the role of the mathematics coach and calculators. The event also focuses on curriculum, instruction and pupil assessment issues in mathematics. For more information, call Carol Fiumara at (724) 946-7175 or Chet Kent at (724) 648-7169.