West Newsmagazine 3-21-18

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March 21, 2018
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Parkway Superintendent Dr. Keith Marty [left] with Parkway
Alumni Association Executive Director Leah McCoy, Southwest
Middle math teacher Laura Chambliss and Southwest
Middle Principal Aaron McPherson
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By BONNIE KRUEGER
Albert Awards honor exceptional
new teachers
Each year, the Albert Award is given
by the Parkway Alumni Association
Central High social studies teacher Stephanie Baker receives
her Albert Award notification from Leah McCoy.
to three exceptional
first- through fifth-year
Parkway teachers – one
each at the elementary,
middle and high school
level. The award recognizes
new teachers for
the energy and enthusiasm
they bring to their
students, as well as the
creative and innovative
practices they use in
their classroom.
The award winners are: Christine Keating,
third grade, Bellerive Elementary;
Laura Chambliss, math,
Southwest Middle; Stephanie
Baker, social studies,
Central High.
Each Albert Award
recipient receives a $1,000
cash prize and a plaque.
Recipients also are honored
at Parkway’s Appreciation
Evening event in April.
The Albert Award is
named in honor of the late
Al Burr, a teacher, coach and
long-distinguished principal
in the district. The Albert
Award is sponsored by the
Parkway Alumni Association and funded
by the Educators Make A Difference Fund
for the purpose of recognizing those teachers
who are inspiring others at the earliest
stages of their careers.
Rockwood educator heads
to Boston Marathon
Hyland’s, Inc., will bring a team of 13
classroom all-stars to one of the world’s
most coveted starting lines, the 2018
Boston Marathon. The team of educators
was hand-selected from more than
1,600 applications
received from
runners across the
country.
Among them is
Kristin Clark, a
librarian at Ballwin
Elementary in
Rockwood.
Clark is equally
committed to running
and education.
In addition to her
18 years with Rockwood,
she also is
the head coach of
her school’s Girls
on the Run program.
To ensure
that the mentorship
and wellness experience
is accessible
to all girls in her community, Clark even
helps raise money to support those unable
to otherwise afford to participate.
“When I earned a qualifying time to run
the Boston Marathon, and then got accepted
as a participant, it was surreal,” Clark said.
“Now to have the opportunity to be on this
journey to Boston with not only the support
and guidance of my biggest and littlest
cheerleaders [my husband and 5-year-old
daughter] but also this remarkable group of
teachers who share my passions and drive
for kids, education and running is astounding.
I cannot wait to experience the marathon
and the city of Boston as a member of
this team.”
The 2018 Boston Marathon takes place
on Monday, April 16.
Christine Keating is surprised in her third
grade class at Bellerive Elementary.
Rockwood librarians lead the way
Rockwood librarians Margaret Sullivan
and Elaine McKenna won awards from the
Missouri Association of School Librarians
[MASL].
Sullivan, Rockwood lead librarian and a
staff librarian at Rockwood Summit High
and Marquette High, won the MASL Special
Service Award, given to a person who
has rendered significant service to school
libraries.
Sullivan is a past president of that organization.
“During my tenure, we worked a lot on
advocacy,” said Sullivan, “trying to get
more support for school libraries in the
Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education, and through the Missouri Legislature.”
Sullivan said she also was part of starting
low-cost summer workshops and webinars
for new librarians.
“The webinars feature a different topic
every month,” she said, “so participants
can learn more about how to be an effective
school librarian.”
Rockwood Summit librarian McKenna
received the MASL Bright Idea Award.
She was nominated for management of the
library’s 3D printer program.
McKenna said, “The 3D printer is something
a group of five students and two staff
members built last spring after experiencing
one from Rockwood STEM. We borrowed
theirs and really liked it. We looked
at purchasing a printer, but a student from
the group said, ‘Why don’t we build one
from a kit, instead?’”
McKenna said that, despite having commitment
from district officials to purchase
a 3D printer, her group chose to build one,
resulting in significant cost savings.
“The kids were all on board with building
one,” she said. “It took seven people 12
hours to build. The students who were part
of that team are part of the print team, now.
They manage the jobs that come through
and inspect the work other students are submitting.
We have a web page where students
can get instructions about how to do it.”
McKenna said she is honored to be
selected for the MASL Bright Idea Award.
“It’s nice to be able to spread the word,”
she said. “When people read about this in