The Christina Board of Education has approved the following administrative personnel recommendations:

Edward L. Mayfield, Jr. has been named principal of Glasgow High School, effective July 15, 2009.  He has served as assistant principal at Glasgow for the past two years, and also served from 2004-2006 as the Small Learning Coordinator and Dean of Students and Security Supervisor at Glasgow.  He has also served as Dean of Discipline at McKean High School.  He holds a bachelor’s degree from Fisk University in Nashville, TN and a master’s degree from Springfield College in Wilmington.  He has also completed graduate work at West Chester University and Wilmington University. 

Vilicia Cade has been named Director of Curriculum and Development and Professional Development (Secondary), effective August 10.  She most recently served as District Director, College Readiness Systems for The College Board in New York, NY.  Prior to that position, she served as Principal of Lindop School in Broadview, IL, Director of Curriculum and Instructional Support in the Office of High School Programs in Chicago, IL, and a Program Assistant at the University of Illinois at Chicago.  From 1995-2003 she served in various roles for the New York City Department of Education, including Director of Program and Professional Development/High School Reform, Assistant Principal, and School Leadership Team Coordinator.  She holds a bachelor’s degree from New Paltz State University, master’s degrees from Albany State University of New York and Long Island University, and a doctorate degree from New York University.

Vincent Winterling has been named Director of Statewide Programs for Delaware Autism Program, effective September 1.  He has served in Director roles at Devereux Institute of Clinical Training and Research in Villanova, PA, most recently serving as Director of Autism Services in the Center for Effective Schools.  He currently serves as National Coordinator of Programs for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, a member of Delaware’s Peer Review of Behavior Intervention Strategies team, the Chair of the Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities Task Force, and Chair of the Peer Review Committee for the Delaware Autism Program.  He holds a bachelor’s degree from California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, CA, a master’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a doctorate degree from the University of Kentucky.

Deirdra V. Aikens has been named Principal of Leasure Elementary School, effective July 1. She previously served as Assistant Principal at Smith Elementary School, and prior to that position was an Administrative Intern at Maclary Elementary School.  From 2001-2008 she served as DSTP Test Development Committee Chair, and she continues to serve in the role
of Teacher Consultant/Coach for the Delaware Writing Project.  She earned National Board Certification in teaching in 2001, and was a second and third grade teacher at Maclary Elementary School from 1996-2006.  At Maclary, she served as a Lead Teacher, member of
the Language Arts Committee, and Math Department Chair.  She holds a bachelor’s degree
from Delaware State University, and a master’s degree from Wilmington College. 

Marilyn Dollard has been named Assistant Principal at Porter Road Elementary School. She most recently served as Assistant Principal at Wilson Elementary School, and has held principal positions in the Christina School District at Pulaski Elementary, Smith Elementary, and Stubbs Elementary Schools. She has also served as an adjunct professor at Wilmington University. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware and a master’s degree from Wilmington University.

In the spring of 2008, Dana Steinbrunner, Physical Education (PE) teacher at Gallaher Elementary School, in conjunction with parent John Zucaro, wrote two $5,000 grants through Lowe’s Toolbox for Education program to purchase equipment for the school.  With this money, the school was able to create a “Walking Path” behind the playground where students can walk (5 laps equals 1 mile) and utilize a variety of exercise equipment along the way.  Some of the exercises included are a sit-up station, pull-up bar, push up bench, jumping bars, and dips.  Combining the walking path with the exercises has the children involved in cardiovascular activity as well as strength and muscle training.  This year, the path is being used during the Cluster period being led by Gallaher’s Dean of Students, Alexis Ray.  Students who signed up for this cluster will spend 45 minutes a week for 6-weeks engaged in healthy habits and extra physical activity.  Ms. Steinbrunner was also able to purchase pedometers, heart rate monitors, stopwatches, hurdles, and other additional program resources for PE including health and nutrition curriculum materials.  The goal is to educate all students in healthy living and provide more movement throughout the day.

The large wooden playground structure built in the 1980’s at Brookside Elementary School was dismantled in mid-June.  This structure served the school and the community for many years, but over the past several years it had begun to deteriorate beyond the District’s ability to maintain it.  The wooden structure was also out of compliance with current playground equipment construction practices.  The District is in the process of installing newer, code-compliant playground equipment that has been relocated from another school.  This installation is expected to be completed in July.

Further information on LeadAmerica and the CSLC can be found at www.lead-america.org or by calling 1.866.FYI.LEAD (394.5323).

The Chase Teacher Rewards initiative is providing $400 each to nine teachers statewide who are involved with Junior Achievement’s Finance Park, in recognition of their students' excellent performance from pre- to post-test in the personal economics program.  The funds are intended for use in the classroom to support the teacher's ongoing financial literacy activities.  Christina teachers receiving Chase Teacher Rewards are Joe DeGregory, Shue-Medill Middle School, and Taren Harmon, Gauger-Cobbs Middle School.

On June 17-21, hundreds of middle school students from across the country converged on Dallas, Texas to Blaze New Trails at the Business Professionals of America National Conference. Students competed in various Workplace Skills Assessment Contests.  Students from Kirk Middle School performed exceedingly well.  Tashrefa Zunaid came in second in Business Communications and she also
placed in the top ten in Business Math, Business Fundamentals, Computer Literacy and Keyboarding.  Cassie Lukasawicz
also placed in the top ten in Business Fundamentals and
Graphic Design.  Kirk’s website team, also made up of Zunaid and Lukasawicz, came in second.

Downes Elementary June PTA   Meeting Includes Special Guests

Delaware's Secretary of Education Dr. Lillian Lowery and Lt. Governor Matt Denn attended Downes Elementary School's final PTA meeting of the year on June 2.  The Secretary of Education discussed upcoming legislation that will affect
all Delaware school children.  In addition, the
Lt. Governor shared the Governor's education plan.  There were many questions from parents on upcoming changes due to the financial status
of the state.  Dr. Lowery and Lt. Gov. Denn encouraged parents to keep in touch and log onto the state website for updates that will affect all of our children's education.

Four school cafeterias in the Christina School District will receive a total of $38,058 to update their kitchen facilities as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009 Food Service Grant.  New kitchen equipment for Bancroft, Bayard, Stubbs and Elbert-Palmer is slated for installation in the early fall to support improvements in cooking and holding of hot foods, as part of the National School Lunch Program.

 

Glasgow High School Alumni Highlighted in News Journal Articles

Glasgow High School alumni Bryan Townsend, of Newark, will swim the English Channel to raise support and awareness for Special Olympics Delaware and the Haidian Peizhi Special School, located in Beijing, China. 

Click here to read the complete articles.