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BLUE LINE PADUCAH PUBLIC SCHOOLS • WINTER 2016
Paducah Middle Band Grows from the Inside Out If you ask Paducah Middle band director Lindsey Williams why so many students at Paducah Middle are involved in band, she recalls her own story of why middle school band meant so much to her. “I was a shy kid, but I loved being in band because I could sit in the back and play my trombone part and I didn’t have to stand up or give a speech,” Williams said. “It could be the worst day, but if I went to band I knew that I was capable to play the song, so it helped develop a sense of intrinsic worth and self confidence. In band I could see that I was worth something – that I was valuable and could be part of the bigger picture.” At a time when some schools struggle to find enough students to make band a viable extracurricular activity, Ms. Williams’ story offers insight into the appeal of band for students at Paducah Middle. There are 212 students in middle school band and another 51 students in orchestra. With a total enrollment of around 600 at Paducah Middle, about 44% of the students at Paducah Middle are involved in band or orchestra, playing a total of 259 instruments. We talked with Ms. Williams about the factors that contribute to the high participation rate in band and orchestra, and some of the other ways that band benefits students outside of the band room.
Q: Looking back, it seems that Paducah Middle School has had a high rate of student participation in band through the years. What accounts for that? Williams: There are a few factors that I’ve noticed. First, our elementary level music teachers really support the band. Mrs. Davidson, Ms. Krupansky, and Mr. Julian are all great musicians themselves, so they encourage their students to consider being involved in band. They also allow us to come over and recruit. We go to the elementary schools and show them all the instruments and talk about band, so that sparks interest. Next, there’s strong community support for band. Our parents want their kids to play an instrument.
Paducah Public Schools • 800 Caldwell Street, Paducah, KY 42003 • 270.444.5600 • www.paducah.kyschools.us
TORNADO TALK
Donald Shively, Superintendent, Paducah Public Schools
STAY
Central Office Whiteside Building, 800 Caldwell Street P.O. Box 2550, Paducah, KY Phone: 270.444.5600
Paducah Tilghman High 2400 Washington Street, Paducah, KY Phone: 270.444.5650
Paducah Middle 342 Lone Oak Road, Paducah, KY Phone: 270.444.5710
Clark Elementary 3401 Buckner Lane, Paducah, KY Phone: 270.444.5730
McNabb Elementary 2100 Park Avenue, Paducah, KY Phone: 270.444.5750
Morgan Elementary 2200 S. 28th Street, Paducah, KY Phone: 270.444.5760
Head Start Office 2400 Adams Street, Paducah, KY Phone: 270.444.5780
STAY IN TOUCH For the latest dates and news www.paducah.kyschools.us
From the Superintendent: Above and Beyond At Paducah Public Schools we are pursuing the goal of preparing each and every student to be college or career ready upon graduation. Every day I see examples of extraordinary dedication to that mission by our faculty and staff. I want to share one of those stories with you. Shelley McGregor, one of our chemistry teachers at Paducah Tilghman, welcomed a new child into her family. Shelley planned to take maternity leave following the birth of her son, which meant that she would miss the first nine weeks of the school year. The plan was for a long-term substitute teacher to fill in for Shelley while she was out, so she began making the lesson plans that would be used during her absence. As Mrs. McGregor talked with her mentor teacher Amy Cox about her leave, they knew that it would be very difficult to find a substitute with a working knowledge of chemistry to teach her classes for nine weeks. So there was a big problem: if Mrs. McGregor didn’t come up with a way to effectively teach her students, even though she couldn’t physically be there, they would likely be behind when she returned to the classroom. “We started researching what different options were for ‘flipped classrooms’,” Mrs. McGregor said, “and I knew that I wanted to be able to teach while I wasn’t there. I was able to find that on a Microsoft Surface, you can write and record on PowerPoint. I recorded myself teaching just like I would be in the classroom and saved the video. I uploaded
the video to YouTube so students could access it both in the classroom and at home.” But the preparation didn’t stop there. She then put together note packets to go with the videos. Mr. Owens, Mrs. McGregor’s substitute, would give the students’ work to her so she could take it home and grade it. Then she gave the work back to Mr. Owens to return to her students. How did it work out? I talked with one her students, sophomore Max Overlin, and he was grateful and pleased. “We’re not behind at all,” he said. “You would think that we would be, because Mrs. McGregor wasn’t there the first nine weeks, but since she had put all the lessons together over the summer, it was almost like she was there with us.” As a former chemistry teacher, I know the difficulty that a teacher faces in helping their students master the material and stay on pace when they must take an extended absence. While Mrs. McGregor could have fulfilled her duties with less time and effort, she went above and beyond what was expected because she was devoted to the mission. Our mission of equipping each and every child for life after high school requires dedication and sacrifice, not only from our teachers and staff, but also from our parents and the citizens of this city and county. I’m grateful to Mrs. McGregor for the extraordinary dedication she has shown. Let’s follow her lead in pursuing an extraordinary mission with extraordinary dedication.
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Why do you think that is? I think part of it’s because of the pride that the Tilghman band has built. You see them in all the parades, you see them on television, and they are on the field with a half time show at football games. They are in the picture that we have of Paducah as a community so parents want their children to be part of that – they want their child to learn and grow in that way.
Teri Doss Wins State Girls Golf Title
Another thing that works to our advantage is that band is part of the school day. Students that want to be involved in athletics and other after school activities don’t have to choose. They can participate in athletic, academic, and artistic activities without having schedule conflicts since they can participate in band and orchestra during the school day. Research that measures the impact of musical training on brain development says that practicing an instrument is a whole brain workout. It’s the mental equivalent of cross training. How do you see the benefits of participation in band carrying over into academics and soft skills development? Yes, that whole brain development can happen in band because it is hands-on and focused. Our students have to be able to read the notes on the staff visually, count the rhythms, and apply it to a sound that they are trying to blend. Sometimes if they are playing in unison they are all trying to blend it exactly. And students learn that the focus that is required in band has the same benefits in their other classes. Beyond that, I think that the confidence that students can develop in band is a benefit. The requirements to be part of band are not easy. When students see that they can learn and master their instrument, they understand that “I am worth something. I am valuable and I can be part of the bigger picture”.
Teri Doss and Charli Doss celebrated their commitments to play college golf at a signing ceremony on November 11. Teri signed with Mississippi State University, and Charli signed with Murray State University. From left to right: Lori Doss,Charli Doss, Greg Doss, Teri Doss PTHS senior Teri Doss won the KHSAA Girls Golf
Championship on October 10 becoming the first girls
golfer in Tilghman history to win a state title. Doss shot a 3 under par 69 for both rounds at the Bowling Green Country Club to win the championship by one stroke. Doss completed her Tilghman career as the regional
winner in 2014 and regional runner-up in 2015. She
was named to the all state first team and was Ms. Golf runner-up.
Teri and her sister Charli Doss signed scholarships to
play college golf on November 11. Teri signed a letter of intent to play golf for Mississippi State University, and
Charli signed as a preferred walk-on with Murray State University.
Both Teri and Charli played golf for PTHS eight years, having started with the team in fifth grade.
“Teri and Charli have been a pleasure to coach over the past six years,” said Coach Brett Larimer. “They are
extremely hard workers not only on the golf course, but also in the classroom. Not only are they going to play
golf at two fine universities, but they’re also going be excellent student athletes.”
BLUELINE NEWSLETTER 3
Alumni Spotlight Charting a Course from Paducah to New York City
Caitlynn Gallip When Caitlyn Gallip (PTHS ’11) transferred to Paducah Tilghman her freshman year, she only knew one other student. Yet she made the move, knowing that the combination of AP courses and opportunities in speech and theatre were what she needed to pursue her dreams. The same willingness to extend herself in pursuit of her goals led her to the University of Missouri, and ultimately to New York City, where she works as the Social Media Manager for Broadway.com. She also has three major magazine internships under her belt, and is the co-founder of women’s gaming magazine Fangirl. We spoke with Caitlyn about her exciting journey from Tilghman to New York. For Caitlyn, who grew up doing musical theatre, it was essential to attend a school with strong academic and fine arts programs. With its comprehensive opportunities in AP courses and extracurricular activities, Tilghman was an ideal choice. At the beginning of her freshman year, she joined the PTHS Choir and Speech team. Not only did this provide her with a social and creative outlet, but it also taught her skills that stayed with her beyond her high school years. “Being a part of Speech has always been a great way to connect with people,” said Caitlyn. “Once I got to college, I learned that Speech helped me when I worked with student government or took any leadership role.” Caitlyn was drawn to the University of Missouri for its top rated journalism school, big college sports environment, and its closeness to home. She majored in Magazine Journalism and minored in Film Studies, Hospitality Management, and Textile and Apparel Management. “I knew from the beginning that I wanted to be on
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Social Media Manager Broadway.com the magazine track,” Caitlyn explained. “It was when I got to the University of Missouri that I realized I could also incorporate my love of film, fashion, and event planning into that course of study.” While at school, she capitalized on her strengths and made connections with professionals in the magazine industry. This led to internships at Cosmopolitan, Esquire, and Martha Stewart Living in New York. “All three internships honed professional skills for my future, but more importantly taught me how to work with people,” said Caitlyn. The culmination of her college career was Fangirl, a women’s gaming magazine she started as her capstone project during her last semester at school. “Fangirl celebrates the female perspective in all things geek culture,” Caitlyn explained. She and her teammates decided to turn it into a real business, and received a grant to fund the project. Her impressive work experience and skill set helped her land her current position as Social Media Manager at Broadway.com, a major online destination for theater information, ticket sales, and in-depth multimedia coverage of the Broadway scene in New York. “I have always kept up with Broadway news through them, so when I saw a job posting I was naturally drawn to it and applied,” she said. Caitlyn is responsible for all of their social media accounts, from Facebook to Periscope. While she has fond memories of growing up in Paducah and Metropolis, it was only a matter of time before she set her sights on the East coast. “New York has always been a natural fit,” said Caitlyn. “I’m absolutely in love with this city.”
Paducah Tilghman High School 25 Students Earn Advanced Placement Scholar Awards
Shrek the Musical
A cast of 34 Tilghman students brought Shrek The Musical to life at the PTHS auditorium on
November 21-22. The culmination of ten weeks of work by the cast and crew told the story
of the journey of Shrek and Donkey to rescue
Princess Fiona from the Dragon and return her
to the Lord Faquaad. The show continues a great tradition of Tilghman musical productions that stretches back fifty years and includes such
classics as West Side Story, The Sound of Music, First row: Wesley Blondell, Palmer Stroup, Jose Roberto dos Remedios, Matthew VanHoose, Connor Orlowski, Lauren Eickholz, Lucie Tyrrell, Meg Hancock, Michael-Ellen Walden, Claire Kelly, and Teri Doss. Second row: Reese Butler, Heath Ford, Parker Belt, Sam Tyrrell, Grant Hutcheson, Hasaan Ali and Jessica Tillson (not pictured: Carter Noneman)
Fiddler on the Roof, and Oklahoma!
29 students at Paducah Tilghman High School have earned AP Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on Advanced Placement Exams for the 2014-2015 school year. Paducah Tilghman students earned passing scores in 18 different AP test categories. Tilghman has one of the highest Advanced Placement exam passage rates in the region. Three students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. The AP Scholars with Distinction are Victoria Taylor (PTHS ’15), seniors Reese Butler and Meg Hancock. Eight students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. The AP Scholars with Honor are Marcus Corbett (PTHS ’15), Molly Thompson (PTHS ’15), Mary Weatherspoon (PTHS ’15), seniors Lauren Eickholz, Connor Orlowski, Lucie Tyrrell, Sam Tyrrell, and Matthew VanHoose. Seventeen students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP exams with scores of 3 or higher. The AP scholars are James Bilak (PTHS ’15), Trevor Bunte (PTHS ’15), Anne Lasher (PTHS ’15), Eli Noneman (PTHS ’15), Lucas Reed (PTHS ’15), Madison Wurth (PTHS ’15), seniors Hasaan Ali, Parker Belt, Wesley Blondell, Teri Doss, Heath Ford, Grant Hutcheson, Carter Noneman, Palmer Stroup, Jessica Tillson, and juniors Claire Kelly, Jose Roberto dos Remedios, and Michael-Ellen Walden.
Rudolph Named National Merit Commended Student PTHS senior Jackson Rudolph has been named a Commended Student in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship program. About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2016 competition by taking the 2014 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
Butler and Hancock Named National Merit Semifinalists Paducah Tilghman High School seniors Reese Butler and Meg Hancock have achieved the distinction of National Merit Semifinalist in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program. Butler and Hancock are two of 16,000 semifinalists selected from 1.5 million high school juniors who entered the program by taking the 2014 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/ NMSQT). The nationwide pool of semifinalists, which represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. 5 PADUCAH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Paducah Middle School Snardon Recieves 2016 Ashland Inc. Teacher Achievement Award Paducah Middle School social studies teacher Corbin Snardon was one of 24 outstanding Kentucky educators selected by the Kentucky Department of Education and Ashland Inc. to be a recipient of the 2016 Ashland Inc. Teacher Achievement Awards (TAA). The selection qualified Snardon to compete for the 2016 Kentucky Teacher of the Year Award.
Snardon said that he never planned to be a teacher, but when he entered college, a history professor at Western Kentucky University encouraged Snardon to pursue a history major, since he hadn’t chosen a major at the time. “He encouraged me to go through the history department and pursue teaching, and I did, and one thing led to another and the next thing I know, I’m here in Paducah and I’m teaching,” Snardon said.
Snardon was invited to Frankfort on October 20 as Ashland Inc. and the Kentucky Department of Education announced the Teacher of the Year at a ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort.
While Snardon is a native of Todd County, he was recommended to Paducah Public Schools by his scholarship director, who had a family connection to Paducah.
“It was a surreal experience to be in the rotunda of the capitol building surrounded by the some of the biggest names in the state, including the governor and the commissioner of education,” Snardon said. “I was also surrounded by 23 of the best teachers in the state, so it was a pretty unique experience.”
After his arrival at Paducah Middle five years ago, Snardon said that retired educator Varetta Hurt, McNabb Elementary teacher Candace Newbern, and McNabb Principal Teresa Spann were major sources of support as he began his teaching career.
Governor Steve Beshear praised all of the achievement winners for their dedication, innovation, enthusiasm and ability. The recognition at the capitol was a very fulfilling one for Snardonespecially since he is still quite early in his career as an educator. “(The significance of the honor) didn’t really hit me until I got into the Capitol Building and saw the other candidates,” said Snardon. “I was actually sitting next to my high school physics teacher, who was nominated and was a finalist. I was the youngest person there, and the only African American male nominated, so for me there was a major sense of accomplishment.”
“I drew upon their experience and still lean upon their experience a lot. (I ask) ‘What would you do in this situation?’ or ‘How would you handle this situation?’ I really look to them for a lot of things.” Judging was conducted in August by a blue-ribbon panel of veteran educators, many of whom have more than 25 years of teaching experience. Applications included information on the nominees’ teaching philosophies, teaching experiences and involvement in their respective communities, as well as letters of recommendation from peers, students, parents, administrators and others.
Morgan Elementary Students Welcome Project Fit America Playground The Project Fit playground was funded by a grant from Baptist Health Paducah. Since 2007, 11 area schools have received Baptist Health grants for outdoor and indoor fitness equipment, curriculum and teacher training to improve fitness and battle childhood obesity. BLUELINE NEWSLETTER 6
Morgan elementary students compete against teachers in a hula hoop contest at the opening celebration.
McNabb Elementary
2016 CALENDAR January 1 New Year’s Holiday (No School)
January 4 Flexible Professional Development Day (No Students)
January 5 Students begin spring classes
Ross Named 2015 Gilder Lehrman Kentucky History Teacher of the Year McNabb Elementary fifth grade teacher Geco Ross has been named the 2015 Gilder Lehrman Kentucky History Teacher of the Year. The award recognizes teachers of American History who demonstrate creativity and imagination and effectively use primary documents in the classroom. He was chosen from 56 nominees by a panel of educators assembled by the Kentucky Historical Society, which helps administer the award. “Mr. Ross consistently develops lessons that engage his students as they learn history standards,” McNabb teacher Candice Newbern wrote in her letter of nomination. “On any given day, students might be participating in a simulation about the Boston Tea Party, singing a song about The Age of Exploration, or creating projects on different Native American cultures. He bases his instruction on research-proven methods, settling for nothing less than implementing cutting edge initiatives.” Ross is a 2008 graduate of Murray State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in mathematics. He has a Master of Arts in Reading and Writing, with an area in Literacy Specialist. Mr. Ross began his work with Paducah Public Schools at Morgan Elementary, where he taught third grade and was a literacy specialist. He returned to McNabb, where he attended elementary school as a student, three years ago. I’ve only ever wanted to have two professions,” said Ross. “When I was very young, I wanted to be a bus driver. Then when I got a little older, I wanted to be a teacher. It is my conviction that it takes one teacher to spark a fire in the heart of a child to birth a life-long learner.” “I believe that everything revolves around the student and my classroom, instruction, and relationships will depict that feeling,” said Ross. “This is particularly important in teaching United States history as students continue to build upon the knowledge of previous years.”
January 18 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday (No School)
February 15 Presidents Day (No School) – Alternate Instructional Make Up Day
March 4 Flexible Professional Development Day (No Students)
April 4-8 Spring Break (No School)
May 17 Election Day (No School) – Alternate Contract Make Up Day (Staff Only)
May 26 Last Day for Students
May 27 Closing Day (No Students)
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History will present Ross with a $1,000 award, certificate of recognition, and an archive of books and historical resources in his name to McNabb’s library. He will receive an invitation to attend a 2016 Gilder Lehrman Teacher Seminar, and be officially recognized at a state ceremony. Ross is the second winner from Paducah Public Schools to receive this honor. In 2010, Paducah Tilghman history teacher Ashley Adkins was the recipient of the Gilder Lehrman History Teacher of the Year for Kentucky.
BLUELINE NEWSLETTER 7
Paducah Public Schools Central Office Whiteside Building 800 Caldwell Street P.O. Box 2550 Paducah, KY 42002
Building Bat Houses at Clark Patty Robertson’s second grade class installed
bat houses on the campus of Clark Elementary on November 5. The design, construction, and
installation of the bat houses were part of a project-
based unit of study on biology and benefits of bats. “One of the great aspects of the project is the
partners that helped us,” said Robertson. “Students at the Paducah Area Technology Center built the
bat houses, our class painted them, and parent
volunteers completed the installation with help from our students. It’s great to be able to join
together on a project that gives our students handson experience and benefits our neighborhood.”
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