Eighty Educators Attend Seattle Workshop
(Press Release 11-09-09)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

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.

Eighty local educators representing 23 area schools and Eastern Oklahoma State College recently journeyed to that place as they attended a two–day FISH! for Schools LIVE Workshop in Seattle, Washington.

The trip was sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College’s GEAR UP for a Brighter Tomorrow grant. 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—Be There, Play, Make Their Day, and Choose Your Attitude.

Attendees participated in numerous activities, networked with educators from across the United States, and received a FISH! For Schools Expedition Pack containing curriculum and staff development materials.

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.

Attendees heard from FISH! speakers Steve Mintz, Jay Larson, and Doug Strauss. Joining the group was the creator of the FISH! philosophy, John Christensen. The FISH! Philosophy® emerged in 1998 from the film, FISH! Catch the Energy, Release the Potential, produced by John Christensen—current CEO aka: Playground Director at ChartHouse Learning—this film is about the Seattle's world–famous Pike Place Fish Market. What John captured and translated into film was that even in a workplace where fishmongers spent stinky, grueling 12–hour shifts stocking, selling and packing fish, remarkable results can occur when people accept the invitation to: 1) Be There for their coworkers and customers; 2) Play; 3) Make someone's day, and; 4) Choose their attitude about how they show up for work.

The Pike Place Fish Market, founded in 1930, is an open air fish market located in Seattle, Washington's Pike Place Market, at the corner of Pike Street and Pike Place. It is known for their tradition of fishmongers throwing fish that customers have purchased, before they are wrapped. After nearing bankruptcy in 1986, the fish market owner and employees decided to become "world famous", changing their way of doing business by introducing their flying fish, games, and customer performances. Four years later, they were featured repeatedly in the national media and television shows. The store is now a popular tourist destination in Seattle, attracting up to 10,000 daily visitors, and is often billed as world–famous. Pike Place Fish Market Owner John Yokoyama and fish monger Justin Hall met with attendees during the workshop.

Attending were: Pamela Dickson, Antlers; Nicole Faber, Antlers; Melinda Martin, Antlers; Anissa Bedard, Bokoshe; Celia Abernathy, Bokoshe; Claudia Lester, Buffalo Valley; Lyndon Howze, Buffalo Valley; Kay Poe, Buffalo Valley; Jerry Mathews, Buffalo Valley; Bud Rattan, Canadian; Ken Matthews, Canadian; Tracy Matthews, Canadian; Ramonia Davis, Clayton; Lavada Watkins, Clayton; Toni Hemphill, Clayton; James Wasson, Clayton; Pamela Wasson, Clayton; Janice Gray, Crowder; Rebecca Davis, Crowder; Selina Riley, Haileyville; Kellye Semeski, Haileyville; Eddie Martin, Haileyville; Jennifer Hunt, Hartshorne; Mike Reddick, Hartshorne; Nancy Cope, Hartshorne; Stephanie Bowen, Indianola; Jeanne Ragan, Indianola; Ron Sullivan, Indianola; Debra Jennings, Keota; Paul Jennings, Keota; Wade Daniel, Kiowa; Ron Slawson, Kiowa; Paulla Slawson, Kiowa; Sherri Fry, Kiowa; Suzanna Cormier, LeFlore; and Patricia Holly, LeFlore;

Also attending were Randy Hughes, McAlester; Nancy Hughes, McAlester; Destiny Collier, McAlester; Timothy Collier, McAlester; Celia Mullins, McAlester; Rich Cornish, McAlester; Victoria Rager, McAlester; Brenda Burnside, McAlester; Carol Aldridge, McCurtain; Perry Arnwine, McCurtain; Sandra Oliver, McCurtain; Lawanda Vaughn, Moyers; Janice Montgomery, Moyers; Marcia Armstrong, Moyers; Tonya McKnight, Moyers, Chris Thompson, Moyers; JoLynne Deaver, Panola; Christy Bryan, Panola; Diana White, Pittsburg; Jimmy Harwood, Pittsburg; Sabrina Richardson, Pittsburg; Greta Reasnor, Quinton; Jurean Cook, Quinton; Jay Swanson, Quinton; Carol Snow, Rattan; Vicky Gibbs, Rattan; Michelle Birchfield, Rattan; Neil Birchfield, Rattan; Terrie Ober, Red Oak; Lisa Hilburn, Red Oak; Megan Muncy, Red Oak; Jason Lockhart, Talihina; Rebecca Lockhart, Talihina; Charlotte Smith, Talihina; Katie Blagg, Whitesboro; Jamie Baughman, Wilburton; Vic Woods, Eastern Oklahoma State College; Linda Morgan, GEAR UP Project Director; Lorrie Russ, GEAR UP Professional Development Coordinator; LaDonna Baldwin, GEAR UP Education Coordinator; Michelle Cox, GEAR UP Education Coordinator; Nina Fereday, GEAR UP Education Coordinator; Fenessa Little, 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 23 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.

Caption info:
The Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP for a Brighter Tomorrow delegation at the FISH! for Schools: LIVE workshop in Seattle, WA.