Edison Earns Best Practice Grants
Three educators in the Edison Local School District received funding to help incorporate unique lessons for students.
Kari Byers, Stephanie Stevens, Jordan Byrley and Megan McNear each earned $600 Best Practice Grants from the Jefferson County Educational Service Center. They were recognized during Edison Local Board of Education meeting on Nov. 16 by Patty Ferrell, a coordinator at JCESC, who said a total of 49 grant applications were submitted this year with 10 entered by Edison teachers. She congratulated the recipients and wished them continued success in their endeavors.
Byers, who instructs third-grade reading and Language Arts at John Gregg Elementary, joins with Stevens, who teaches third-grade Language Arts, on one grant that will benefit an estimated 60 children annually with “Book Share: Building a Growth Mindset Outlook.” The project’s goal is to highlight books that teach growth mindset ideals. Students will share identified books orally and by follow-up activities such as journal prompts and games after the book share. Students will focus on challenging themselves, learning from mistakes and the ideal of “go-for-it” during learning experiences.
“The children in third grade still love when stories are read aloud, and we will incorporate activities and lessons that promote the ideals brought forth in these books,” Byers said. “We read aloud the growth mindset books, allow the children to reread them and do follow-up activities to bring the ideals to life or tie into the children’s lives.”
She noted that she has applied for and received Best Practice Grant funding in the past but was still excited by earning the latest allocation. Byers was thankful for the opportunity to fill her classroom library shelves with wonderful stories.
Byrley, a sixth-grade math teacher at Stanton Elementary, earned funding for “Rollercoasters Across the Curriculum,” which would enable students to work together to discover how rollercoasters were invented and how they have changed over the years, as well as to get hands-on and create their own models using STEM rollercoaster building sets. A total of 60 students would be part of the project and will incorporate math and science skills to map out their coaster’s speed and energy changes.
“The project will begin with an introductory lesson on how rollercoasters came to be. Students will be put in teams of four and begin researching how rollercoasters changed through the years,” Byrley explained. “They will have a choice to create a poster, slideshow or handout to go along with an oral presentation. The next part of the project has a heavy emphasis in STEM. Working with their teams, students will construct a rollercoaster using K’NEX kits. They will need to apply science and mathematical rules and theories in order to get their rollercoaster moving. The STEM project uses hands-on and inquiry-based learning to have students dive into the concept and not only learn it, but apply it.”
She added that the students will also calculate speed and show their data, plus diagram their rollercoaster and determine whether it has kinetic energy, potential energy and when it transitions from one energy state to another. Byrley said the project may also benefit fifth-grade pupils and she may expand it to include them. She noted that it was her first Best Practice Grant application and award, while she was honored to be a recipient.
McNear, who serves as guidance counselor at both elementary schools, will use her grant for “Classroom Guidance Curriculum.” The project will use a research-based, classroom guidance curriculum such as character education, success skills, goal setting and future planning. It aims to help about 800 students build and maintain relationships, learn to make decisions or problem solve and learn how to persevere.
“There are two curricula that will be purchased with this grant money to support the elementary students at Edison Local. The first is a character education curriculum focusing on a new trait each month called ‘Core Essentials Values: Core.’ This will help students to develop the qualities to help them become career and college ready and be successful in the future,” McNear said. “The second curriculum is through Student Success Skills and provides grade- appropriate lessons to help students learn the skills to be goal-oriented and self-monitoring. They then can utilize those skills throughout each grade level in order to develop social skills and achieve academically to their full potential. The curriculum is divided into lessons for grades K-1, 2-3 and 4-6 and focuses on the skills those students developmentally need most in order to succeed. Both of these programs will help support students by giving them the background skills to be successful in the classroom.”
She added that it was her first Best Practice Grant and she was excited to be awarded funds to implement the programs for the students.
JCESC has disbursed about 165 grants over the past decade to area school districts, including Buckeye Local, Edison, Indian Creek, Harrison Hills, Southern Local, Steubenville City and Toronto City as well as the Utica Shale Academy. Of those, Edison gained 32 grants for student learning.
The Jefferson County Educational Service Center presented three $600 Best Practice Grants to teachers in the Edison Local School District during the regular board meeting on Nov. 16. Pictured are, from left, JCESC Coordinator Patty Ferrell with recipients Megan McNear, Jordan Byrley, Stephanie Stevens and Kari Byers.
Community Grant Benefits PBIS Program
BERGHOLZ- A $2,000 grant will help John Gregg Elementary focus on students’ well-being through the school’s Positive Behaviors and Intervention Supports (PBIS) program.
School Principal Tammy Burchfield said she applied for funding from the Bergholz Community Foundation in May and recently learned it had been approved. The grant will help offset incentives and activities connected to the school’s PBIS program which aim to improve students’ academic, social and emotional growth. Burchfield said the school has been serving youth in the Edison Local School District for the past 40 years with a mission of providing excellence and improving academics. However, officials have had some difficulty in maintaining that momentum due to external circumstances which have wreaked havoc on students’ social and emotional development, and Burchfield cited an increase in poverty within the Appalachian region as one factor.
She said the grant will allow teachers to review PBIS points among students for good deeds such as improved grades and positive behaviors and provide incentives to continue that upward trend.
“We’re trying to develop a program to encourage them to do well academically and we’re also receiving a counselor this year [who will] go into the classrooms and talk to all of the students about the emotional and social side,” she explained. “Our PBIS team will also look at specifics and meet once a month and maybe identify students on the emotional and social development side [to help]. It’s the first time I have applied for the grant and it will begin during the 2017-18 school year. We’d like for it to be a program that we can continue and improve upon from year to year.”
The school will utilize the Class DOJO program to keep track of points for students who display a variety of positive characteristics, such as jumping a letter grade or more on their report card; making the honor roll; winning Academic Challenge against the principal; displaying positive responses during compromising situations; overcoming trials; demonstrating kindness; following safety procedures; acting responsibly in school; and taking on leadership roles. Students would receive rewards after acquiring a certain number of points throughout the year and during an assembly by the school PBIS team.
Another goal is to develop a connection between school, home and community and would open the school at least once a month to the community for public events. Activities may range from Family Movie Night and Community Character Skits to “Need to Know” seminars for parents, and Burchfield continued that the funding would support seminar presenters and items for the events.
“This program is the perfect outreach for our families within the community. The success of this program will be demonstrated through higher test scores, less office referrals and higher community participation. The bottom line is our students deserve to develop a firm foundation of academics, emotional well-being and social awareness to be successful in this ever-changing world.”
Edison High School senior Alizabeth Elliott, pictured front center in photo below, joined 100 students from across the United States for the Ultimate Med Internship at Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, this summer where she studied medical-related sciences at a local college and completed rounds with doctors in a hospital. The internship is part of the Congress of Future Medical Leaders and she said it was one of the best experiences of her life.
EHS Student Gains Medical Experience in India
RICHMOND-Edison High School senior Alizabeth Elliott came one step closer to joining the medical field after participating in a unique learning experience half a world away.
Elliott, the daughter of Lori and Eric Kutchmark of Richmond and Jim Elliott of Beaver Falls, Pa., joined about 100 other teens from across the United States for the Ultimate Med Internship, a program through the Congress of Future Medical Leaders, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, on June 29-July 17. Potential physicians attend in the Philippines or India and a total of 400 students take part in two sessions at the latter location throughout the summer. The teens earn real, hands-on learning at a local college and hospital by doing rounds with doctors, watching surgeries, and even working with cadavers.
“We went to a training hospital and the college next door. We made rounds at the hospital, depending on the specialty we were for the day,” she explained. “We scrubbed in for surgery, held tools for surgeons and talked to them and made rounds like doctors actually do. Later, we took college courses such as microbiology and pathology.”
She also had the chance to clean and dress patients’ wounds and remove stitches. Elliott also recalled watching childbirths, which unfortunately could be difficult since the babies were underweight, underdeveloped or stillborn. In one solemn instance, she and the teens formed a loving circle around a dying child and stayed until the newborn passed away. While at the college, the group studied biology, basic and advanced sciences and other courses required to go into the medical field. Elliott said she initially wanted to be an OB-GYN but changed her mind following the internship.
“I thought about going into the field, but when we went to do ultrasound on a man’s heart and I got it on the first try, that feeling you get when you see the heart chambers is amazing. I now want to be an ultrasound technician with a specialization in fetal hearts.”
She now plans to study medical imaging at Clarion University in Pennsylvania upon her graduation.
Elliott’s Far East sojourn was part of the Congress, as it is known, which she was among thousands of teens who attended last year at the University of Massachusetts Lowell near Boston, Mass. She was nominated by an EHS teacher to attend the event since she was eying a career in the medical field. The Congress is part of the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists and has been held for more than a quarter century. It is an
honors-only academy and participants must earn a 3.5 grade point average or higher and be nominated to attend. Its purpose is to honor, inspire, motivate, and direct top students throughout the country who aspire to be physicians or medical scientists, to stay true to their dream and, after the event, to provide a path, plan and resources to help them reach their goal.
For her part, Elliott is an honor student and has been active in the Beta and Spanish clubs. She and her family later started a GoFundMe page to help offset costs for her passage to India and she called it unforgettable.
“It was a very good, positive and educational experience. It was one of the most positive experiences of my life,” she said. “If I could go back to India, I would.”
As an ambassador for the Congress, she also encouraged her peers to consider taking part in the program, saying that she would speak with anyone who is interested.
Edison Restarts Destination Imagination
BERGHOLZ-Elementary students are letting their creativity soar with the reformation of Destination Imagination.
John Gregg and Stanton Elementary Schools restarted the program this year with Wendy Howell as coordinator. Howell, a teacher at John Gregg, said each site has three teams with a total of 45 students involved in grades K-6. Teams meet weekly to complete challenges and plans are to compete in the regional tournament this spring.
“We have Rising Star teams at both buildings for grades K-2. They are judged but are not competitive and don’t go further than the regionals,” Howell said. “There are two Maze Craze teams at Stanton, one is elementary and the other is middle school level, and we have a middle school-level team at John Gregg doing the Drop Zone and an elementary team doing ‘Treasure!’ Their tournament is March 3 at Union Local and they will complete their challenge, then they will have an impromptu challenge they did not see before the competition.”
Destination Imagination was previously conducted in the district before being shelved, but Howell said a parent approached Superintendent Bill Beattie and Assistant Superintendent Kim Wadas about implementing it once again. The purpose of Destination Imagination is to give students an opportunity to learn higher order thinking, explore their curiosity, build on their unique strengths and learn skills needed for the 21st Century workforce. Seven open-ended, fun and engaging academic challenges are available to students in grades 3-6, including science, technology, engineering, visual and performing arts, improvisation, service learning and early learning. Students in grades K-2 work on the Rising Stars Challenge and receive feedback but are not scored.
“It expands the students’ thinking through engineering, getting ready for careers and problem solving,” she added.
Howell recently completed a spirit week fundraiser to help offset costs for the tournament. Students paid $1 to dress for such themes as 80’s Day, sports jerseys and colors featuring their favorite teams, or red, white and blue for Veterans Day. Howell said the teams meet weekly to practice after school while teachers and parents volunteer their time as team managers. The latter job involves securing a practice location, monitoring team meetings and helping team members obtain supplies. The students spend their time working on challenges to prepare for the regional tournament.
Winners of the regional match will advance to the affiliate (state) competition on March 24 at Mount Vernon, Ohio, and the global tournament is set for May 23 at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn. More information on Destination Imagination is available at http://www.destinationimagination.org.
Edison Grads Gain FFA Degrees
RICHMOND-Two Edison High School graduates attained degrees for their hard work during the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind.
Edison FFA advisor Chuck Cline said alums Travis Brand and Matt Randolph both received American FFA Degrees at the convention on Oct. 28 for projects and leadership skills. Brand, who a sophomore studying diesel and hydraulics at Agriculture Technical Institute in Wooster, and Randolph, a sophomore animal science major at The Ohio State University, had to meet continuous work requirements to earn the honors.
“This is for continued work with leadership and Supervised Agricultural Experience programs,” Cline explained. “They control their own projects.”
He said that both Brand and Randolph completed requirements to earn more than $10,000 through their SAE projects and handled cattle. Randolph bred, raised and showed the animals and Brand bred, raised and sold his steer. In addition, both FFA members had to complete public speaking, be an officer in the organization and be involved with leadership and development activities. Only Brand attended along with Cline and the event took place at the Lucas Oil Stadium and Pacers Arena.
Cline noted that EHS has only had a handful of students earn the distinction and he was proud of their achievement.
“We’ve only four or five receive that award and that’s the first time we’ve had two people in eight years. It takes a lot of dedication to achieve this,” he commented.
About 60,000 FFA members and advisors generally attend the event, where they hear speakers, take part in leadership development programs, seminars, a career show and sightseeing or agriculture-related tours. Cline said he has taken at least a half-dozen members in the past and other excursions included stops at the Indianapolis Speedway, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and agritourism venues.
Leasure Settles in at Edison
RICHMOND-Joshua Leasure is settling in to his new post as assistant principal at Edison Jr./Sr. High School and hopes to inspire students the way other educators helped him.
Leasure, who began his duties on Aug. 1, is responsible for a total of 750 students that include 625 pupils in the Richmond building and another 125 attending the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School. He said his role includes dispensing discipline, handling teacher evaluations and some matters with technology, such as updating school news on a Twitter post and instituting an Educator Handbook program that allows teachers to make reports online so situations are dealt with much faster. He said his post gives him plenty of opportunities to interact with students and staff alike.
“I love it,” he said. “I like the challenge of being an assistant principal and I get to meet a lot of kids.”
Leasure said he has received plenty of support from faculty and staff and credits Principal Matt Morrison and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Renforth, who serves as school resource officer, for getting him acclimated to his new environment. It is his first time in an administrative position after teaching at Buckeye Local High School and Harrison Career Center.
But education was not the original route he set after graduating from Steubenville High School. Leasure earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history with a minor in political science from Mount Union College in 2005 and briefly worked for the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C., before opting to teach in a classroom. He went on to obtain a master’s degree in educational administration from the Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2011 and is working towards additional special education credentials at Muskingum University. He worked as a social studies teacher at Harrison Career Center for four years and served as an intervention specialist and social studies teacher at BLHS until recently. While at Buckeye Local, he also participated in the Building Leadership Team, District Leadership Team and other areas. Furthermore, he spent two years as lead instructor in the Aspire program, the state GED program for adult learners in Ohio, at Eastern Gateway Community College. He currently resides in Steubenville with his wife, Courtney, and their infant son, Ezra.
“I thought I could do more for a school as an administrator, but I always loved teaching special education,” he added, saying he was inspired by teachers as a youth and wanted to make a difference in a similar fashion. “I had good teachers and I wanted to be like [educators] Dr. Chuck Kokiko and Joe Biasi, and I hope to make a similar impression on other kids.”
Meanwhile, Principal Morrison had nothing but praise for his second-in-command, saying Leasure attends games and other school events and has made efforts to know the students, staff and families.
“He’s doing a great job. He’s visible with the students and he’s off to a good start,” Morrison commented. “He’s bringing fresh ideas to the table and making an adjustment that seems seamless.”
(Photo Cutline: Joshua Leasure has spent the past month becoming acclimated to his new role as assistant principal at Edison Jr./Sr. High School and said he hopes to inspire youth the same way his teachers inspired him.)
Digital Science Program Now in Place at EHS
RICHMOND-The evolution of modern education continues at Edison High School, which now offers digital learning in most of its science classes.
EHS previously implemented programs for math, social studies and English and Language Arts for junior high and high school students, and this year science classes have similar capabilities. Teacher Jeremy Matics said the Discovery Education program is being utilized in grades 7-10 and impacts roughly 400 students.
“The program is being used on Chromebooks and the students have access to the program at home,” Matics explained. “It has built-in videos, labs, readings and a digital glossary. I used it for history last year and the students liked the program and did well using it. I am hoping they enjoy using it for science as well. I believe the students really like it because they are so used to using technology in their everyday lives.”
Matics also cited the abundance of resources it gives teachers for classroom instruction, plus the program’s ability to help with assessments.
“It provides many formal and informal assessments in the program and also gives the students choices with their assessments, which follows the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) model we use at EHS,” he continued. “This is the first year of using it for science, but we did notice a big difference in history when the program was used last year. We are hoping to have the same results for science.”
The school instituted online programs such as Digits for math and Discovery programs in history, while hardware such as Kindles, Nooks, Smartboards and digital systems have also been used in English and Language Arts classes to help bring education further into the 21st Century. Matics noted that the program also benefits students with endless resources and accessibility both in and out of school.
“I really think Discovery Education will help students gain knowledge in the field of science. I also like the resources the program offers to our students in the classroom and at home,” he said.
Principal Matt Morrison agreed, saying it also helps update the curriculum to meet learning standards.
“We had outdated textbooks and it saves money on purchasing new ones because it is an online curriculum and the resources are available,” Morrison added. “We updated with Chromebooks and this is more adjacent to the common core.”
(Photo Cutline: Edison High School has offered digital learning in its math, history and English classes and is now utilizing Discovery Education in its science program to help bring education further into the 21st Century.)
RICHMOND-The evolution of modern education continues at Edison High School, which now offers digital learning in most of its science classes.
EHS previously implemented programs for math, social studies and English and Language Arts for junior high and high school students, and this year science classes have similar capabilities. Teacher Jeremy Matics said the Discovery Education program is being utilized in grades 7-10 and impacts roughly 400 students.
“The program is being used on Chromebooks and the students have access to the program at home,” Matics explained. “It has built-in videos, labs, readings and a digital glossary. I used it for history last year and the students liked the program and did well using it. I am hoping they enjoy using it for science as well. I believe the students really like it because they are so used to using technology in their everyday lives.”
Matics also cited the abundance of resources it gives teachers for classroom instruction, plus the program’s ability to help with assessments.
“It provides many formal and informal assessments in the program and also gives the students choices with their assessments, which follows the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) model we use at EHS,” he continued. “This is the first year of using it for science, but we did notice a big difference in history when the program was used last year. We are hoping to have the same results for science.”
The school instituted online programs such as Digits for math and Discovery programs in history, while hardware such as Kindles, Nooks, Smartboards and digital systems have also been used in English and Language Arts classes to help bring education further into the 21st Century. Matics noted that the program also benefits students with endless resources and accessibility both in and out of school.
“I really think Discovery Education will help students gain knowledge in the field of science. I also like the resources the program offers to our students in the classroom and at home,” he said.
Principal Matt Morrison agreed, saying it also helps update the curriculum to meet learning standards.
“We had outdated textbooks and it saves money on purchasing new ones because it is an online curriculum and the resources are available,” Morrison added. “We updated with Chromebooks and this is more adjacent to the common core.”
(Photo Cutline: Edison High School has offered digital learning in its math, history and English classes and is now utilizing Discovery Education in its science program to help bring education further into the 21st Century.)
Students Remembering Brandon Joyce with Spirit Week
RICHMOND-Students at Edison High School are remembering one of their own while helping others during a special upcoming spirit week activity.
Junior Abby Booth is organizing five days of festivities on Nov. 13-17 in honor of her friend, Brandon Joyce, who passed away last spring at the age of 16. The teens met in eighth-grade at Edison Jr. High and Booth recalled the fun times they had together.
“It was an instant click and we became friends,” she said. “Every single day, we’d walk together to the buses and we gave each other candy and gifts.”
Joyce, the son of Chris and Lori Joyce of Steubenville, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called multiple myeloma in 2010 and underwent treatment for six months. The disease is primarily found in adults and he was only one of two reported cases diagnosed in a child. His family previously said that he had been in remission for six years but was hospitalized since February for unrelated issues at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. He was actively involved in the Edison FFA during his freshman and sophomore years and was looking forward to studying in the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School’s culinary arts program until his death on April 18.
However, the school reflected upon his life by holding their annual Relay For Life activity in his honor the following May. It wound up garnering about $8,000 and was among the largest moneymakers at EHS. With Joyce’s birthday coming up this week, Booth wanted to make sure he still wasn’t forgotten.
“I have his pictures and obituary in my room and I see them every day and remember him,” Booth said. “I thought, ‘We do spirit week events to raise money, so why not do one more?’”
She then sought permission from school administrators to conduct activities with all of the things Joyce loved. Students will pay $1 to dress up each day under a different theme, with Monday as videogame characters since he loved gaming and Tuesday as superheroes.
“He was a real-life superhero to me because he was strong,” she noted.
Schools are closed on Nov. 15 for staff professional development, but the week continues in an especially poignant way on Thursday. Students will don blue—Brandon’s favorite color—and gather outside the school around 2:40 p.m.
to release balloons on what would have been his 17th birthday. Students at Stanton and John Gregg Elementary schools are also taking part on their own turf by staging “Blue Out” fundraisers and wearing colored clothing in tribute. The fundraising week winds down on Friday with staff and students donning bright hues for neon day.
“I chose neon because he lit up everyone’s life,” Booth added.
All of the proceeds will go to Donate Life America, which supports organ transplants. Booth said she researched the organization and believed it was the right fit since her friend had undergone multiple procedures himself.
“He had just gotten a transplant and had multiple surgeries,” she recalled, but he always wanted to be treated like normal.”
She also hopes this fundraiser is the school’s best one ever.
“Of all the spirit weeks, I hope this one makes the most money. I’m excited because his family might be coming and everyone’s been so supportive about it. I have hopes to do it again next year.”
(Photo Cutline: Edison High School junior Abby Booth is holding spirit week festivities in memory of her friend, Brandon Joyce, who passed away last spring at age 16. Booth hopes to raise thousands of dollars for Donate Life America, an organ transplant organization, since he underwent multiple surgeries himself. The week will incorporate everything Joyce loved and the highlight is a blue balloon launch on Thursday, which is his birthday. Pictured is Booth and Joyce at a previous school event. Photo/Courtesy of Abby Booth)
John Gregg Receives Literacy Grant
BERGHOLZ-John Gregg Elementary has become the latest facility in the Edison Local School District to earn a literacy grant which will help expound upon technology-based learning.
Principal Tammy Burchfield said the school received a $19,822 grant from the Martha J. Earp Foundation, which is provided through PNC Charitable Trust, and the funding will update the site with some more modern educational tools.
“It will mainly go for technology in the classrooms,” she said, adding that she received word of the allocation in mid-September. “I am always very excited when there is funding out there to help us out. Any time we can connect kids to more technology, it expands their horizons.”
The funding comes on the heels of another windfall received last year at Stanton Elementary School in Hammondsville. That site earned a total of $127,000 for new tech tools from touch-screen boards to iPad Air devices to improve literacy and Edison Local Superintendent Bill Beattie prompted Burchfield to apply for the latest round. Among the items being acquired at her school are charging carts, Chromebooks, computer tablets and management apps and Burchfield hoped to have them on hand later this month.
Beattie added that it was a significant boost for the students served by the upgrade.
“We are very excited that John Gregg received this grant. Anytime you can get a grant and the students benefit from it educationally, it is a huge benefit,” he said. “We are excited the students will have additional technology resources in the building and their classrooms.”
The Martha J. Earp Trust was founded in 2004 for the purpose of giving to public or private elementary, middle and high schools in Jefferson County for class projects, class trips or educational materials.
BERGHOLZ-John Gregg Elementary has become the latest facility in the Edison Local School District to earn a literacy grant which will help expound upon technology-based learning.
Principal Tammy Burchfield said the school received a $19,822 grant from the Martha J. Earp Foundation, which is provided through PNC Charitable Trust, and the funding will update the site with some more modern educational tools.
“It will mainly go for technology in the classrooms,” she said, adding that she received word of the allocation in mid-September. “I am always very excited when there is funding out there to help us out. Any time we can connect kids to more technology, it expands their horizons.”
The funding comes on the heels of another windfall received last year at Stanton Elementary School in Hammondsville. That site earned a total of $127,000 for new tech tools from touch-screen boards to iPad Air devices to improve literacy and Edison Local Superintendent Bill Beattie prompted Burchfield to apply for the latest round. Among the items being acquired at her school are charging carts, Chromebooks, computer tablets and management apps and Burchfield hoped to have them on hand later this month.
Beattie added that it was a significant boost for the students served by the upgrade.
“We are very excited that John Gregg received this grant. Anytime you can get a grant and the students benefit from it educationally, it is a huge benefit,” he said. “We are excited the students will have additional technology resources in the building and their classrooms.”
The Martha J. Earp Trust was founded in 2004 for the purpose of giving to public or private elementary, middle and high schools in Jefferson County for class projects, class trips or educational materials.
McNear Joins Edison Local as Elementary Guidance Counselor
HAMMONDSVILLE-Students at Stanton and John Gregg Elementary are seeing a new face in the hallways as Megan McNear joins the Edison Local Schools staff as a guidance counselor.
The Lisbon native and former math teacher is not new to the district itself since she previously taught equations at Edison High School, but she said working with kids at the elementary level is a change that she enjoys.
“I’ve always had an interest in social sciences,” she said, adding that she initially planned to study sociology at Youngstown State University but changed her major and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in secondary math education.
She used her numerical knowledge to teach in North Carolina but returned to Ohio, where she served at Edison for two years and also taught at West Virginia Northern Community College and East Palestine High School. She also went on to marry and obtained two master’s degrees, including one in school counseling from Liberty University in Virginia in 2014. McNear, who now resides near Negley, officially began her new duties on Aug. 22 and divides her time between the two schools.
“This position opened up and I was excited to come back here,” she said. “I am excited to be a counselor because I was always drawn to it. Counseling was something I felt I needed to do and I had an opportunity to go back and get my master’s degree.”
She said there was a difference between working with the high school students and those at the elementary level, but she has enjoyed the transition.
“I love seeing how much they love school and love to learn. They are growing as individuals and you can see that growth more,” McNear continued. “I feel like I’ve gotten to know so many kids already from seeing them in the hall or classroom.”
She spent the first few days of school introducing herself to the estimated 800 pupils and handling issues to assist the principals in each building. McNear said her colleagues have warmly welcomed her and have been very supportive, and now she is looking at ways to help the kids. She hopes to introduce character education lessons into classrooms in the coming months and focus on monthly topics such as respect, responsibility and good judgment, plus she wants to implement a career exploration program in the spring.
“[There will be] a character trait of the month with grade-appropriate lessons,” she noted. “I will work with the kids to build their skills, plus I am getting to know the teachers and seeing what the needs are at the schools. I want to try to get the school climate to be better in every way we can.”
Edison Local School Superintendent Bill Beattie said it was the first time the elementary schools had a guidance counselor on hand.
“I thought there was an opportunity to add a guidance counselor to assist the elementary principals with day-to-day issues such as bullying,” Beattie said. “There is an ability for her to be the middle person between the principal, counselor we offer from the Village Network and the parents.”
(Photo Cutline: Megan McNear has joined the staff of the Edison Local School District as an elementary school guidance counselor, where she will divide her time between John Gregg and Stanton to work with students and assist the principals. McNear is also looking to offer character education lessons for students starting this fall and career exploration programs in the spring.)
HAMMONDSVILLE-Students at Stanton and John Gregg Elementary are seeing a new face in the hallways as Megan McNear joins the Edison Local Schools staff as a guidance counselor.
The Lisbon native and former math teacher is not new to the district itself since she previously taught equations at Edison High School, but she said working with kids at the elementary level is a change that she enjoys.
“I’ve always had an interest in social sciences,” she said, adding that she initially planned to study sociology at Youngstown State University but changed her major and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in secondary math education.
She used her numerical knowledge to teach in North Carolina but returned to Ohio, where she served at Edison for two years and also taught at West Virginia Northern Community College and East Palestine High School. She also went on to marry and obtained two master’s degrees, including one in school counseling from Liberty University in Virginia in 2014. McNear, who now resides near Negley, officially began her new duties on Aug. 22 and divides her time between the two schools.
“This position opened up and I was excited to come back here,” she said. “I am excited to be a counselor because I was always drawn to it. Counseling was something I felt I needed to do and I had an opportunity to go back and get my master’s degree.”
She said there was a difference between working with the high school students and those at the elementary level, but she has enjoyed the transition.
“I love seeing how much they love school and love to learn. They are growing as individuals and you can see that growth more,” McNear continued. “I feel like I’ve gotten to know so many kids already from seeing them in the hall or classroom.”
She spent the first few days of school introducing herself to the estimated 800 pupils and handling issues to assist the principals in each building. McNear said her colleagues have warmly welcomed her and have been very supportive, and now she is looking at ways to help the kids. She hopes to introduce character education lessons into classrooms in the coming months and focus on monthly topics such as respect, responsibility and good judgment, plus she wants to implement a career exploration program in the spring.
“[There will be] a character trait of the month with grade-appropriate lessons,” she noted. “I will work with the kids to build their skills, plus I am getting to know the teachers and seeing what the needs are at the schools. I want to try to get the school climate to be better in every way we can.”
Edison Local School Superintendent Bill Beattie said it was the first time the elementary schools had a guidance counselor on hand.
“I thought there was an opportunity to add a guidance counselor to assist the elementary principals with day-to-day issues such as bullying,” Beattie said. “There is an ability for her to be the middle person between the principal, counselor we offer from the Village Network and the parents.”
(Photo Cutline: Megan McNear has joined the staff of the Edison Local School District as an elementary school guidance counselor, where she will divide her time between John Gregg and Stanton to work with students and assist the principals. McNear is also looking to offer character education lessons for students starting this fall and career exploration programs in the spring.)
EHS Renovations Nearly Complete
RICHMOND-There was a new look at Edison High School when students and staff returned to class on Aug. 24, but more work is still ongoing at the site through October.
The original structure, which dates back to 1939, underwent a makeover during the summer as part of an estimated $2.8 million renovation project. Rooms throughout the building received new lighting, drywall, drop ceilings and a coat of paint but the planned HVAC installation is expected to wind down next month. School started one day later due to cleanup and classroom preparations but some crews were still onsite adding ceiling tiles. Principal Matt Morrison said a bulk of the improvements have been completed and workers have been accommodating to the school schedule.
“The renovation project’s nearly complete. The rooms are wonderful,” Morrison said. “It’s basically like being in a brand new school.”
He said the students and staff looked forward to the project’s completion and crews from Limbach Co. LLC, which has offices in Columbus and Pittsburgh, was working after school hours to finalize the HVAC installation.
“They will be finishing the HVAC and are working overnight to get it done,” Morrison noted.
The district contracted with Brewer-Garrett Company of Cleveland as the design-and-build firm and financing for the upgrades come from a 2-mill, five-year emergency renewal levy voters passed in 2014. Since then, Edison has contracted with such companies as Limbach, which was overseeing the project and performing mechanical work; LM Construction of St. Clairsville for construction; and Dickey Electric of Lisbon for electrical improvements. Officials said work is being performed by contractors outside the area but they are utilizing a workforce from local unions to complete the project.
The HVAC unit will heat and cool much of the building, with the exception of the kitchen and gym, while the band room and VoAg classroom have self-contained air conditioning units. Additional improvements were made throughout the last school term, including new lockers and restrooms on the second and third floors and new windows installed in school addition that was erected in 1963. Moreover, the gym received a fresh coat of paint from contractors while the district also hired a summer paint crew and college students as part of the summer work program through the Jefferson County Community Action Council.
Officials said the electrical updates were needed to meet the demands of growing technology in the building, while Superintendent Bill Beattie noted that some equipment was on back order, leading to a delay in the HVAC upgrade. However, he was very pleased to see the improvements taking place.
“The original building looks almost as if it’s a new school. We painted most of that building to spruce things up,” Beattie added. “We’re continuing to work on the HVAC portion of the project. If everything goes well, the HVAC should be done no later than the end of October.”
Further improvements across the campus included a $41,000 makeover of the press box, including paint work, an electrical upgrade and new windows on the interior and a new roof outside; a new barn/storage building for the agricultural program behind the FFA greenhouse; and repairs to the FFA greenhouse that was damaged by high winds this past spring. The latter repairs were done by FFA members, advisor Chuck Cline and school custodians.
(Photo Cutline: Edison High School has a fresher look these days after undergoing an estimated $2.8 million renovation project this summer. The original structure dating back to 1939 received new drywall, LED lighting, ceilings and paint and the plan was funded by an emergency renewal levy approved by voters in 2014. Crews are still installing an HVAC unit to heat and cool most of the building and a completion date is eyed for late October. Pictured is teacher David Schultz’s American Government class in one of the newly renovated classrooms.)
Wellness Grant Adds Stability Balls to Stanton Classroom
HAMMONDSVILLE-A $1,000 wellness grant is helping some students at Stanton Elementary improve their physical health while they stimulate their minds.
Fatima Smuck, district administrative assistant and early childhood director for Edison Local Schools, said the district obtained an Action for Healthy Kids grant last spring to roll out a new project this year. The funds were used to place stability balls in teacher Nicole Fidak’s second-grade classroom and officials may add the items to more classes in the future.
“It builds the core and helps students stay engaged in their work,” Smuck noted. “We received the grant at the end of the last school year to implement it this year. This is the first time we’ve gotten this grant.”
She commented that the seats replace typical chairs and help kids focus while also giving them a little exercise.
Fidak gives the children an option between sitting in regular chairs or using the “bubbles” as they call them, and she has noticed a difference in her students already.
“It helps deal with fidgeting,” she said. “I feel it helps them concentrate more.”
Principal Julie Kireta added that occupational and physical therapists have utilized the devices for years and more stability balls will be added to classrooms in the future.
“We look at the stability balls as options for students. Traditional seating is still available and many teachers and other students are interested in the concept,” she continued. “Mrs. Fidak was selected for the grant because she is always willing to try new ideas to support student learning. We believe that sitting all day is hard for students, so having the stability balls allows students to move and use their muscles while learning.
(Photo Cutline: Second-grade students are working their core while stimulating their minds through the use of stability balls at Stanton Elementary. The district obtained a wellness grant to fund the devices and officials anticipate adding them to other classrooms in the future.)
Stanton, John Gregg Earn Five-Star Rating
HAMMONDSVILLE-Stanton and John Gregg Elementary Schools have been recognized for efforts in early childhood education after receiving Five-Star Step Up To Quality Awards from the state of Ohio.
Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) is a voluntary five-star quality rating system administered by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and Ohio Department of Education (ODE) that recognizes and promotes learning and development programs that meet quality benchmarks over and above minimum health and safety licensing standards. The steps are based on national research identifying the program standards that lead to improved outcomes for children, such as low child to staff ratios, smaller group size, higher staff education, ongoing specialized training, improved workplace characteristics and learning standards. Fatima Smuck, administrative assistant and director of the Edison Local School District’s Early Childhood programs, said both sites earned the rating three years ago and underwent reviews by state officials. The district learned the good news at the end of the school year and she was pleased with the outcome.
“Edison Local School District’s Early Childhood is proud to be a five-star program,” she said. “We now that children have approximately 1,892 days from birth until school starts, and every day matters. It is important to us that children develop their self-confidence, social and emotional skills and a love of learning.”
To qualify, preschool programs at Stanton Elementary in Hammondsville and John Gregg in Bergholz were reviewed by officials with the Ohio Department of Education. In addition to meeting standards for a four-star rating, programs with five stars may also have lower staff/child ratios; use child assessment results to plan activities that best support learning and development goals for each child; share assessment results and create goals for children; develop plans to support children as they transition to a new classroom or educational setting; work with other organizations or businesses within the community to support children and their families; have an active and organized parent volunteer group; use input from families and community partners to form the program’s continuous improvement process; and have accreditation by an approved organization.
Smuck added that the on-site reviews must be completed every three years with licensed reviews conducted on an annual basis.
School Principals Julie Kireta and Tammy Burchfield were pleased with the results and said it was a testament to the staff’s efforts.
“Our preschool staff works really hard and does a wonderful job meeting the students’ needs,” said Kireta, who helms Stanton. “They do a lot of hands-on activities to engage them and try to get parents involved. They do a fine job helping them start their school careers. It is important that the children have a positive experience and learn.”
“The teachers work really hard to not only be compliant with the State of Ohio and Step Up To Quality, but they also want to help meet the kids’ needs and it works,” added Burchfield, who is principal at John Gregg. “They individualize it to the kids and these are the results we are getting. They also work extremely well with the families and the students are excited to be here.”
According to state officials, research confirms that the first five years of a child’s life has a direct impact on how children develop emotional well-being, in addition to learning and social skills. For these reasons, the ODJFS and ODE are committed to improving early childhood opportunities for children around the state. For more information, go online to www.earlychildhoodohio.org.