OFE News Release
Oklahoma Educators Immersed in History at Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute
July 20, 2006
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Twenty-six Oklahoma teachers walked in the footsteps of America’s patriots and British colonists during the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute held recently in the restored capital city of 18th-century Virginia.
The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence selected 25 educators to receive all-expense paid trips to the summer institute in Williamsburg, Va., as well as $100 stipends for classroom materials. In addition, participants received a one-year subscription to the Colonial Williamsburg Electronic Field Trip series, which combines Internet activities and live television broadcasts to help bring the Colonial Williamsburg experience to the classroom.
Participants, listed by school district, are: Gina Lasater, BLANCHARD; Sandra L. Kirkland, BRIDGE CREEK; Rebecca Henderson, BYNG; Cheryl Anne Burke and Amber McNeely, CHOCTAW-NICOMA PARK; Donna Blackburn, ELMORE CITY-PERNELL; Shirley Pogue, HAWORTH; Lisa Herrington and Robin Tate, IDABEL; Jessica Brandon, Bianca L. Ferguson and Anita L. Friend, MIDWEST CITY-DEL CITY; Carol Schmidt, MOORE; Andrea Delheimer, NORMAN; Angela Mattson and William Shelton, OKLAHOMA CITY; Alison Coates, PONCA CITY; Christine Clay and Patty Zody, PUTNAM CITY; Kathy Carrington, SEMINOLE; Julie Cheek, SHAWNEE; Lori McMahan, SOUTH ROCK CREEK; Ashley P. Gibson and Christina Surber; TULSA; and Susan Holder, VIAN.
Susie Davies of IDABEL Public Schools was selected by the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute to serve as peer facilitator for the Oklahoma delegation. Davies, a 2004 Teacher Institute alumna, is a former fifth-grade teacher who now serves as administrative assistant to Idabel’s superintendent. As peer facilitator, Davies met daily with the group to discuss teaching techniques and develop creative lesson plans based on their experiences in Williamsburg.
While at Colonial Williamsburg -- the world’s largest living history museum -- Oklahoma teachers met character interpreters of 18th-century people and were immersed in early American history through hands-on activities and reenactments of historic events. The week’s lessons were built around the theme “Becoming Americans.” Participants also visited Jamestown, the site of the first permanent English colony in America, and spent a day at Yorktown visiting the battlefields where the Continental Army forced the British to surrender.
“This immersion in American history enabled me to gain valuable insights to make history real for my students,” said Carol Schmidt of Moore. “I’ll tell them I walked in the footsteps of famous men like Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. I’ll share with them how the voices of these men echoed from the past as we sat in the House of Burgesses debating the issues of the day. Many things I learned will serve as a springboard to spark my students’ imagination.”
Ponca City teacher Alison Coates said attending the Teacher Institute was the next best thing to time travel. “What a difference experiencing the locations of actual historical events and the presence of historical characters makes towards making history come alive,” Coates said. “It enables history to be felt.”
Midwest City teacher Jessica Brandon said she would encourage all Oklahoma fifth-grade teachers to attend the teacher institute. “This is the most beneficial institute that I have ever been to. My students will benefit immensely.”
This marks the 14th year that the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence has coordinated Oklahoma’s participation in the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute. Funding is provided by individuals, corporations and foundations, led by Oklahoma City businessman Edward C. Joullian III, who has served on the board of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. He also is a trustee of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, which recognizes and encourages academic excellence in Oklahoma’s public schools.
For more information, contact the Foundation for Excellence at (405) 236-0006.
(EDITORS: Oklahoma’s Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute participants are listed below by hometown and the cities in which they teach. Photos and quotes from individual teachers are available.)
ADA – Rebecca Henderson, a resident of Ada, is a fifth-grade math and social studies teacher at Byng Elementary School, where she has taught for the past 18 years.
BLANCHARD – Sandra L. Kirkland is a fifth-grade social studies teacher at Bridge Creek Elementary School in Blanchard, where she has taught for 16 years.
Gina Lasater is a fifth-grade social studies teacher at Blanchard Intermediate School. She has been teaching for Blanchard Public Schools for 22 years and also taught in Dibble.
BROKEN ARROW – Ashley P. Gibson, a resident of Broken Arrow, is a fifth-grade teacher at Kendall-Whittier Elementary School in Tulsa.
BYNG – Rebecca Henderson is a fifth-grade math and social studies teacher at Byng Elementary School, where she has taught for the past 18 years.
CHOCTAW – Cheryl Ann Burke is a fifth-grade teacher at James Griffith Elementary School in Choctaw-Nicoma Park Public Schools.
Amber McNeely has taught fifth-grade at Nicoma Park Intermediate School for the past two years.
DEL CITY – Bianca L. Ferguson is a fifth-grade teacher at Epperly Heights Elementary School in Del City.
Amber McNeely, a Del City resident, has taught fifth-grade at Nicoma Park Intermediate School for the past two years.
EDMOND – William J. Shelton, an Edmond resident, is a fifth-grade teacher at Shidler Elementary School in Oklahoma City. He has been in the teaching profession for 15 years.
ELMORE CITY – Donna Blackburn is a fifth-grade teacher at Elmore City-Pernell Elementary School. She has been teaching for 17 years.
HAWORTH – Shirley Pogue is a library-media specialist at Haworth Elementary School, where she has served the past 18 years.
IDABEL – Susie Davies, an administrative assistant to the superintendent, was selected by the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute to serve as peer facilitator for the Oklahoma delegation. Davies, a 2004 Teacher Institute alumna, is a former fifth-grade teacher at Central Elementary School.
Lisa Herrington teaches fifth-grade at Central Elementary School in Idabel, where she has served the past two years.
Robin Tate is a fifth-grade teacher at Central Elementary School in Idabel. She has served in Idabel Public Schools for two years and previously taught in Battiest Public Schools.
MIDWEST CITY – Jessica Brandon is a fifth-grade reading and social studies teacher at Cleveland Bailey Elementary School in Midwest City.
Anita J. Friend is a library-media specialist at Cleveland Bailey Elementary School, where she has taught for 11 years.
MOORE – Carol Schmidt teaches fifth-grade social studies, English and reading at Briarwood Elementary School in Moore. She has been a teacher there for six years and has also worked in Putnam City Schools.
NORMAN – Jessica Brandon, a Norman resident, is a fifth-grade reading and social studies teacher at Cleveland Bailey Elementary School in Midwest City.
Andrea Delheimer is a fifth-grade teacher at McKinley Elementary School in Norman.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Christine Clay teaches fifth grade at Hilldale Elementary School in the Putnam City public school district. She has been a teacher for eight years.
Anita J. Friend, an Oklahoma City resident, is a library-media specialist at Cleveland Bailey Elementary School in Midwest City, where she has taught for 11 years.
Bianca L. Ferguson, an Oklahoma City resident, is a fifth-grade teacher at Epperly Heights Elementary School in Del City.
Angela Mattson teaches fifth-grade at Quail Creek Elementary School in Oklahoma City. She is beginning her third year at Quail Creek.
William J. Shelton is a fifth-grade teacher at Shidler Elementary School in Oklahoma City. He has been in the teaching profession for 15 years.
Patty Zody is a library-media specialist at Harvest Hills Elementary School in the Putnam City school district. She has served 22 years as an educator.
PONCA CITY – Alison Coates is fifth-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School in Ponca City. She has served three years with Ponca City schools and has also taught in Mulvane, Kan.
SEMINOLE – Kathy Carrington teaches fifth grade at Northwood Elementary School in Seminole. She has taught in Seminole for four years and has also worked at Maud and Grove Public Schools.
SHAWNEE – Kathy Carrington, a resident of Shawnee, teaches fifth grade at Northwood Elementary School in Seminole. She has taught in Seminole for four years and has also worked at Maud and Grove Public Schools.
Julie Cheek teaches fifth grade at Jefferson Elementary School in Shawnee. She has also taught in Oklahoma City and Pittsfield, N.H.
Lori McMahan teaches fifth grade at South Rock Creek School in Shawnee. She has been a teacher for 17 years.
TECUMSEH – Lori McMahan, a resident of Tecumseh, teaches fifth grade at South Rock Creek School in Shawnee. She has been a teacher for 17 years.
TULSA – Ashley P. Gibson is a fifth-grade teacher at Kendall-Whittier Elementary School in Tulsa.
Christina Surber is a library-media specialist at Hawthorne Elementary School in Tulsa.
VIAN – Susan Holder teaches fourth and fifth-grade social studies at Vian Elementary School. She has taught 22 years in Vian Public Schools and taught three years in Fort Smith, Ark.