Kent Elementary's Michelle Kelly Named PSESD's Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to Michelle Kelly, primary Highly Capable classroom teacher at Kent Elementary in the Kent School District.  She is Puget Sound ESD’s Teacher of the Year for 2010.

Ms. Kelly has taught at Kent Elementary since 1998.  Some of her roles have included Kindergarten intervention specialist; reading specialist; and coordinator of Title I, Washington Reading Corps, and summer school programs. Since 2002, she has been a primary Highly Capable classroom teacher.

In her highly capable program she has a large and diverse population that includes ELL  and special education students.  One parent of a special education student in her classroom shared that he truly believes his son is successful in the highly capable program due to her patient support and understanding of his autistic needs.

In addition to her classroom duties, she is a leader in the area of integrating technology into her instruction and differentiating to meet the needs of all her students.  Ms. Kelly’s latest accomplishment is earning her National Board Certification.

“Dedication. This one word encompasses Michelle’s approach to her students and her work,” said  one colleague.  “This teacher seeks only success for her students in their every endeavor. She loves her work.”

The Teacher of the Year (TOY) program is part of a nationwide initiative to honor and recognize exceptional educators. Each ESD selects one regional teacher of the year from the school districts within their region. The regional recipients become nominees to the State Teacher of the Year Program. The state winner moves on to compete at the national level.  For more information, contact Julie Rolling, (425) 917-7806; (253) 778-7806; or jrolling@psesd.org.

Pictured above: PSESD's Julie Rolling and Teacher off the Year Michelle Kelly

 

Colonial Williamsburg Comes to PSETV
Bring History to Life in Your Classroom!

PSETV (Puget Sound Educational Television) is pleased to broadcast the nationally renowned electronic field trip series, Colonial Williamsburg, during the 2009-10 school year beginning in October. The programs are geared for students in grades 4 – 8 and cover a variety of topics such as Native American efforts at peace with the British, ratification of the U.S. Constitution, archaeology, early westward movement, the slave trade, juvenile justice, and conservation. There are seven programs in the series.

The electronic field trip series can be viewed on cable channel 26 throughout Pierce County and King County (except in Bellevue and Shoreline). In Tacoma, you can also view Colonial Williamsburg Electronic Field Trips on Click! channel 25.

This outstanding series will be broadcast live seven times throughout the year. It is free to view the program on PSETV. To participate fully in the interactive components of the programs and to access the outstanding online resources, there is a registration fee through the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. To find out more, visit the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation website.

 

What are Electronic Field Trips?

For more information, e-mail EFTSupport@cwf.org, call 1-800-761-8331,
or visit www.history.org/trips

 

2009-2010 Schedule

Emissaries of Peace
October 15, 2009; 10:00 - 11:00 am
During the turbulent era of the French and Indian War, the Cherokee people struggled to preserve their independence. Follow Cherokee leader Ostenaco and Virginian Henry Timberlake on their 1762 journey from Chota (the capital of the Cherokee nation) to Williamsburg and London in search of a lasting peace.

A More Perfect Union
November 19, 2009; 10:00 - 11:00 am
Witness the conflict and compromise that accompanied the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Join young eighteenth-century observers, unseen by convention delegates, as they travel from state to state tallying the vote. Learn about the ratification process and Americans' growing interest in their fledgling nation's new government.

Jamestown Unearthed
December 10, 2009; 10:00 - 11:00 am
Take a look at how history is written and reevaluated as new methods of study are introduced. Using the example of Jamestown in 1607, explore the myths and misconceptions of that era: revisit the documents, artifacts, and other evidence through archaeology. Learn how every generation sees the evidence in new ways, and how this affects our understanding of the past.

Westward!
January 14, 2010; 10:00 - 11:00 am
Explore the story of the early days of American westward expansion. Daniel Boone recounts the exciting experiences and unexpected consequences associated with moving west. Learn about the risks and grueling personal hardships of creating new settlements.

The Slave Trade
February 11, 2010; 10:00 -11:00 am
Beginning with the American Revolution, this program explores the U.S. law of 1807 that abolished the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Meet the people who were involved in or influenced by this pivotal legislation: the slaves, plantation owners, slave-ship captains, common seamen, government officials, Navy officers and anti-slavery activists.

The Rights of Youth
March 11, 2010; 10:00 - 11:00 am
Imprisonment, whipping, forced transportation and even death were some of the punishments that courts sentenced children to in the eighteenth century. Witness how justice was administered at a time when criminal laws and sentencing guidelines made few or no exceptions for children.

Treasure Keepers
April 22, 2010; 10:00 - 11:00 am
You have seen their work in every museum, but what do conservators really do? Learn how conservators prevent or slow the damage caused by "agents of destruction." Explore how and why preserving history is important for future generations.

 

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