Area Educators Attend 'FISH For Schools' Workshop
(Press Release 08-10-09)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

Submitted story and photos

    Imagine a place where the scent of sharpened pencils is more stimulating than coffee. A place where excited answers follow eagerly raised hands and “caring” is defined by behaviors as well as the dictionary. A place where the school bells ring true to your original school–day dreams.
 
    Local educators representing 12 area schools and Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP recently journeyed to that place as they attended a two–day FISH! for Schools LIVE: Diving Deeper Workshop at Fin and Feather Resort in Gore, Oklahoma. The workshop was facilitated by Steve Mintz, Curriculum Specialist and Sarah Johnson, FISH! Sales Guide for Charthouse Learning.
 
    The trip was sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College’s GEAR UP for a Brighter Tomorrow grant. Participants at the “Diving Deeper” workshop had previously attended a FISH! for Schools Live presentation. The workshop was designed to create a richer, more effective learning environment by focusing on improving internal motivation and classroom management, learning how to use the FISH! for Schools curriculum to help build quality relationships, co–creating a safe and playful learning community for everyone, and creatively applying the four practices of the FISH! philosophy.
 
    FISH! for Schools is a powerful curriculum, designed by educators for educators. FISH! for Schools LIVE is a starting point to help educators achieve the success they want—to create great places to learn, where schools are productive, safe, kind, respectful and fun for both students and educators.
 
    Attending were: Jerry Mathews, Buffalo Valley; Priscella Fairchild and Kelli Hopper, Canadian; Debra Jennings and Paul Jennings, Keota; Deward Palmer, Sandra Oliver and Abigail Taylor, McCurtain; and Jimmy Harwood, Pittsburg.
 
    Also attending were Linda Morgan, GEAR UP Project Director; Lorrie Russ, GEAR UP Professional Development Coordinator; Helen Scott, GEAR UP Project Assistant; LaDonna Baldwin, GEAR UP Education Coordinator; Nina Fereday, GEAR UP Education Coordinator; and Dara Ward, GEAR UP Education Coordinator.
 
    Eastern Oklahoma State College received a $6.7 million federal GEAR UP grant and is in its fourth year of implementation. Eastern has partnered with area schools to provide students with additional educational opportunities and teachers with professional development opportunities. The GEAR UP for a Brighter Tomorrow grant application was one of 27 selected nation–wide to receive funding.

Paul Jennings Keota—Pic 1—Paul Jennings, Keota, proudly puts on his bright green FISH! for Schools shirt. Jennings recently attended the FISH! for Schools Live: Diving Deeper workshop sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP at Fin & Feather Resort.

Lorrie Russ GU & Debra Jennings Keota—Pic 2—Lorrie Russ, GEAR UP Professional Development Coordinator and Debra Jennings, Keota, participate in a FISH! activity. Russ and Jennings recently attended the FISH! for Schools Live: Diving Deeper workshop sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP at Fin & Feather Resort.

Paul Jennings Keota & Abigail Taylor McCurtain—Pic 3—Paul Jennings, Keota, and Abigail Taylor, McCurtain, share information during a FISH! activity. Jennings and Taylor recently attended the FISH! for Schools Live: Diving Deeper workshop sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP at Fin & Feather Resort.

LaDonna Baldwin GU & Sandra Oliver McCurtain—Pic 4—GEAR UP Education Coordinator LaDonna Baldwin and Sandra Oliver, McCurtain, participate in an activity during FISH! for Schools LIVE: Diving Deeper. Baldwin and Oliver recently attended the FISH! for Schools Live: Diving Deeper workshop sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP at Fin & Feather Resort.

Kelli Hopper Canadian & Jimmy Harwood Pittsburg—Pic 5—Kelli Hopper, Canadian, and Jimmy Harwood, Pittsburg, share information during a FISH! activity. Hopper and Harwood recently attended the FISH! for Schools Live: Diving Deeper workshop sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP at Fin & Feather Resort.

Scott, Palmer, Morgan, Jennings—Pic 6—Helen Scott, GEAR UP Project Assistant; Deward Palmer, McCurtain; Linda Morgan, GEAR UP Project Director; and Debra Jennings, Keota, give a “thumbs up” for their design during a FISH! activity. Scott, Palmer, Morgan and Jennings recently attended the FISH! for Schools Live: Diving Deeper workshop sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP at Fin & Feather Resort.

Baldwin, Mathews, Ward & Fereday—Pic 7—LaDonna Baldwin, GEAR UP Education Coordinator; Jerry Mathews, Buffalo Valley; Dara Ward, GEAR UP Education Coordinator; and Nina Fereday, GEAR UP Education Coordinator show off their design during a FISH! activity. Baldwin, Mathews, Ward, and Fereday recently attended the FISH! for Schools Live: Diving Deeper workshop sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP at Fin & Feather Resort.

Nina Fereday GU & Priscella Fairchild Canadian—Pic 8—Nina Fereday, GEAR UP Education Coordinator, and Priscella Fairchild, Canadian, share information during a FISH! activity. Fereday and Fairchild recently attended the FISH! for Schools Live: Diving Deeper workshop sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP at Fin & Feather Resort.