IN Carlynton-Montour Summer 2014 | Page 49

Technology Innovator High school business and marketing teacher Ryan Gevaudan has earned a full scholarship for the Keystones STAR Summit this summer, a week-long hands-on workshop that will take place on the Kutztown University campus. The sessions available to Gevaudan during this conference include Innovative Personalized Learning for students, Gamification and Classroom Transformation through Technology. Only a select number of teachers across the state were chosen to attend this engaging summit. Gevaudan also serves as technology coach for the entire district and travels to the elementary schools every afternoon to work with colleagues and share new ideas to make learning fun through technology in the classroom. Carlynton-Montour | Summer 2014 | icmags.com 47 news School Board Award Members of the Carlynton Board of Education were honored with the University of Pittsburgh’s Tri-State Area Study Council 2014 D. Richard Wynn Award in March. The board was acknowledged for mutual respect and professionalism to create a climate where obstacles become an opportunity for development and growth. The award also recognized the school board’s efforts to educate the whole student while preparing them to be successful members of their community. Teacher of the Year Finalist James Nagorski, a sixth grade teacher at Crafton Elementary, is one of 13 educators named a finalist in the Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year program. The program celebrates excellence in teaching and honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to young people. As a final phase of the recognition, Nagorski is required to submit and unedited video showing a classroom-teacher episode and a brief statement. The selection committee will be meeting in July to review and score the video and will schedule an on-site visit to the school to observe Nagorski in the classroom. A winner will be announced in early winter. Those who have had the good fortune to know or learn from Nagorski understand his unparalleled commitment to education and to his students. Positive, personable, knowledgeable, detail-oriented and organized are a just few of the adjectives used to describe him. Nagorski credits his parents for a foundation that allowed him to explore, develop and hone his talents. He tries to mirror that foundation when nurturing his students, challenging them to always take risks and never settling for complacency. school CASE Award Recipient High school transition coordinator Maggi Mishkin was named the IN Community Magazine Volunteer of the Year for the Carlynton-Montour area. Mishkin was recognized for her extensive involvement in Special Olympics, a program she has facilitated since March 1999. The enrollment has grown from six to 75 and she continues to hold weekly athletic activities for special children, teens and young adults. Mishkin also heralded the Best Buddies International program at Carlynton. Best Buddies provides a forum in the high school for students to mentor younger individuals with special needs. Carlynton is one of the few high schools in Allegheny County to operate the program. In a similar fashion, former school board member Sandra Hughan was name to the Pennsylvania School Board Association Honor Roll of Service following 24 years as a member of the school board. ontour Distinguished Principal Finalist For the second consecutive year, Crafton Elementary principal Dr. Jacie Maslyk has been named a finalist in the 2014 National Distinguished Principal (NDP), one of three selected in the Commonwealth. A group of judges came to the school in early April, met and interviewed some of the educational staff and visited nearly every classroom. The NDP winner will be announced in May (after we’ve gone to print). The NDP program is co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Association of Elementary School Principals. The program was established in 1984 to recognize and celebrate elementary and middle school principals who set high standards for instruction, student achievement, lessons in character education and a positive climate for students, families and staff within the school setting. carlynton - M Headlines Carlynton-Montour Making