Osborn School District #8 Osborn School District #8

Staff Recognition

Osborn School District #8

 

Summer Activities

Theresa Hulihan:

Known to the Osborn community as the celebrated & fantastic Clarendon band teacher, Mrs. Hulihan has released her debut CD on the Emeritus label entitled "Colors". Duozona, the flute & guitar duo (Theresa and Chuck Hulihan), is now being heard around the world. Recently featured on KBAQ's CD of the Week, and on Classical Guitar Alive, their debut CD is getting a great deal of well deserved attention. Visit the Duozona website for a sampling of music.

Stacy Courtright

Fifth grade teacher at Longview, Ms. Courtright was one of 15 people selected nationally to participate in the Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminar 2007, "Getting to Know America’s Neighbors". This seminar, which examined the construction of national cultural identity, took her to Washington DC, Canada, and Mexico. She met with teachers, administrators, students, professors, authors and government officials to discuss cultural, educational and governmental topics. In addition to the discussions she also visited museums, government institutions, town centers, schools, economic institutions (Mexico-chocolate factory, weavers, potters, mineral plant, and Canadian oil sands). “I did have an experience of a lifetime. We covered many regions of both countries and explored a variety of areas.”

Fulbright Seminar Participants with American Ambassador Calgary 2007

Brian Holman

Osborn Middle School Social Studies teacher, Brian Holman, was one of 52 educators from across the country awarded a fellowship to study the life and legacy of our sixteenth president. He attended the Horace Mann-Abraham Lincoln Fellowship Summer Institute, “Teaching HiStory: The Life and Times of Abraham Lincoln” at the new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois. The purpose of the institute was to develop strategies for applying historical content in the classroom and across the curriculum.

Brian Holman states, “Being at Horace Mann's Abraham Lincoln Fellowship in Springfield, Illinois was better than being a kid in a candy store--it was like having a whole birthday party there. I met 27 other educators from around the country--even Alaska. The conversations we had about government, history, and education in these critical disciplines were both enriching and inspiring. The fellowship was extraordinarily organized. We began with the less discussed aspects that truly were critical to Abraham Lincoln becoming the historic figure he became--his family life, the political climate in which he grew up, and life in port towns and in Springfield, Illinois. Then, we saw how his experiences and characteristics were applied to the extraordinary aspects surrounding the tumultuous civil war era that resulted in Abraham Lincoln's presidency. Finally, we discussed how Lincoln’s legacy is relevant to our time--specifically in regards to the increased power of the central government, the enhanced power of the Executive Branch, and the perennial ideal of liberty for all.

Carmen Duran and Elodia (Lolie) Gomez

Two Solano School preschool teachers had the opportunity to travel to Europe as part of a 5 country study by the Bernard Van Leer Foundation and Fulton College at ASU. The study is looking at how preschools in different countries help parents take part in curricular decision-making process in settings with increased immigration. Europe, like the United States, finds that the traditional social-emotional focus of preschool is giving way to language learning and a focus on academic school readiness.

Another challenge schools face is that of communicating with parents. Oftentimes immigrant parents don’t speak the language of the country they have settled in. In a global economy, immigrants come from around the world. In the Osborn School District alone there are more than 30 different languages spoken. It can be difficult to find translators for parent-teacher conferences. Part of the study is to look at how different countries have addressed these challenges, and in bringing that experience back to Osborn, explore new ways to collaborate with parents to improve what is done locally.

“We have learned the challenges faced in Solano are global. Teachers and researchers across the globe recognize the importance of providing a nurturing environment for each child they serve.” They indicate, “We agree that providing children and parents with an environment they can relate to by surrounding them with a language they understand and the artifacts they are familiar with. We have a strong commitment to establishing relationships that are nurturing not only for children but parents as well. We will be collaborating with ASU students on developing a parent involvement program based on videos of classrooms in Italy, Germany and England. We are very excited about this opportunity.”

 

Daycare Center in England

You Make the Difference

2006-2007 School Year

The Osborn School District has had in place for the past 21 years a Citizen/Employee Recognition Program to reward those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to our Osborn students.

The "You Make The Difference" Recognition Program again this spring recognizes these outstanding individuals. The criteria for recognition include the following:

  • Being a strong, positive supporter of the Osborn School District.
  • Demonstration of exemplary relationships with students, staff or citizens.
  • Participation in activities and accomplishments that have brought distinction to the employee, citizen or the Osborn School District.
  • Demonstration of continuous personal/professional growth.
  • Demonstration of excellence in position.

 

 

 

This year we wish to recognize the following individuals who have been chosen:

  • Nancy Price,
    Encanto School
  • Michael Goldman,
    Clarendon School
  • Mary Ann Dorame,
    Montecito School
  • Dr. John Friedman,
    Clarendon & Encanto Schools