By TERRI REUTER
Publications/public information coordinator,
Southern York County School District

Glen Rock, Pa – Southern York County School District teachers Andrew Warren and Sue Barnhart were recognized recently at the 26th Annual Outstanding Teacher Luncheon at Shippensburg University with Outstanding Teacher Awards.

Warren, who teaches social studies at Southern Middle School and Barnhart, a first grade teacher at Friendship Elementary School, were recognized along with 44 teachers from South Central Pennsylvania. The annual event is sponsored by the Shippensburg University School Study Council, a professional development partnership between public school districts and the University.

Warren, who has been teaching at the District for the past eight years, teaches world history to seventh graders and United States history to eighth graders. A graduate of Penn State, he earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University.

Barnhart has worked in the District for 23 years, having been a teacher and reading specialist at Southern Elementary for 12 years and a teacher at Friendship Elementary for the past 11 years. A lifelong resident and alumnus of the Southern York County School District, she received her Bachelor’s degree from Millersville University and her Master’s degree from Western Maryland College (McDaniel College).

The selection process for both teachers included recommendation letters from their schools’ administration. Both Warren and Barnhart wrote essays and supplied information on their professional backgrounds as well. They were also selected for their commitment to ongoing professional development, for utilizing innovative practices in the classroom, for serving in leadership roles in their schools, and for their commitment to community service.

During the luncheon, Michael Thew, Executive Director of the Lincoln Intermediate Unit #12, and Chair of the Selection Committee cited the “critical need for teachers of the highest quality to assure that our students are educationally and economically competitive in a global economy.” The most important component in a student’s success is the quality and experience of the classroom teacher, he said.

“This is the 14th year in a row that at least one teacher from the Southern York County School District has been selected for this honor,” Superintendent Thomas Hensley said.

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By LINDA GALLAGHER
Director of marketing,
Brown’s Orchards and Farm Market

Dave Brown, of Brown’s Orchards and Farm Market, surprised Mrs. Chastity Frederick, Advanced Biology teacher at Kids Day Out Academy, with a Brown’s gift basket and apples for her students on Friday, March 9. Mrs. Frederick was chosen as Brown’s February Teacher of the Month.

Students from her class sent in their nominations stating that Mrs. Frederick deserved the award because “she makes learning science fun,” “she inspires me to learn and work hard toward my goals,” “she’s incredible … very intelligent, comprehensive and makes learning a blast,” among many more compliments.

Each month Brown’s receives nominations from students throughout York County for their Teacher of the Month promotion. One name is pulled in a random drawing at the end of the month. Brown’s surprises a teacher each month with a visit to the classroom and presents them with a Brown’s gift basket as well as apples for everyone in the class.

To nominate your teacher, email linda@brownsorchards.com with your name, teacher’s name, school and one sentence to explain why your teacher is the best.

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More than 100 York County educators attended York County Alliance for Learning’s Career Education and Work Standards Symposium on Feb. 9 at Spring Grove Area High School.

During the event, YCAL awarded more than $8,700 to 14 educators through an Innovation Grant program. The applicants were required to partner with a York County business or organization to develop an innovative project that supports YCAL’s mission of facilitating the development of a high quality, relevant workforce through career awareness.

Grant recipients are:

– Laura Buffington, West Manheim Elementary School, Writing in Kindergarten and for Life.

– Donna Cherry, West York Area High School, Family and Consumer Science.

– Danette Eline and Brian Cromer, West Manheim Elementary School, Connecting Reading to the Real World.

– Francesca Fruci, West York Middle School, Lego Mindstorms.

– Brian Hastings, Spring Grove Area High School, Electrical Efficiency.

– Kathie Ingoglia, West York Area High School, Personal Finance Software, On Your Own Coast-to-Coast.

– Jacob Kump, West Manheim Elementary School, Mathematics in the Classroom and the Work Place.

– Andrea LaManna, E.H. Markle Intermediate School, Reel to Reel for REAL Careers.

– Carol Noble, West Manheim Elementary School, 21st Century Learners Working Ahead.

– Barbara Plunkett, York County School of Technology, Developing a Sustainable Nail Polish Retail Line.

– Jessica Rathell, West Manheim Elementary School, Smart Start!

– Wendy Riley, West Manheim Elementary School, A “Touching” Experience.

– Debra Rinker, Hanover Street Elementary School, My World Rocks.

– Mike Snyder, Kennard-Dale High School, ROBO Jobs.

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By LINDA GALLAGHER
Director of marketing,
Brown’s Orchards & Farm Market

York, PA : Brown’s Orchards and Farm Market surprised Dallastown Intermediate school teacher, Mr. Brandon Walker, with a Brown’s gift basket and apples for his 100 students on Wednesday, Feb. 15. Mr. Walker is Brown’s January Teacher of the Month.

Fifth-graders, Cole Shaffer, Srishti Singh, Meghan Williams, Emily Girouard and Haley Smith all nominated Mr. Walker by writing into Brown’s Orchards. The students described Mr. Walker as “funny, nice and respectful.” Meghan and Haley both wrote that “he inspires and pushes us to do our best.” Emily added that “he makes class fun and exciting and is not mean.”

Each month Brown’s receives nominations from students throughout York County for their Teacher of the Month promotion. One name is pulled in a random drawing at the end of the month. Brown’s surprises a teacher each month with a visit to the classroom and presents them with a Brown’s gift basket as well as apples for everyone in the class.

To nominate your teacher, email linda@brownsorchards.com with your name, teacher’s name, school and one sentence to explain why your teacher is the best.

More information about Brown’s Orchards and Farm Market, Inc. can be found by visiting www.brownsorchards.com.

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Brown’s Orchards and Farm Market surprised York Academy Regional Charter School’s second-grade teacher, Mrs. Pitzer, with a Brown’s gift basket and apples for her students. Mrs. Pitzer is Brown’s November Teacher of the Month.

Mrs. Pitzer was nominated by student Joe Tansey who wrote, “Mrs Pitzer is the best because she is crafty with art and music during our specials.” When Joe handed out apples to each of his classmates some of them began eating them right away, despite missing their two front teeth!

Each month Brown’s receives nominations from students throughout York County for their Teacher of the Month promotion. One name is pulled in a random drawing at the end of the month. Brown’s surprises a teacher each month with a visit to the classroom and presents them with a Brown’s gift basket as well as apples for everyone in the class.

To nominate your teacher, email linda@brownsorchards.com with your name, teacher’s name, school and one sentence to explain why your teacher is the best.

For more information about Brown’s Orchards, visit www.brownsorchards.com.

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Congratulations to Mr. William Probert, chairman of Dallastown Area Middle School’s Guidance Department, upon being selected as the Pennsylvania School Counselors Association’s Middle School Counselor of the Year.

Mr. Probert oversees a comprehensive guidance program in a grade 7-8 setting and is charged with coordinating meetings with the K-12 school counseling department, serving approximately 6,000 students.

In addition, Mr. Probert has been instrumental in developing school supports for struggling students; was integral in the development of in-house alternative education, emotional support, cyber-school and neurologically impaired classrooms; oversees the middle school’s summer career camp; serves on the Building Safety Committee; is Vice President of our Communities That Care organization; and has developed a free parent-education series.

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Brown’s Orchards and Farm Market surprised Mrs. Marissa Donnelly, Mount Zion Lutheran Preschool teacher, with a gift basket and apples for her students for being named Brown’s October Teacher of the Month.

Mrs. Donnelly was nominated by siblings, Isaiah and Bella Brokopp. Isaiah, 4, said, “My teacher is great because she loves me”. Bella, 3, responded, “and because I love her.”

Each month Brown’s receives nominations from students throughout York County for their Teacher of the Month promotion. One name is pulled in a random drawing at the end of the month. Brown’s surprises a teacher each month with a visit to the classroom and presents them with a Brown’s gift basket as well as apples for everyone in the class.

To nominate your teacher email linda@brownsorchards.com with your name, teacher’s name, school and one sentence to explain why your teacher is the best.

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By TERRI REUTER
Publications/public information coordinator,
Southern York County School District

The Shrewsbury Wal-Mart recently surprised 10 teachers at Shrewsbury Elementary School, when their names were randomly selected in a drawing. Each teacher received a $100 gift card, which they will use to purchase materials that will enhance their classrooms.

Grace Hansen, Wal-Mart community involvement coordinator, surprised the teachers at the drawing with balloons and a cake. The drawing came about after store employees voted for their favorite schools. This is the third year for the program and the second year that Shrewsbury has been selected, Hansen said.

This drawing is part of Wal-Mart’s annual community donation program, she said. The Shrewsbury store donates about $20,000 each year to the community. The store also raises money for the Children’s Miracle Network through the Hershey Medical Center.

Previously, the store nominated one teacher to receive a larger reward. “We used to invite students to nominate a teacher for the ‘Teacher of the Year’ Award,” Hansen said. “That doesn’t benefit the teachers as much.”

In the past, when a teacher was selected for the Teacher of the Year Award, he or she would receive an award, as well as the school. “It’s the teacher, not the school, that makes a school,” Hansen said. “Wal-Mart wants to help more teachers.”

With this revamped program, several teachers may benefit from Wal-Mart’s donation, she said.

“We appreciate Wal-Mart’s generosity, which will provide additional resources to our schools on behalf of these excellent teachers,” said Wayne McCullough, Director of Administrative Services.

The following teachers each received gift cards from Wal-Mart, which will be used to purchase new materials to enhance their classrooms:

Melissa Havekotte, Grade 5
Audra Myers, Grade 4
Alison Reppert, Kindergarten
Becky Cohenour, Grade 1
Brooke Lesinski, Grade 5
Johanna Levi, String Instruments
Cindy Procopio, Grade 2
Kristen Mikita, Physical Education
Jill Fitzsimmons, Learning Support
Jennifer Schiding, Kindergarten.

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Twenty-four teachers and administrators from six York County school districts have been accepted into Leadership York’s 2012 Leadership for Diverse Schools class. The classmates will work together through May as they learn to interact more effectively with diverse students, parents and colleagues in their school districts.

Pictured are:
Row one, Catherine DiPiano and Kathleen Rupp, both of Dallastown Area School District, and Margaret Benedict, of West York Area School District.
Row two, Cheryl Mattern, of Central York School District; Pam Kutcher, of York Suburban School District; Briana LaVorgna, of Central York; Margie Orr, of the York City School District; Hailey Holder, of Spring Grove Area School District; Marcella Oathout, of York Suburban; and Charlotte Utter, of Central York.
Row three, Joshua Doll, of Dallastown Area; Bob Grove, of Central York; John Beach, of York Suburban; Michael Wagner, of Central York; Jillian Kowalewski, of Dallastown Area; Ben Long, of Spring Grove Area; Kim Schwarz, of York City; and Chris Hewitt, of Dallastown Area.
Row four, Peter Fernandez, of Central York; Heather Venné and Michael DelPriore Jr., both of West York Area; Keith Still, of York City; Jolene Kingston, of York Suburban; and Andrew Schneider, of Dallastown Area.

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