Center for the Preparation
of Education Professionals
June 2006
Volume 1, Issue 2
Inside this Issue
Exciting Times for
the Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Greetings from Dean
Smith-Skripps . . . . . . . . . . 2
The Journey Begins . . . . . . . 2
From Three Different Directions,
Same Destination . . . . . . . . 3
Technology . . . Where
Learning Never Ends . . . . . 3
Just Beginning . . . Just
Finishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Dancing, Dancing . . . . . . . . 4
Crisis . . . For Real . . . . . . . . 5
PRB and Technology . . . . . . 5
Diversity Put in Motion . . . . 6
Look, Examine, Plan . . . . . . 6
Fantastic Experience at
Nathan Hale . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Can You See? Can You
Hear? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Let the Games Begin! . . . . . . 8
Dr. Linda Tomlinson
Director and
Certification Officer
Melissa Phillips
Associate Director
Jacqlin Richmond
Coordinator of University
Field and Clinical
Experiences and
Newsletter Editor
Exciting Times for the Center
Welcome to the second issue of the Center
for the Preparation of Education Professionals
newsletter. As we look back on the past
academic year, we have had a very busy and
exciting year. With the development of the
Center, we have had opportunities to expand
communication and streamline processes. We
believe there is a benefit to current students,
graduates, faculty, and school partners to
have a “One Stop Shop” to answer questions.
We are available to assist with inquiries
concerning education programs, certification,
endorsements, etc. We are just a phone call or
e-mail away!
One of the services we provide through
our Certification Office is evaluations for
subsequent certificates. Western Illinois
University has implemented a “focused”
program approach for teachers who want to
obtain a second or third certificate. Under new
state guidelines, ISBE no longer does transcript
evaluations for those seeking a second certificate
and have given institutions the leeway to do
individualized evaluations for our approved
programs. For teachers working with Western
on a subsequent certificate, we take into
account previous coursework, teaching and
other work experience, evaluations, and testing.
Anyone seeking information on how to request
an evaluation for a subsequent certificate
should contact the Certification Office at 309298-1434 or e-mail Cheryl Hutchins at CKHutchins@wiu.edu.
As a service, the Center offers electronic
issuance of certificates. We currently process
entitlements online so that those who complete
education programs at WIU can obtain their
certificates online through ISBE’s OTIS system.
This process provides our program completers
an opportunity to have their certificates issued
in a matter of minutes. OTIS is available 24
Malpass Library
hours a day. ISBE is in the process of installing
a new system, which will go into effect fall
2006. It will combine OTIS and CERTS to
provide an even better service for teachers and
administrators. WIU will continue to process
certificates online.
As we move into summer session, the Center
is happy to say that we were able to provide
field experience opportunities for our current
students during a two-week May session. Thanks
to the following schools for their support in this
initiative: in Chicago, Kennedy High School
and Nathan Davis Elementary; in the Quad
Cities area, Ericsson Elementary, Lincoln-Irving
Elementary, John Deere Junior High School, and
Rock Island High School; and in Peoria, Peoria
Richwoods High School, Peoria Central High
School, and Roosevelt Magnet Schools. We were
able to provide excellent opportunities for our
students to work in these schools. The support
given to us from school administrators and
teachers in these schools made this a successful
session that would not have been possible
without their help.
I hope everyone has an exciting summer and we
look forward to keeping in touch. Our Center is
available to answer questions. Just give us a call.
Linda L. Tomlinson, Director
2
Contact
Information
Center for the Preparation
of Education Professionals
Horrabin Hall 91
1 University Circle
Macomb, IL 61455-1390
Phone: 309-298-2117
Fax: 309-298-3386
Volume 1, Issue 2
Greetings from Dean Smith-Skripps
I hope you are having a summer that is restful and
rejuvenating. It’s a time for family and friends, and
for professional development. This can come in
the form of graduate coursework, attendance at
workshops, catching up on professional reading, or
participating in online professional development
offerings. Public education and teacher preparation
continue to face challenges in our changing global
society. It’s important to be well versed in the issues;
to have the evidence to support, and improve, the
effectiveness of our programs; and to advocate for
the resources to do more!
to STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering,
and Math) concerns.
WIU’s teacher education
faculty provide ongoing
professional development to
teachers, and provide P-12
student enrichment programs to support and
excite students about STEM study and careers.
We look forward to our continued interactions
and our collective work to ensure educational
opportunities and success to all children.
In this newsletter, you will read about several
of our faculty and student initiatives related
Linda Tomlinson
LL-Tomlinson@wiu.edu
Melissa Phillips
MM-Phillips@wiu.edu
Jacqlin Richmond
J-Richmond@wiu.edu
Academic
Advisors
Sharon Butcher
SK-Butcher@wiu.edu
Jeanne Ellis
JC-Ellis@wiu.edu
Phoebe Wilson
PV-Wilson@wiu.edu
Tammy Wilson
TS-Wilson@wiu.edu
The Journey Begins
A doctorate degree in Educational Leadership
from Western Illinois is now a reality. The first
class, EIS 701, Quantitative Methods of Program
Evaluation, has been completed. Dr. Gregory
Montalvo, who taught the class, described
the comprehensive course as an “evaluation of
educational programs with emphasis in design and
data analysis. In the course, graduate students were
introduced to the evaluation process and taught to
use quantitative data to make informed decisions
about school programs. Programs currently being
evaluated by students include Title I Reading
and Math at the elementary levels to Gifted and
Talented Programs at the secondary level.” Dr.
Montalvo is a professor in the Educational and
Interdisciplinary Studies department.
Students enrolled in the doctoral program include
Chad Alleman, Superintendent, Illini Central;
Lonna Anderson, Director of Curriculum and
Instruction, Oskoloosa Community Schools;
Robert Dyer, Director of Educational Programs,
Kim Moreno (QC Campus)
KM-Moreno@wiu.edu
First Cohort
Moline School District; David Gilliland, JH/HS
Principal, Spoon River Valley CUSD; Michael
Grady, Principal, Dixon High School; Joseph
Jarvis, HS/MS Principal, Northeast Community
School District; Lonny Lemon, Superintendent,
Pawnee School District; Ellin Sue Lotspeich,
Principal, Kewanee Community District; Jay
Marino, Assistant Superintendent, Cedar Rapids
Community School District; James McEnroe,
Assistant Superintendent, Tinley Park CUSD; Jane
Michael, Superintendent, York CUSD; Michael
Oberhaus, Associate Superintendent, Rock Island
School District; Mary Parker, Superintendent,
Delavan CUSD; Tami Roskamp, Principal,
Nauvoo-Colusa CUSD; Diane Schumacher,
Principal, Northeast Community School District;
Curtis Simonson, Superintendent, Liberty
CUSD; John Tignor, Associate Superintendent,
Quincy Public Schools; Ruth Ann Tobey-Brown,
Principal, Rock Island School District; Mark
Twomey, Assistant Principal, Macomb CUSD;
Teresa Vandewiele, Director of English, Math
and Sciences, United
Township School
District; Vicki VanTuyle,
Superintendent,
North Greene
CUSD; Sarah Willey,
Assistant Regional
Superintendent, LeeOgle ROE; and Kent
Young, Superintendent,
Nauvoo-Colusa.
Center for the Preparation of Education Professionals
3
From Three Different Directions, Same Destination
WIU was the location for the Western
Regional ICTM (Illinois Council
of Teachers of Mathematics) Spring
Conference, hosting 150 teachers of
mathematics. This was the 55th year for
the conference. The facilitator was Dr.
Robert Mann, professor of Mathematics
at WIU.
June 5
Summer School Begins
July 4
University Closed
Tiffany Quinn
Tiffany Quinn attended the conference to
enhance her instructional skills in mathematics.
As a first-year teacher for 5th and 6th graders
in the Nauvoo-Colusa Elementary School in
Nauvoo, Illinois, she found new activities for
teaching math to her students. She is a native
of Rockford, Illinois, and a WIU graduate in
Elementary Education.
Rita Jefferson also participated in conference
sessions and explored the displays, adding to her
repertoire of resources for teaching mathematics.
As a Math Education major, she was student
teaching at Bushnell-Prairie City High School in
Bushnell, Illinois, during the spring. She also has a
Bachelor of Business degree from WIU.
Melissa Patterson, Math Education major at
WIU, had a unique opportunity to experience
the conference as an undergraduate student
and as a team
presenter with
Dr. Jim Olsen,
professor of
Mathematics at
WIU, for one
of the sessions.
Melissa, a junior
at WIU, is from
Alexis, Illinois.
Rita Jefferson
Throughout the session, teachers were
encouraged to use technology with students in
transforming methods where they shift from
a teacher-directed lesson to student-driven
July 26-27
COEHS Summer Experience
July 28
Summer Classes End
August 21
Fall Classes Begin
Melissa Patterson
Dr. Jim Olsen
Tiffany, Rita, and Melissa have a vision to teach
mathematics, but each will approach the goal
from a different direction. All three educators
will achieve the goal of sharing a unique
excitement for learning mathematics with their
students. They will have the opportunity to
make a difference.
Technology . . . Where Learning Never Ends
“What do imagination, influence, and flower
power have in common?” Practicing teachers
from west-central Illinois were asked that
very question at the beginning of a one-day
professional development session called “Spring
Experience” held in April at Western Illinois
University. This event was co-sponsored
by the Regional Office of Education #26
and the Office of Partnerships, Professional
Development, and Technology (OPPDT) in
the College of Education and Human Services.
OPPDT provides technology integration;
student-centered instruction training; and
services for all educators on and off Western’s
campus through the Division of Teacher
Education Partnerships, STAR-Online, and the
Interactive Multimedia Lab.
Calendar of
Events
activities. In this type of learning environment,
opportunities are provided for students to
explore and ask questions, plan and problemsolve, and create high-quality products to
share with peers and others in the community.
Projects were presented using Windows Movie
Maker, iMovie, and PowerPoint.
The 6th Annual Summer Experience will be
held at Western Illinois University on July 26
and 27, 2006. Tony Vincent, a national leader
in handheld computing and podcasting, will
present the keynote
address and offer
breakout sessions on
July 27. To register, visit
the online photo gallery.
To learn more about
Summer Experience,
access www.wiu.edu/
otep/summerexperience.
September 4
University Closed
September 22
Student Teacher Return Seminar
October 13
Student Teacher Clearance
Meeting
October 14
Homecoming
October 26
Spring 2007 Student Teacher
Placement Meeting
November 20-24
Thanksgiving Break
December 16
Graduation
4
University
Programs
for Teacher
Certification
Early Childhood
Education (Birth-Grade 3)
Elementary Education
K-9
Bilingual/Bicultural
Education
Secondary (6-12)
Agriculture Education
English
Mathematics
Science/Biology
Science/Chemistry
Science/Physics
Social Science/History
Special (K-12)
Art
French
Music
Physical Education
Spanish
Special Education–
Learning Behavior
Specialist I
Administrative
(Graduate Programs)
General Administrative
Superintendent
Chief School Business
Official
School Service Personnel
Guidance
School Psychologist
Speech and Language
Impaired
Volume 1, Issue 2
Just Beginning . . . Just Finishing
What a stroke of luck! Much to the surprise of
Amber Moore and Amanda Tarkington, “spring
break” vacation in their individual school
districts matched the dates of the 20th Annual
PreK-8 Science Education Update Conference
held at Western Illinois University this spring
semester. Dr. John Beaver had invited them as
his former students to present a mini-session
at the conference. Both WIU graduates had
assisted with different aspects of the conference
in past years. For this event, they developed
an interactive presentation that included
tasting some unusual foods and informational
handouts identifying facts related to the topic,
“Science in the Grocery Store.”
Each year, conference participants include
students from other colleges/universities as well as
individuals currently teaching science in the field.
This year, 150 students from Bradley University,
Monmouth College, and Western Illinois
Amber Moore and Amanda Tarkington
University attended.
Approximately 100
science teachers
participated. Each
year, the conference
honors an Outstanding
Dr. John Beaver
Science Teacher. This
year, the award recipient was Steve Hoffman
from Pekin Elementary School, Pekin, Illinois.
The conference is co-sponsored by the Maurice
G. Kellogg Science Center Fund, the College
of Education and Human Services, and the
Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
Amber is currently teaching at Freeport Junior
High School in Freeport, Illinois. Amanda
is teaching at John Jay Elementary School in
Mount Prospect, Illinois. Both teachers have
classrooms with more than 75% diversity. As
elementary teachers, science is one of the many
subjects they teach daily to the entire class.
Dr. John Beaver, Director of the Science
Education Center, was the conference
coordinator. Dr. Beaver has been at WIU for
21 years, serving as an outstanding mentor for
future science educators. Amber and Amanda are
just beginning their teaching careers as first-year
teachers. Dr. Beaver is just finishing his career as
an educator in the ever-changing field of science
where he has provided focus and guidance for
many past, present, and future teachers.
Dancing, Dancing
Twenty-four students were poised and ready
to perform. Had the weeks of practice been
enough? The performance of 4th-grade students
from Brick Elementary was well received by
the Beardstown Kiwanis Club at their monthly
meeting. The class learned the dance steps in
physical education class. They presented several
numbers.
The idea originated with retired Beardstown
principal, Doris Edwards. Square dance steps
were taught by Ms. Edwards and physical
education teacher Brent Haverback. Waltz
and box steps were taught by Jacob Gloude,
Kinesiology student teacher from Western
Illinois University. The students learned more
than just dance steps with this exercise. They
increased their listening and social skills as well
as learning different rhythms.
Jacob
said the
students
were
a little
hesitant
at the
Brick Elementary, Beardstown, IL
beginning
of the practice sessions since they were dancing
in couples and trying new dance steps. Jacob
liked the student teaching experience as a
traveling teacher. He taught at Brick School on
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and at Gard
School on Tuesday and Thursday. The second
half of his student teaching experience was at
Beardstown High School with mentor teachers
Rick Thompson and Robin Lewis. Jacob is a
graduate of Amos Alonzo Stagg High School in
Palos Hills, Illinois.
Center for the Preparation of Education Professionals
5
Crisis . . . For Real
She was supervising high school students in the
gymnasium during lunchtime when the fire
alarm started ringing. The students thought it
was a drill, but her mentor teacher, Cyle Rigg,
knew it was not a drill. He had seen the building
principal suddenly leave the gymnasium. She
assisted in moving students to a nearby athletic
field where teachers were taking roll for their
classes. Lisa Edmonds, a Kinesiology major from
Western Illinois University, had three days left of
her student teaching experience at Southeastern
High School. She remembers the day of the fire
very well.
First, the black smoke appeared above the
roof, and then flames were visible. As the
reality of the crisis set in, students became very
serious. Although student cell phones were not
permitted at school, a number of them came
out of purses, backpacks, and coat pockets
during the first few minutes of the emergency.
It was cold outside. Buses moved students to
a community center. The Red Cross provided
blankets and food. There was tremendous
community involvement during and after the
fire. Later, assistance came from other school
Western Illinois
University
Websites
Center for the Preparation of
Education Professionals
www.wiu.edu/cpep (under
construction)
districts and local
churches.
Admissions
www.admissions.wiu.edu
As Lisa reflected after
her student teaching
experience ended,
she identified several
Fire Photos
things that made
Southeastern High School
strong impressions on
her. She learned teachers must be adaptable and
calm in an emergency. Her mentor teacher told
her, “Act the way you want your students to act.”
She believes most students do not realize how
fortunate they are to go to school each day with
fully equipped classrooms. Finally, she realized the
enormous challenge of teaching a class without a
classroom, books/materials, or equipment.
Alumni Association
www.wiu.edu/alumni
Grant selected “does not turn in homework
on time” as the behavior to change. Kimberly
chose “does not follow directions” as a behavior
needing a positive replacement plan. Both
students described the assignment as a multistep process involving many hours of research.
As each plan was developed, it was necessary
for individual parts to be divided into very
basic steps. Parent involvement was an essential
element in the overall plan. During the month
of work, the future educators researched,
constructed, and refined their individual project
Career Services
www.careers.wiu.edu
Financial Aid
www.fa.wiu.edu
Foundation Office
www.wiu.edu/foundation
Graduate Studies
www.wiu.edu/grad
PRB and Technology
Tech Fest, sponsored by the College of
Education and Human Services, was the setting
for teacher education majors Grant Domenz
and Kimberly Stanek to showcase their Positive
Reinforcement Behavior (PRB) projects. The
projects evolved from an assignment in their
SPED 320 class with Dr. Mary Jensen. The goal
was to develop a positive behavior replacement
plan for an identified problem. The plans
were designed for individual students in the
school classroom setting. Here is the catch . . .
technology had to be a key component.
Bookstore
www.wiu.edu/bookstore
plans. Their display at Tech Fest included
technology presentations, handouts describing
each project, description boards, and research
documentation.
Grant, a History Education major, graduated
from Buffalo Grove High School, Buffalo
Grove, Illinois. He will be student teaching
in the fall of 2006. Kimberly is a Special
Education major from Oak Lawn, Illinois.
She will student teach in the spring of 2008.
Both Grant and Kimberly are looking forward
to using the skills and knowledge they
have learned from this project. They agree
technology will be an important part of their
future teaching strategies.
Kimberly Stanek and Grant Domenz
Library
www.wiu.edu/library
Registrar
www.wiu.edu/Registrar
Scholarships
www.wiu.edu/scholarships
Student Activities
www.osa.wiu.edu
Student Services
www.student.services.wiu.edu
6
Volume 1, Issue 2
Field Supervisors
Diversity Put in Motion
Benjamin Bishop
BG-Bishop@wiu.edu
In the fall of 2005, the Center for the
Preparation of Education Professionals at
Western initiated a pilot program to provide
a diversity experience early in the training
of WIU students in the Teacher Education
Program. The success of the pilot program
paved the way, for all students enrolled in EIS
201/203 in the spring of 2006 (238 students)
to have a diverse experience at one of five
locations selected by the Center. Participating
schools were Beardstown High School/Middle
School (Judy Fitzgerald, Principal; Cathy
Studer, Assistant Principal); Irving Primary
School, Peoria (Michael Illuzzi, Principal; Kathy
Freed, Head Teacher); Black Hawk Area Special
Education Center, East Moline (Michael Daly,
Charles Bolton
CF-Bolton@wiu.edu
James Crabtree
J-Crabtree@wiu.edu
Keith Erickson
KG-Erickson@wiu.edu
Isabel Lamptey
IE-Lamptey@wiu.edu
Connie LaRue
CK-LaRue@wiu.edu
Victor Tocwish
V-Tocwish@wiu.edu
Kathryn Withenbury
KL-Withenbury@wiu.edu
Beardstown MS and HS, Beardstown, IL
Principal; Darrell
Amato, Head
Teacher); and
Tyne Elementary,
Peoria (Tim
Ryon, Principal;
Jennifer Rozboril,
Isabel Lamptey, Field
Assistant Principal).
Experience Supervisor
Isabel Lamptey, field
supervisor, facilitated the trips.
WIU students did more than observe. They
participated in the classroom with small and
large group activities. Some of them assisted
individual students to learn spelling words,
read a story, or complete missed work. Others
assisted pre-K through 12th-grade students
as part of a school Special Olympics Program
activity. Comments from the university
students were positive. One student said, “This
experience has really made me realize what I
want to do for a career. I had a smile on my
face all day.” Another student described the
experience as “a very important part of learning
to become a teacher.” The Center will continue
to expand this program in the fall.
Certification
Cheryl Hutchins
CK-Hutchins@wiu.edu
Staff
Nancy Stoneking
NE-Stoneking@wiu.edu
Julie Schoonover
JA-Schoonover@wiu.edu
Lois Retherford
(QC Campus)
LA-Retherford@wiu.edu
Look, Examine, Plan
They were all invited. Area teachers, WIU
education majors, and the public were invited to an
Open House for previewing new books from the
publishers of children’s and young adults’ books. It
was an extraordinary opportunity to look, examine,
and plan how one might use specific books in pre-K
through 8th-grade classrooms. Over 2,500 books are
housed in Western’s Children’s Literature Examination
Center (CLEC) located in Horrabin Hall on the
Macomb campus. Books are available for examination
during the year, but they are not available for general
circulation. The Open House is held annually and
is sponsored by the Department of Curriculum and
Instruction. CLEC’s co-coordinators, Nancy Chu,
Angela Ferree, and Betsy Hommel, identified the
range of literature as fiction, nonfiction, traditional
literature, picture books, and poetry.
CLEC was founded in 1996 by Associate Professor
Nancy Chu. Various publishers send books each year
to the center. At the end of every academic year, the
collection is transferred to the Curriculum Library
in Horrabin Hall to make room for the latest books.
The Curriculum Library is a valuable resource for
Dan Campbell
Melissa Firek and
Stephanie Gritton
teacher education majors and area teachers. Books
from this collection are also sent to the library at the
WIU-Quad Cities campus each year.
Among the undergraduate education students
who took advantage of the opportunity to spend
some time looking at the books in the collection
were Melissa Firek, Stephanie Gritton, and Dan
Campbell. All three are Elementary Education
majors and will student teach in the fall of
2006. Melissa is from Schaumburg, Illinois,
and graduated from Schaumburg High School.
Stephanie’s home is in Aledo, Illinois, and she
graduated from Aledo High School. Winslow,
Illinois, is the hometown for Dan. He graduated
from Lena-Winslow High School.
Center for the Preparation of Education Professionals
7
Fantastic Experience at Nathan Hale
That Friday, at the end of January, she was a
little apprehensive. Monday would be the first
day of full responsibilities in her classroom at
Nathan Hale Elementary in Chicago. By the
end of March, Jessica Meinert was nearing
the end of her student teaching experience
in 1st grade. She described her experience
as wonderful. Her mentor teacher was an
experienced, veteran teacher in an urban school
setting. The classroom of 33 students included
11 bilingual and four ELL (English Language
Learner) students.
magnet school, 95% of the students live in the
neighborhood.
Jessica described the rewarding experiences of
meeting with the parents of her students at
Parent/Teacher Conferences. At this school,
faculty from 1st- and 2nd-grade classes meet
weekly to discuss curriculum implementation.
She was a part of that process: “I was teaching
my students to read. Some of them were
teaching me to speak Spanish. It was a fantastic
student teaching experience. I was lucky to have
this opportunity.”
Jessica graduated from Freeport High School
in Freeport, Illinois. She requested a student
teaching assignment with Chicago Public
Schools. Over 435,000 students attend the
more than 600 schools in the CPS District.
Jessica was looking for a wide variety of
experiences to increase her teaching skills, and
she found it. In this classroom, students may
come to school fluent in Spanish, Polish, or
Arabic in addition to English. The enrollment
for this year in the pre-K through 8th-grade
classes is over 800 students. Although this is a
Western Illinois University,
a community of individuals
dedicated to learning, will have a
profound and positive impact on
our changing world through the
unique interaction of instruction,
research, and public service as
we educate and prepare a diverse
student population to thrive in
and contribute to our global
society.
Western’s
Teacher
Education
Mission
Jessica Meinert
Can You See? Can You Hear?
The students were alert and anxious for the visitor
to arrive. Julie Griffith-Whitlock’s 5th-grade class
at Gard Elementary School, Beardstown, Illinois,
had their questions ready. The literature unit last
week had included a book about a Seeing Eye dog
and its owner. The 22 students in the class had
discussed the role of Seeing Eye dogs in helping
visually impaired individuals. Julie was a student
teacher from Western Illinois University. The
mentor teacher was Tammy Ruthhardt.
Western’s
Mission
student using a headphone receiver, a TTY (a
machine that is attached to the phone line so an
individual can communicate with another hearing
impaired person by typing on the machine), and
a white walking stick for the visually impaired.
He demonstrated some of the commands given
to a Seeing Eye dog by the owner. He taught the
students how to help a blind person across the
street. He also demonstrated how those who are
visually impaired count money.
The visitor was Julie’s father, Robert Griffith,
Julie has a wealth of information relating to
who is a Rehabilitation Specialist at the Illinois
working with individuals who have vision and
School for the Visually Impaired in Jacksonville,
hearing disabilities thanks to her father’s years
Illinois. He talked with
of experience in his
the class about devices
job. Also, her father has
that can assist vision
been hearing impaired
and hearing impaired
since birth. Julie believes
individuals in their
she is fortunate to have
everyday lives. Some of
this background and
the examples he brought
experience to bring
for the students to see
to the classroom as a
were a clip microphone
future teacher. She is
for the teacher to use
a graduate of Pleasant
in the classroom with
Plains High School,
the hearing impaired
Robert Griffith
Pleasant Plains, Illinois.
To prepare versatile teachers who
appreciate the importance of our
diverse population; who adapt
to emerging social, economic,
and demographic patterns; and
who are skilled in the use of
technology tools to promote
teaching and learning in our
nation’s schools.
Quotes
“A teacher affects eternity; he
can never tell when his influence
stops.”
– Henry Brooks Adams
“Be all that you can be. Find
your future—as a teacher.”
– Madeline Fuchs Holzer
8
Volume 1, Issue 2
Let the Games Begin!
The 19th Annual Western Illinois Regional
Competition of the Illinois Science
Olympiad was held spring semester at
Western Illinois University in Macomb.
Eighteen events were planned to test
knowledge of the concepts of science, skills
dealing with science processes, creativity,
and inventiveness. Winners from this event
advanced to the State competition held
at the University of Illinois–Champaign
campus. State winners will progress to
national competition.
Division B teams included Beverly Manor
Junior High in Washington, Farmington
Junior High, Hamilton Junior High, Illini
Bluffs Middle School, Ingersoll Middle
School in Canton, Macomb Junior High,
PORTA Junior High in Petersburg,
Rockridge Junior High, West Central
Junior High in Stronghurst, and West
Prairie Middle School. Division C teams
were Canton High School, Farmington
High School, Hamilton High School, Illini
Central High School, Lewistown High
School, Monmouth-Roseville High School,
PORTA High School, Rochester High
School, and West Prairie High School in
Sciota. Teams were accompanied by one or
two coaches from their schools. Many hours
had been spent working with the students
at their home schools in preparation for the
competition.
Middle school, junior high, and high school
students had the opportunity to participate
in a variety of competitions. Judges were
selected from area school faculty groups,
WIU faculty, and WIU science students.
Some of the WIU students will be student
teaching in the future. For them, this event
Mail to . . .
CPEP
Horrabin Hall 91
1 University Circle
Macomb, il 61455-1390
provided “close and upfront” observations of
science education.
Event topics ranged from astronomy to
tower building. Students were challenged to
show their knowledge of the chemistry lab
as well as bridge building. Excitement was
evident with the balloon race and the bottle
rocket contest. Specific knowledge was
identified in the forensics, heredity, Fermi
questions, and rocks/minerals sessions.
Hands-on applications were needed for the
entries in the robot ramble, storm the castle,
and wheeled vehicle contests.
Dr. Donald Powers, Professor, Department
of Curriculum and Instruction, was the WIU
Site Director. He organized and facilitated
this very successful event. Many organizations
contributed to this year’s Science Olympiad.
The following departments at WIU also
played an important role: Curriculum and
Instruction, Biological Sciences, Chemistry,
Geology, Kinesiology, Mathematics, and
Physics. As in the past, the Maurice G.
Kellogg Science Center Fund was an
important and valuable supporter.
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