School During Summer Already Common Practice for Teachers
By JENNIFER COMPSTON-STROUGHArticle Photos
MOUNDSVILLE - While politicians and educators across the nation debate the pros and cans of a 12-month school year, many local teachers are doing some studying of their own.
Even educators who favor an extended school calendar acknowledge that many obstacles stand in the way of a year-round schedule for public schools. And perhaps one of those obstacles is the need for working teachers to continue their own educations.
All last week, groups of Marshall County Schools teachers were in class at Central Elementary School in Moundsville. Jennifer Lipinski, technology integration specialist for the district, offered a series of professional development workshops for staff members.
"We offer professional development opportunities throughout the summer," said Dr. Bonnie Ritz, director of curriculum and instruction for the school system.
Sessions recently offered by Lipinski involved teachers learning to integrate technology into their classrooms and lessons. Lipinski said teachers of all subjects and at all grade levels took part.
Workshops also focused on use of virtual white boards and operating software such as PowerPoint and Excel. Digital storytelling also was studied, along with the availability of resources through the West Virginia Department of Education. These include the Teach 21 Web site and Thinkfinity - a free Verizon Foundation initiative that provides both content and professional development resources.
Teachers are compensated for their time during the training sessions offered by Marshall County Schools.
"We have offered paid professional development in the summer months for many years," Lipinski said.
But teachers present for training Tuesday said they weren't there for the paycheck.
"I'm here to keep sharp, keep my skills up," said Bob Triveri, a computer teacher at Moundsville Middle School.
Others, such as Sherrard Middle School art teacher Rosetta Epifana and science teacher Jeff Mauck of Moundsville Middle, agreed that the workshops provide a chance to learn new skills and review those previously acquired.
Lipinski said each session had a good turnout, with about 30 staffers participating each day.
But teachers from throughout the Ohio Valley are taking other steps to further their educations. Educators commonly take graduate-level courses during the summer months as required to renew their teaching certificates or to obtain their master's degree or doctorate.
Sheryl Sonk, a language arts teacher at Union Local Middle School, plans to register today at Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio, for July classes to renew her teaching license that also will apply toward her master's degree.
Sonk said she always has opted to take classes during the summer rather than in the evenings during the school year. She pointed out that for those with a full-time job and their own children at home, it is challenging to find the time to complete their own studies.
"It can be very difficult to do both to the best of your ability," Sonk said of teaching and fulfilling family responsibilities. As a result, she has found her summer break from work to be the ideal time to complete required coursework.
Marie Compston teaches reading at Union Local Middle School, and she already is taking summer classes at Muskingum. Compston is pursuing a master's degree plus a reading endorsement that will allow her to teach kindergarten through 12th grade.
Compston, who previously taught music, said due to cuts in the arts and other fields, teachers need to be certified in multiple areas in order to have job security. She noted some sessions she has enrolled in this summer have been filled with teachers from all over the eastern half of the Buckeye State.
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snowy1
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07-07-09 4:01 PM
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wvbarron and Cory1978: You are a disgrace to this forum. Get a life and quit putting decent people down. This is what I say to people who constantly put teachers down. If we are so useless why do you spend so much time degrading us. Is it because you were not able to get in the program that allows you to be a teacher and are just jealous?
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think4urself
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07-04-09 2:38 AM
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What many seem to be forgetting is the simple fact that many teachers spend hours after school grading homework and of course you can't forget those Parent/Teacher conferences that make the students cringe. Many teachers, especially in primary school have to pay for many of the basic supplies their students use because there isn't enough money budgeted for supplies. Most teachers I know work 2 jobs and during the summer they work full time at the 2nd job. Most teachers I know put in well more than a 40 hour work week. Teachers have more jobs than just teaching and considering their sacrifice, they should get MORE pay not less for what they willingly do.
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snowy1
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07-01-09 6:47 PM
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WVbarron Public school teachers get 30 minutes for lunch at the most and of course a planning period. The majority of them teach 7 periods a day and if you think our job is so easy you should have stayed in it.
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snowy1
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07-01-09 6:42 PM
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Cory1978 What was you major in college and what is your job now? Do you have to keep up with continuing ed credits? I am confused as to why you are so down on teachers. I do not know of any county or federal program that has paid for college education of teachers whether in a undergrad program or like most teachers a masters program. Interesting!!!
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boxedin
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07-01-09 5:51 PM
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Hey cory1978, you apparently seem a bit confused about who pays for a teacher's education. I have two daughters who are still paying for their college education and they have been out for nearly 4 years. If you think you pay for it, forget it. it takes a lot of money and most don't have it and have to borrow. I really think college would have been a waste of your time You seem to be very bitter at people who take the time to learn, and try to better themselves.
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snowy1
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07-01-09 5:47 PM
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Maybe the test score are lower because private schools do not test all students including the majority of students in special education. Make sure you ask your private schools that questions. As far as parent involvement activities our school has parent nights for math and reading programs, open house, awards assemblies, field trips where parents can opt to go on and are actually encouraged to take part, computer classes, internet safety classes, and programs that are brought to the school for parents to enjoy with students. If your school is not doing these things than maybe you should become involved by asking and doing something about it instead of complaining.
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cory1978
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06-30-09 12:16 PM
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thanks elmgroveman...anyone that agrees with me 100% should have their head checked......and my wife would concur...lol
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ElmGroveMan
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06-30-09 11:50 AM
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very GOOD posts Cory I agree with 90% of what you have to say on this.
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cory1978
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06-30-09 11:32 AM
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As far as teacher training, the federal govt. designates money for staff development and for parent involvement activities....thats the part I have a problem with...by the way...mind telling me what parent involved activities you are talking about?...besides sporting events.
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snowy1
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06-30-09 10:36 AM
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So if the govt is spending that much money for a students education why would you spend more for a private education. Makes no sense to me.
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snowy1
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06-30-09 10:35 AM
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Maybe you should do some research as to what it takes to be a professional.
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snowy1
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06-30-09 10:34 AM
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You all are ridiculous. Teaching is an honorable profession. We work extremely hard at our jobs. I personally put in a large amount of time before and after school. As far as my masters is concerned I paid for it not you the tax payers. I also traveled an hour to achieve that. If teachers are so bad than why would you even consider private school. I don't know who you are Cory1978 but I wanted to be a teacher to influence the lives of children. There are a lot of us out there. As far as teacher training, the federal govt. designates money for staff development and for parent involvement activities. You blame teachers but if you only had half a clue it takes a team of people to raise a child. Most private school teachers are not highly qualified in their field of study, keep that in mind when you go to parent teacher conferences.
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cory1978
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06-30-09 9:31 AM
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well said wvbarron
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cory1978
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06-30-09 9:09 AM
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LAST COMMENT: and If you STILL don't get it.....who do you think pays for this education for teachers if they don't have to pay for it? Answer: ME! and the rest of the taxpayers. Who payed for my education? Answer: ME!
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cory1978
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06-30-09 9:08 AM
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LAST COMMENT: and If you STILL don't get it.....who do you think pays for this education for teachers if they don't have to pay for it? Answer: ME! and the rest of the tax payes. Who payed for my education? Answer: ME!
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cory1978
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06-30-09 9:01 AM
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I honestly have respect for teachers but sometimes with their maturity level, I wonder if some should have found a different profession. Lets face it, a child starts school when they reach the age of 4-5. They go through school their entire life then when they get a job the are still in school......overgrown immature children teaching children.
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cory1978
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06-30-09 8:42 AM
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alot of free time??? give me a brake. I posted 5 comments in 15 minutes. someone needs to get a life.
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boxedin
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06-29-09 10:39 PM
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No! No! No! Schools need to make up their own minds about their calendar! Our good doers (better known as the US Congress) need to keep their noses out of how long a teacher needs to work and how long a child needs to go to school. Someone needs to remind the congress that it takes a very long time for a teacher to get a master's degree and with all the new regulations that teachers are required to enforce, there is little time to teach and even less time to go back to school. People, who want to talk about that teachers suposely have, need to give a try. They will find that it is very hard work and the small amount of an increase of pay each year just doesn't cut it anymore. I don’t like the idea of 12 months of school, as adults we know what it is like to get burned out and believe it or not children do so too,
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ScienceChic
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06-29-09 7:35 PM
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I agree, how many post in one day can one person have time for? Someone really needs to worry about his own job or work ethic...someone is very bitter, arent they?
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EllisWyatt
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06-29-09 7:00 PM
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The cost of living in the Wheeling area is more than 21% lower than the national average so lower teacher pay is not necessarily as bad as MOJO and the teachers' unions would have you believe. In 2006, the per capita income in WV was $20,419; nationwide, it was $21,587. So, WV workers are actually better off than the rest of the nation. According to the US Dept. of Labor, in 2005, the avg. teacher earns $30.75 per hour for hours worked. This is more than firefighters ($17.91), police officers ($22.64), biologists ($28.07), engineers ($29.76) or chemists ($30.68). Based on the teachers' union's own data, the avg. teacher spends just 3.9 hours in a classroom in a 7.3 hour day. Teacher pay increases? GET A LIFE!
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AlexanderShulgin
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06-29-09 6:09 PM
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do yourself a favor and get a hobby, job, or whatever you need to keep yourself busy and not making incredibly narrow minded and extremely uneducated statements. Many jobs have continued education that is paid wholly or in part by the employer. To claim that public school is a failure and not wanting put the effort or funds into improving the skills of teachers, is beyond words or reason.
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Wondering
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06-29-09 4:36 PM
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My, my - SOMEONE has a lot of free time, don't they?
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cory1978
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06-29-09 4:15 PM
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positive article??? wtf? you think that teachers getting paid with tax money to further their education is positive? no one in the world could ever have such a good job!! they should have to do what the rest of us have to do....night school or maybe just maybe work 12 months out of the year!
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ScienceChic
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06-29-09 4:04 PM
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Im very disappointed in some of the comments left about such a positive article. Some how, teachers are now bad people for wanting to futher there education so your children will have the privilege of being taught by only the most qualified educators? Shame on some of you.If some of you only knew what is all involved in being a teacher, you would think twice about judging so harshly. Most teachers are hard working people who spent alot of time and money to get where they are. I went to school for 8 years to be a teacher; I didnt have mom and dad's money either, neither were ever in my life. I worked and got scholarships, not tax payer's money. And I knew if I wanted to teach, I may have to leave Wheeling. That didnt change my mind about wanting to be in the classroom. People that are teachers in this area have to realize there are only so many jobs. Everyone wants the comfort of home. If your not willing to leave, then dont complain about not getting a job.
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cory1978
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06-29-09 3:55 PM
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kinda hard to read bedtime stories to your kid when a single parent has to hold down 2 jobs to support their family....parents relying on teachers = uneducated fools......todays current problem.
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