Diversity awards given to students, staff, teachers
A multicultural touch in schools can open up the world. On Wednesday night, 34 nominees in the Central Valley School District’s annual diversity award program were honored.
Two students and three staff members received the 2005 Diversity DREAM awards during a ceremony at Horizon Middle School.
DREAM describes an award winner who supports diversity in the classroom, respects all aspects of diversity, empowers others to grow and develop, appreciates differences and multicultural richness, and motivates peers to go above and beyond.
University High School student Kristina Kielbon won for creating and teaching a Hispanic culture class to seventh-graders at Horizon. She taught basic vocabulary three days a week and helped students research life in other countries.
Kielbon also arranged a field trip for the seventh-grade students to interact with the U-Hi Advanced Spanish Class. On the trip, the seventh-graders learned dance, practiced dialogue and played games that promote Spanish classes at the high school.
From Central Valley High School, another student received recognition for believing that one of his roles in student government is to reach out to others.
Anthony Xin won for showing such leadership qualities as welcoming new students when they arrive, asking what to do to help solve a problem and fighting for the rights of students. He is an Associated Student Body vice president.
Central Valley School District staff who won the diversity award included Karen Zurfluh, an interpreter for the hearing impaired at Bowdish Middle School; Carolyn Nutsch, an educational assistant at North Pines Middle School; and Jan McFarland, fourth-grade teacher at Adams Elementary.
Zurfluh was recognized for teaching about practices to be used with hearing-impaired individuals. “She has assisted in the development of a comfortable and inviting learning environment for her students,” the award material said. Zurfluh also has taught sign language classes as an intramural activity.
Nutsch works with students who are just learning the English language. This school year, she has encountered Punjabi, Mandarin, Spanish and Bassa. “Despite a caseload of more than 40 students, she has patiently learned to communicate with each of her students,” the award information said. “She takes it upon herself to learn the cultural history of each student and about them as an individual.”
At Adams, McFarland is known for selecting reading materials about other cultures. During Black History Month, she focuses on African history, the roots of slavery and the contribution of African Americans during the growth of Industrial America. She teaches about the injustices of prejudice and segregation, and she encourages students to study their countries of origin.
Principals, teachers and co-workers nominated the individuals to be honored through a districtwide process. Six community leaders served as judges to select the five award recipients.
The 2005 Diversity Award nominees include:
Students: Kellen Lewis, U-Hi; Kiranda Marshall, CV; Kaytlyn McCarthy, Sunrise Elementary; and Ian Williamson, U-Hi.
Staff: Kay Anderson, Lindsay Ehlers, Karla Freeman, Sally Montandon and Trish Rockwell – third-grade teachers, Liberty Lake Elementary; Carol Bray, Marguerite Garcia, Mary Hicks, Karri Kuhl and Lyn Winkler – teachers, McDonald Elementary; Shelly Brown Bajadali – counselor, North Pines Middle School; Tammy Campbell – principal, Opportunity Elementary; Vince Eberly, Pat Shelley and Joelle Traynor – staff members, U-Hi.
Other staff nominees: Farrah Johnson, Elizabeth Pederson and Del Triber – staff members, Spokane Valley Native American Program at Keystone Center; Paula Kircher – licensed practical nurse/educational assistant, Evergreen Middle School; Sandy Mills – secretary, Sunrise Elementary; staff of Opportunity Elementary School; Jan Parker – educational assistant, McDonald Elementary; Russell Seaton – music teacher, U-Hi; and Linda Sparley – educational assistant, McDonald Elementary.
Food for thought
Yoke’s Foods gave a boost to the Dr. Seuss Birthday Celebration on March 1 at Adams. Store manager Harold Rehbock and deli manager Melinda Lorge donated the food for a free pancake breakfast for about 400 students, teachers and parents. A Yoke’s team and parent volunteers dressed in top hats to cook up the feast.
Educators attend conference
A group of educators from Summit School in the Central Valley School District attended the March 9-12 National Conference on Expeditionary Learning in Denver. Teachers Del Guenther, Sarah Ellis, Sucia Dhillon and Lisa Hagen presented a workshop on “Making the Most of Off-Site Professional Development: A Dynamic Model of Shared Leadership.” The group also attended workshops at the conference that included more than 700 teachers and administrators from all over the country.