Happy New Year and welcome back to all of you! And welcome back to our Ohio winter weather. To me, this week seems to have lasted a month with catching up after the holiday break and dealing with the uncertainty of the weather. But no doubt it will be a downhill slide (no weather pun intended!) from now until the end of the school year with the many activities in our compact schedules.
I heard someone on the radio say that we have finished the first decade of this century. Wow—that really puts the passage of time into perspective! Remember all the fuss over Y2K? Seems like yesterday--and now we’re 1/10 of the way to Y21K.
It’s so nice to see our students back—and I really think they’re glad to be back. I’ve had a couple of them giving me advice on when to put us on a delay or cancel school (“as often as possible” is pretty much their philosophy!) One young man asked me every time he saw me on Monday, “Hey, did you catch that weather report?” And some of our very dedicated Adult Basic Literacy Education students were here early on Wednesday in spite of the delay. Joan Manns in Adult Education found them a nice, warm place to work until their classes started. Thanks to all of you for your flexibility with the altered schedules. I know it’s a nuisance—and this is likely just the beginning!
Speaking of dedicated, as I drove in early on Wednesday, I passed one of our staff members who was here even earlier. Tom Carrig, Printing & Graphics teacher, was out trudging through the snow to snap photographs of the beautiful frosted trees for next year’s OHP Christmas card. It really isbeautiful with the frosted trees and blanket of snow, and I can hardly wait to see what Tom and his students come up with!
Monday evening I had an opportunity to meet in a small group with Congressman Jim Jordan at one of his local stops in Logan County. He focused primarily on the Health Care Bill, but I did have an opportunity to share with him some of our new programs, the adult workforce training opportunities we’ve made available to displaced workers, and our expansion into Champaign and Union Counties. He said, “Wow, a lot has changed since I was last there!” He said he’d love to come see it all, so we will work to set that up with his legislative aides. I’ll let you know so you can be ready to show off when he comes!
Well, I’m headed to the Cleveland area this weekend for a workshop. Nothing like picking the worst weather in the state to drive into! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend—stay warm and be careful out there!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
December 22, 2009
This will be a short blog, but I wanted to take an opportunity to wish you all a wonderful holiday season!
This is our first full day of winter, and we had some slick roads this morning. Glad to see everyone made it in safely. And, the good news is, yesterday was the shortest day of the year and now the days are getting longer!
Do you remember wondering as a child how Santa and his reindeer made it to everyone’s house on Christmas Eve? Reportedly the top speed of a reindeer is 32 miles per hour; and at that speed, it would take one 778 hours to fly around the globe. So OK, if you do the math, it just doesn’t work. So just accept it with the awe and wonder of a child and believe anyway!
Enjoy some restful time with family and friends, and travel safely. See you in the New Year!
This is our first full day of winter, and we had some slick roads this morning. Glad to see everyone made it in safely. And, the good news is, yesterday was the shortest day of the year and now the days are getting longer!
Do you remember wondering as a child how Santa and his reindeer made it to everyone’s house on Christmas Eve? Reportedly the top speed of a reindeer is 32 miles per hour; and at that speed, it would take one 778 hours to fly around the globe. So OK, if you do the math, it just doesn’t work. So just accept it with the awe and wonder of a child and believe anyway!
Enjoy some restful time with family and friends, and travel safely. See you in the New Year!
Friday, December 18, 2009
December 18, 2009
These weeks are going by so quickly—I let one get away from me last week without blogging. So there’s a lot to share!
First, I want to update you on the school funding front. I received the following communication from State Superintendent Delisle just this morning:
As I am certain you have heard by now, Governor Ted Strickland and the General Assembly have come to an agreement on how to address the $851 million dollar shortfall that has been talked and written about so much during the last few weeks. The final language of the legislation, House Bill 318, is still being crafted, but we do know certain aspects of the bill that are not expected to change.
House Bill 318 addresses the shortfall by freezing state income tax rates at the 2008 level, postponing the final 4.2 percent reduction. The tax revenues made available through this postponement will allow the state to avoid any cuts to education funding.
Good news, of course. Hopefully we’re not dodging this bullet only to have a bigger one come at us later! As to career-tech funding within the current budget, various groups are meeting (which is taking me to Columbus quite a bit) as we work to influence the legislative process of the next biennium. As you know, our state funding is essentially flat-funded for this year and next. During that time, career-tech funding will be studied by a School Funding Advisory Council. The Ohio Association of Career-Technical Superintendents has joined forces with the Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA--representing all districts in Ohio) to formulate our “talking points” on the value of career-tech and the need to provide adequate funding. Also, we are working with the Board of Regents, which governs higher education and since January 1 of this year has governed our Adult Education programs.
While we still have no representation on the School Funding Study Council, we are working along with BASA with those who have been appointed to the committee to inform them of the unique structure and costs associated with CTE. We are also joining together with the Ohio Association of Career-Technical Education (the professional organization which represents all CTE staff in Ohio) to secure joint legal representation so that we can take a strong, unified voice to our legislators. And finally, we continue to work with our liaison to the Board of Regents to clarify our position related to adult education teacher licensure, program structure, and funding. These are challenging, interesting times—and we’re going to need your help with grassroots efforts to inform the decision makers. Please be prepared to provide those wonderful student success stories as needed to substantiate the importance of the work you all do daily!
Now, closer to home! Last Wednesday afternoon we hosted the regular meeting of the Champaign Co. Community Improvement Corporation at our South Campus. A good part of the meeting was spent on the importance of community partners working together to strengthen the community during these difficult times. And so, it was very gratifying when I gave the group a tour after the meeting to be able to point out several specific examples of how our partnerships with higher education, community health care, local business owners, and other K-12 educational partners have made our satellite programs in Champaign County possible. They were extremely impressed and grateful to see the educational opportunities being made available to high-school students and adults close to home in their community.
You have probably noticed the Workforce Transition Center located in the house to the right as you pull in our front drive on Main Campus. This center is run by the Logan Co. Department of Jobs and Family Services and provides transition services to displaced workers in the county. It has been a tremendous win-win partnership for us to have them on our campus—DJFS reports that they have had 2,634 visits since they opened this past June! As they work with adults who are obviously very anxious to move forward with their employment, DJFS is able to literally walk them across the street to our Adult Basic Literacy Education office and/or our Adult Education office for the specific next level of training they need. We’ve seen many success stories come out of this partnership, and we’re thrilled that the Department of Jobs & Family Services has received an additional grant to extend their services on our campus through next June. We look forward to many more happy endings for our citizens!
Our annual Board Christmas Dinner was held this past Wednesday preceding the Board Meeting, and our Culinary Arts students outdid themselves again with a fabulous 5-course dinner! And our Professional Turf and Landscaping students assisted with cutting greens for decorations. This has been a great tradition which spoils our board members a bit to show them how much we appreciate them and also gives our students a chance to showcase their skills. Many thanks to the Culinary students who gave up their Wednesday evening to give us such a treat! I also want to publicly express our thanks to our out-going board members for their many years of service to our students. You have made our progress possible!
* Mark Chiles, Waynesfield-Goshen, 4 Years of Service
* Bill Cook, Upper Scioto Valley, 4 Years of Service
* Scott Johnson, Marysville, 4 Years of Service
* Steve Lapp, West Liberty-Salem, 2 Years of Service
* Dean McCullough, Ridgemont, 2 Years of Service
* Bob Sanford, Riverside, 12 Years of Service
* Pat Wagner, Graham, 2 Years of Service
* Brad Wallace, Triad, 3 Years of Service
Thursday evening I had the privilege of attending the Adult Education Health Information Technology winter graduation. Hearing of the accomplishments of these graduates made me realize how rigorous this program is. Graduating students must pass the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist exam (which requires advanced skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint) and certification exams in medical transcription, medical coding & billing, and advanced medical office procedures. I sat in admiration of these adults who embarked on this challenge a little later in life than most. I’m sure there were times when it was difficult to keep going and have faith that their efforts would pay off. But as Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.” These graduates can now look back at the “whole staircase” they’ve climbed and be very proud; and they can look forward to the future confident that their new skills will lead to rewarding careers.
Let me brag a little more on our students—first Animal Technology. As Robin Curly, instructor, shared with staff a couple of weeks ago, the Humane Society Serving Logan County had an strep infection outbreak which was really stretching their resources to the limits. Our students quickly organized a fund-raiser and animal-supplies drive and asked staff and students for donations. Robin shared with me that the students collected $450 as well as a van full of supplies to deliver this past Tuesday! What a great project and a great way for all of us to give back.
Our student Lead Ambassadors are involved in so many great projects, it’s hard to keep up with all of them. But I do want to share with you some photos from one of their recent ventures—Christmas at the North Pole in downtown Bellefontaine on (at right). The following Student Ambassadors volunteered their time Friday evening, December 4, to make this community event a success: Christine Samples, McKay Young, Mikki Pickering, Daniel McCulley, and Shelby Shafer. Many thanks to them for representing us so well and for the joy they brought to many children’s lives!
Several other groups of students have been involved in wonderful community-service projects this holiday season. Please watch for Shane's news releases to read about them and see photos!
Our students are apparently gaining quite a reputation within our Tech Prep consortia (a good reputation, that is!) Deb Wortman, Satellite Director, shared with me:
“I attended the Tech Prep Executive Committee meeting at Clark State this morning. Mary helped with the Health program there yesterday and sought me out to tell me about our students. OHP was one of three schools attending, and Mary said there was a distinct difference between OHP students and the other students attending. She said the OHP students were so professional and well behaved. She was very impressed.”
Thanks for sharing that, Deb. We’re impressed also—and we need to let our students know that their “difference” is noticed!
Have a wonderful weekend!
First, I want to update you on the school funding front. I received the following communication from State Superintendent Delisle just this morning:
As I am certain you have heard by now, Governor Ted Strickland and the General Assembly have come to an agreement on how to address the $851 million dollar shortfall that has been talked and written about so much during the last few weeks. The final language of the legislation, House Bill 318, is still being crafted, but we do know certain aspects of the bill that are not expected to change.
House Bill 318 addresses the shortfall by freezing state income tax rates at the 2008 level, postponing the final 4.2 percent reduction. The tax revenues made available through this postponement will allow the state to avoid any cuts to education funding.
Good news, of course. Hopefully we’re not dodging this bullet only to have a bigger one come at us later! As to career-tech funding within the current budget, various groups are meeting (which is taking me to Columbus quite a bit) as we work to influence the legislative process of the next biennium. As you know, our state funding is essentially flat-funded for this year and next. During that time, career-tech funding will be studied by a School Funding Advisory Council. The Ohio Association of Career-Technical Superintendents has joined forces with the Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA--representing all districts in Ohio) to formulate our “talking points” on the value of career-tech and the need to provide adequate funding. Also, we are working with the Board of Regents, which governs higher education and since January 1 of this year has governed our Adult Education programs.
While we still have no representation on the School Funding Study Council, we are working along with BASA with those who have been appointed to the committee to inform them of the unique structure and costs associated with CTE. We are also joining together with the Ohio Association of Career-Technical Education (the professional organization which represents all CTE staff in Ohio) to secure joint legal representation so that we can take a strong, unified voice to our legislators. And finally, we continue to work with our liaison to the Board of Regents to clarify our position related to adult education teacher licensure, program structure, and funding. These are challenging, interesting times—and we’re going to need your help with grassroots efforts to inform the decision makers. Please be prepared to provide those wonderful student success stories as needed to substantiate the importance of the work you all do daily!
Now, closer to home! Last Wednesday afternoon we hosted the regular meeting of the Champaign Co. Community Improvement Corporation at our South Campus. A good part of the meeting was spent on the importance of community partners working together to strengthen the community during these difficult times. And so, it was very gratifying when I gave the group a tour after the meeting to be able to point out several specific examples of how our partnerships with higher education, community health care, local business owners, and other K-12 educational partners have made our satellite programs in Champaign County possible. They were extremely impressed and grateful to see the educational opportunities being made available to high-school students and adults close to home in their community.
You have probably noticed the Workforce Transition Center located in the house to the right as you pull in our front drive on Main Campus. This center is run by the Logan Co. Department of Jobs and Family Services and provides transition services to displaced workers in the county. It has been a tremendous win-win partnership for us to have them on our campus—DJFS reports that they have had 2,634 visits since they opened this past June! As they work with adults who are obviously very anxious to move forward with their employment, DJFS is able to literally walk them across the street to our Adult Basic Literacy Education office and/or our Adult Education office for the specific next level of training they need. We’ve seen many success stories come out of this partnership, and we’re thrilled that the Department of Jobs & Family Services has received an additional grant to extend their services on our campus through next June. We look forward to many more happy endings for our citizens!
Our annual Board Christmas Dinner was held this past Wednesday preceding the Board Meeting, and our Culinary Arts students outdid themselves again with a fabulous 5-course dinner! And our Professional Turf and Landscaping students assisted with cutting greens for decorations. This has been a great tradition which spoils our board members a bit to show them how much we appreciate them and also gives our students a chance to showcase their skills. Many thanks to the Culinary students who gave up their Wednesday evening to give us such a treat! I also want to publicly express our thanks to our out-going board members for their many years of service to our students. You have made our progress possible!
* Mark Chiles, Waynesfield-Goshen, 4 Years of Service
* Bill Cook, Upper Scioto Valley, 4 Years of Service
* Scott Johnson, Marysville, 4 Years of Service
* Steve Lapp, West Liberty-Salem, 2 Years of Service
* Dean McCullough, Ridgemont, 2 Years of Service
* Bob Sanford, Riverside, 12 Years of Service
* Pat Wagner, Graham, 2 Years of Service
* Brad Wallace, Triad, 3 Years of Service
Thursday evening I had the privilege of attending the Adult Education Health Information Technology winter graduation. Hearing of the accomplishments of these graduates made me realize how rigorous this program is. Graduating students must pass the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist exam (which requires advanced skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint) and certification exams in medical transcription, medical coding & billing, and advanced medical office procedures. I sat in admiration of these adults who embarked on this challenge a little later in life than most. I’m sure there were times when it was difficult to keep going and have faith that their efforts would pay off. But as Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.” These graduates can now look back at the “whole staircase” they’ve climbed and be very proud; and they can look forward to the future confident that their new skills will lead to rewarding careers.
Let me brag a little more on our students—first Animal Technology. As Robin Curly, instructor, shared with staff a couple of weeks ago, the Humane Society Serving Logan County had an strep infection outbreak which was really stretching their resources to the limits. Our students quickly organized a fund-raiser and animal-supplies drive and asked staff and students for donations. Robin shared with me that the students collected $450 as well as a van full of supplies to deliver this past Tuesday! What a great project and a great way for all of us to give back.
Our student Lead Ambassadors are involved in so many great projects, it’s hard to keep up with all of them. But I do want to share with you some photos from one of their recent ventures—Christmas at the North Pole in downtown Bellefontaine on (at right). The following Student Ambassadors volunteered their time Friday evening, December 4, to make this community event a success: Christine Samples, McKay Young, Mikki Pickering, Daniel McCulley, and Shelby Shafer. Many thanks to them for representing us so well and for the joy they brought to many children’s lives!
Several other groups of students have been involved in wonderful community-service projects this holiday season. Please watch for Shane's news releases to read about them and see photos!
Our students are apparently gaining quite a reputation within our Tech Prep consortia (a good reputation, that is!) Deb Wortman, Satellite Director, shared with me:
“I attended the Tech Prep Executive Committee meeting at Clark State this morning. Mary helped with the Health program there yesterday and sought me out to tell me about our students. OHP was one of three schools attending, and Mary said there was a distinct difference between OHP students and the other students attending. She said the OHP students were so professional and well behaved. She was very impressed.”
Thanks for sharing that, Deb. We’re impressed also—and we need to let our students know that their “difference” is noticed!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Friday, December 4, 2009
December 4, 2009
Another busy week under our belts! (And in many cases probably some extra weight under our belts from all the Thanksgiving feasting—but well worth it!)
On Tuesday at our Staff Breakfast, we recognized our latest group of staff “super achievers”—those who have gained the status of Master Teacher. Through a rigorous professional development process, the following teachers have achieved this designation:
- Judy Fletcher (Teaching Professions Academy)
- Lynne Hall (Guidance Counselor)
- Melissa Sizemore (Math)
- Shannon Donnelly (Special Education)
- Donna Jarzab (Teaching Professions Academy)
- Carrie Preston (Special Education)
- Melissa Rofe (Language Arts)
- Angie Walls (Early Childhood Education).
Congratulations to all of these outstanding educators, and thank you for the example you set for our students in pursuing excellence!
Wednesday evening I was privileged to attend the annual Adult Basic Literacy Education Christmas Celebration (and staff meeting—they did take care of quite a bit of business!) What a treat to hear the “good news” from our ABLE teachers who work with adults to build literacy skills (and, in some cases, to pass the GED). I heard of adults who faced seemingly insurmountable odds in returning to school to achieve a literacy goal, the progress they made little by little, and the ultimate thrill of success. Hearing these stories reminded me of why I originally chose education as a career. I told Sharon Halter, ABLE Coordinator, I think I’ve decided what I want to do in retirement—become an ABLE instructor! Many thanks to the ABLE staff for the invitation and for sharing their “professional hearts” with me.
On Thursday morning, we held our Annual Secondary Perkins Stakeholders Meeting to review with our stakeholders where we have been and where we are going with our high-school programs. We also ask for their input as to how we can position our programs to best prepare our students for the current workforce. One of our stakeholders, Shelly Gamble-Baker, is the parent of one of our students (Brandon Gamble, Electronics Engineering Technology II). I wish you all could have been there to hear her heartfelt gratitude for all that the staff at Ohio Hi-Point has done for her son. She described us as his “family” and she couldn’t say enough about how comfortable and welcome he feels here because of the committed staff and the beautiful facility. She also praised the curriculum Brandon has had the opportunity to master and the real-world, practical experience he has gained. I heard a mother who was extremely confident in her son’s future because of the education he’s received here, and I know she’s only one of many who feel that way. That’s what it’s all about—great job to all of you!
For the past several years, our Printing & Graphics Program has printed holiday cards for us to send to our business associates. This year, I asked Tom Carrig (PTG teacher) to somehow showcase the unique heritage of our campus. What his students came up with is just fantastic—the photo from the front of the card is at right. Tom explained to me that one of his students, Sam Collins, took the photo of Ohio's highest point during a heavy snowstorm, so the historical marker was actually obscured by snow. So Sam took another photo of the marker in clear weather and overlaid it onto the marker in the original photo. Isn’t that amazing?!? I am so proud to be sending these cards out to showcase the beauty of our campus, its rich history, and the wonderful talents of our students. Many thanks to Tom, students Sam Collins, Cleva Rumer, and Brooke Hughes, and the PTG class of 2010 for producing and printing these cards. Wonder how they’ll top this next year?
Our students who qualify for our TAD (Tardies, Attendance, Discipline) incentive program (for not having tardies and discipline issues, and having good attendance) get to take part in a fun activity each quarter. On November 24, this quarter’s eligible students took a trip to TP Bowling Lanes in Bellefontaine. A photo of some of the group is at the right. What a photogenic group! Congratulations to these students and the others who qualified this quarter.
Speaking of the holidays, how many shopping days left before Christmas? Oh forget it, I really don’t want to know. I just hope you all take some time to relax this weekend and enjoy the true spirit of the season.
Have a great one!
Friday, November 20, 2009
November 20, 2009
This has been such a busy week here at Ohio Hi-Point! We really got off to a roll late last week as 10th graders from our partner schools visited for Sophomore Career Days. We had some make-up days this week for 10th graders who couldn’t visit last week due to fog. And last evening we invited them all back, along with parents and other community members, for our annual Career Preview/Taste of the Future open house. WOW is all I can say! The turnout was fantastic (we’re waiting for final estimates), the labs were full of visitors, the media coverage was terrific, and the food for Taste of the Future was yummy! I know we had many, many students make the decision to enroll as a result of this event. The teamwork in pulling off such a successful event was obvious—thanks to all of you for the extra time and effort you put in!
Seeing our potential students (of all ages) visiting and selecting one of our programs (or thinking about it) reminds me of the courage it takes to take this major step. Adults choose to go back to school to improve skills or take a totally new direction in life, on top of the challenges of families, work, and life. And high-school students leave their comfort zones and venture off, many to an entirely different facility, to take advantage of our career-tech programs. Reminds me of a quote I saw recently: “It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” (J.K. Rowling) The choices these students are making will impact both their abilities and their quality of life for a lifetime!
I held my quarterly Superintendents Meeting on Tuesday; and for our “Spotlight on Students” segment, several students from our Electronics Engineering Technology Program spoke to the superintendents about their current lab projects, their involvement in SkillsUSA, and their plans for the future. They did a great job sharing their enthusiasm for engineering and their excitement about entering the field! Many thanks to LaRanda (Mikki) Pickering, Taylor Allen, Brandon Gamble, and Robert Smayda for taking time to share with us—and thanks to Mike Kouse, their instructor, for allowing them to do so!
We had some of our alumni from North Carolina stop in for a visit a week or so ago (a married couple who met at OHP), and they each wrote us a note requesting to be included in our Alumni & Friends Association. Thought you’d be interested in seeing some of their comments:
In June 1979 after graduating I entered the Army as an Electronics Technician and retired in 1998. My current position is Assistant IT Manager for an herb company. I am responsible for 8 servers, 70 desktops, 20 laptops, network switches, and the phone system. I have fond memories of Hi-Point and the people here. I see many additions!
Doug Myers
Printing & Graphics, 1979
The school has changed so much! I notice the curriculum has changed. When I came here, English and Government were the only extra classes. Hi-Point “JVS” as it was called started my career in office management. After attending JVS, I went to Clark Tech for a year and then transferred to Edison State Community College where I earned an Associate’s of Data Processing.
Tami (Saul) Myers
Office Machines, 1979
Well, you’re at it again showing your generosity for a worthwhile cause! Darlene Roll, our Intervention Coordinator, shared the following this past week:
My husband is delivering 11,513 pairs of eyeglasses to the Lions International Eyeglass Recycling Center in Upland, Indiana today. About 100 pairs of those glasses have come from Ohio Hi-Point Career Center employees and students. It’s just another example of how wonderful and giving our staff and students are!
Great job in supporting this project!
We have a mid-year retirement coming up, and I’d like to close by wishing Nancy Decker, GRADS Instructor, many happy, healthy years of retirement. Thank you, Nancy, for your 16½ years of caring and service to our students at Ohio Hi-Point. You will be missed—and know that you’re always welcome to visit!
Enjoy your weekend!
Seeing our potential students (of all ages) visiting and selecting one of our programs (or thinking about it) reminds me of the courage it takes to take this major step. Adults choose to go back to school to improve skills or take a totally new direction in life, on top of the challenges of families, work, and life. And high-school students leave their comfort zones and venture off, many to an entirely different facility, to take advantage of our career-tech programs. Reminds me of a quote I saw recently: “It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” (J.K. Rowling) The choices these students are making will impact both their abilities and their quality of life for a lifetime!
I held my quarterly Superintendents Meeting on Tuesday; and for our “Spotlight on Students” segment, several students from our Electronics Engineering Technology Program spoke to the superintendents about their current lab projects, their involvement in SkillsUSA, and their plans for the future. They did a great job sharing their enthusiasm for engineering and their excitement about entering the field! Many thanks to LaRanda (Mikki) Pickering, Taylor Allen, Brandon Gamble, and Robert Smayda for taking time to share with us—and thanks to Mike Kouse, their instructor, for allowing them to do so!
We had some of our alumni from North Carolina stop in for a visit a week or so ago (a married couple who met at OHP), and they each wrote us a note requesting to be included in our Alumni & Friends Association. Thought you’d be interested in seeing some of their comments:
In June 1979 after graduating I entered the Army as an Electronics Technician and retired in 1998. My current position is Assistant IT Manager for an herb company. I am responsible for 8 servers, 70 desktops, 20 laptops, network switches, and the phone system. I have fond memories of Hi-Point and the people here. I see many additions!
Doug Myers
Printing & Graphics, 1979
The school has changed so much! I notice the curriculum has changed. When I came here, English and Government were the only extra classes. Hi-Point “JVS” as it was called started my career in office management. After attending JVS, I went to Clark Tech for a year and then transferred to Edison State Community College where I earned an Associate’s of Data Processing.
Tami (Saul) Myers
Office Machines, 1979
Well, you’re at it again showing your generosity for a worthwhile cause! Darlene Roll, our Intervention Coordinator, shared the following this past week:
My husband is delivering 11,513 pairs of eyeglasses to the Lions International Eyeglass Recycling Center in Upland, Indiana today. About 100 pairs of those glasses have come from Ohio Hi-Point Career Center employees and students. It’s just another example of how wonderful and giving our staff and students are!
Great job in supporting this project!
We have a mid-year retirement coming up, and I’d like to close by wishing Nancy Decker, GRADS Instructor, many happy, healthy years of retirement. Thank you, Nancy, for your 16½ years of caring and service to our students at Ohio Hi-Point. You will be missed—and know that you’re always welcome to visit!
Enjoy your weekend!
Friday, November 13, 2009
November 13, 2009
We end another week with some great activities on campus! Not being prone to superstition, I think this Friday the 13th is shaping up to be a beautiful one.
Our Sophomore Career Days have taken place Thursday and Friday, and it’s been really fun to have 10th graders from our partner schools here to visit our programs. The fog on Thursday morning threw a couple of wrenches into the schedule, but as always we regrouped and went on with the show! 
I had the chance to get into most of the labs and see what our current students had cooked up for the visitors. They did a terrific job! Charlie in Building Maintenance oversaw the “Cookie Challenge” quiz on basic tool identification. I won a cookie for identifying the bonus tool—a socket wrench. But identifying some of the other tools took a little help from instructor Doug Limes! (See photo at right—recognize all those?)
I also got
to see the new Bobcat in Professional Turf and Landscaping being demonstrated—I had no idea that thing had heat and windshield wipers! (See a 10th grader checking it out at left.) And a student in Cosmetology very graciously offered to give me some hair extensions (in hot pink). I told her I didn’t think I could pull it off quite as well as she does. But the wax hand dip was heavenly!
Finally, I got to witness along with the 10th graders visiting Auto Services what happens when jumper cables aren't hooked up properly. Mr. Lindsey and his students had a very entertaining (and memorable) presentation! It certainly stressed the importance of getting it right. (See photo at right)
I had the chance to get into most of the labs and see what our current students had cooked up for the visitors. They did a terrific job! Charlie in Building Maintenance oversaw the “Cookie Challenge” quiz on basic tool identification. I won a cookie for identifying the bonus tool—a socket wrench. But identifying some of the other tools took a little help from instructor Doug Limes! (See photo at right—recognize all those?)
I also got
to see the new Bobcat in Professional Turf and Landscaping being demonstrated—I had no idea that thing had heat and windshield wipers! (See a 10th grader checking it out at left.) And a student in Cosmetology very graciously offered to give me some hair extensions (in hot pink). I told her I didn’t think I could pull it off quite as well as she does. But the wax hand dip was heavenly!Finally, I got to witness along with the 10th graders visiting Auto Services what happens when jumper cables aren't hooked up properly. Mr. Lindsey and his students had a very entertaining (and memorable) presentation! It certainly stressed the importance of getting it right. (See photo at right)
What a pleasure it was to see our students in action sharing their enthusiasm about their programs! Thanks to all teachers and other staff who made our Sophomore Career Days such a great success. We hope to see all of those 10th graders back for our Career Preview/Taste of the Future on the evening of November 19!
Monday and Tuesday I attended the Ohio School Boards Association Capital Conference for Board Members and Superintendents. On Tuesday morning, the Ohio Association of Career-Technical Superintendents hosted a breakfast meeting for board members, and we had over 181 career-technical board members in attendance representing 42 career centers! I think that demonstrates the tremendous support we have from our board members to assure that our programs remain strong. We appreciate that they took time out of their busy conference schedules to hear state and national updates on career-technical education.
Thursday evening I attended the annual Union County “Salute to Leaders” Dinner. I love that this community takes time each year to formally recognize leaders in several areas, including health care, culture & arts, environmental, military/patriotic, and education. This year’s winner in the education category was Jim Kaufman, who taught science at both West Liberty-Salem and Marysville for a total of 38 years. I thought some of you might know him. He also coached multiple sports and remains active in his community in retirement. What an inspiration!
A belated Happy Veterans Day to all of you who have served our country in the armed forces. We’ve been reminded through recent events how our soldiers put themselves at risk every day, and sometimes danger comes from the most unlikely and unthinkable sources. We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to all who have served and are serving—take time to thank a veteran every chance you get!
Have a great weekend!
Monday and Tuesday I attended the Ohio School Boards Association Capital Conference for Board Members and Superintendents. On Tuesday morning, the Ohio Association of Career-Technical Superintendents hosted a breakfast meeting for board members, and we had over 181 career-technical board members in attendance representing 42 career centers! I think that demonstrates the tremendous support we have from our board members to assure that our programs remain strong. We appreciate that they took time out of their busy conference schedules to hear state and national updates on career-technical education.
Thursday evening I attended the annual Union County “Salute to Leaders” Dinner. I love that this community takes time each year to formally recognize leaders in several areas, including health care, culture & arts, environmental, military/patriotic, and education. This year’s winner in the education category was Jim Kaufman, who taught science at both West Liberty-Salem and Marysville for a total of 38 years. I thought some of you might know him. He also coached multiple sports and remains active in his community in retirement. What an inspiration!
A belated Happy Veterans Day to all of you who have served our country in the armed forces. We’ve been reminded through recent events how our soldiers put themselves at risk every day, and sometimes danger comes from the most unlikely and unthinkable sources. We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to all who have served and are serving—take time to thank a veteran every chance you get!
Have a great weekend!
Friday, November 6, 2009
November 6, 2009
Was that the “solid stuff” I saw falling from the sky Wednesday morning!? We had such a nice fall without any serious fog, I guess I had been lulled into a sense of immunity from weather woes. I’m sure the upcoming winter will have some challenges for us, but we’ll get through it as we always do at the Peak of Ohio!
I want to share with you two examples of public acknowledgement of the fine work you’re all doing with our students. Monday I attended a lunch of local leaders and heard a presentation from our State Representative Dave Burke as he gave us an update on the current “state of the state” from his perspective. In addition to budget shortfalls at the state level, he expressed a real concern for workforce development. He motioned to me and asked the group, “Why aren’t we sending more people to Ohio Hi-Point to get the training that will get them ready for the jobs that are available?”
Wednesday morning the Logan County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors met to set our course for the coming year. As we worked through our strategic planning, we focused on the areas of member services, communication, data-driven decisions—but the conversation kept coming back to workforce development and the importance of a well-trained workforce to attract and retain businesses. Ohio Hi-Point, and in particular our partnerships with higher education, was mentioned repeatedly as an underutilized asset that is positioned to provide the skills training needed for our community. I always sit a little bit taller when our school is recognized in groups like these—and I do it on behalf of all of you who make great opportunities happen for our students! Know that your hard work is recognized and acknowledged in our community.
Wednesday at lunchtime I was able to briefly join our OHP Student Bloggers at lunch at Bob Evans (a well-deserved reward for them!) It was fun to sit with them and hear their perspectives on technology today and how kids prefer to communicate. (I’ve included photos of the group at the right--you'll have to forgive me, I don't know how to rotate them!) If you haven’t taken time to read our student blogs on our website, you’re missing a treat! They’re doing a terrific job of journaling their experiences as OHP students.
Thursday morning I ran into the right person (Earl LeVan, Adult Education Diversified Industrial Trainer) at the right time in the front lobby. He shared with me that DIT’s from around the state were on our campus for a meeting and invited me to join them for lunch in the Inn. He didn’t have to twist my arm! I really enjoyed hearing about the training they do with adult students in a variety of areas, including manufacturing maintenance, HVAC, and power line maintenance. I don’t remember the exact figures, but Duke Energy reports that about 75 percent of their line maintenance employees will be retiring within the next few years—which points to huge training needs in this area! We also heard an interesting story from one of the visitors about how he, as a young bachelors-trained engineer, was given a complex project to work on early in his career that became a 30-day valuable learning experience. It made me think of the problem-based learning we challenge our students with regularly. I think it’s the best way to learn, because students use critical thinking and apply knowledge to real-world problems as opposed to textbook simulations. And it’s more fun!
Thursday afternoon as I was walking into the Main Building for a meeting, two students were on the benches out front after school working intently on their laptops. I told them “Good for you—working on homework while you wait for your ride! That is what you’re doing isn’t it?” One of them looked up sheepishly and said, “Uh . . . yeah.” (Not very convincingly.) The other one said without missing a beat, “I’m not!” I told him at least he’s honest. Those kids sure are tuned into the technology; and even though it would be foolish to think they’re always engaged in their studies, at least they’re engaged!
This afternoon, Doug Cox from Bruner Corporation, Robert Walker, and I had the honor of receiving a rebate check for just over $34,000 from Dayton Power and Light as a result of our energy-saving projects on campus. A nice chunk of change to offset some of the costs! And the savings we’re realizing from these energy updates will continue for many years to come—a great investment in the future, I think!
I don’t know how many of you realize, but we have many visitors from all over the country to Campbell Hill (Ohio’s highest point) every month. We provide a log at the landmark for them to sign and make any comments they’d like. This past month we’ve had visitors from Massachusetts, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Washington, New York, Minnesota, California, and even the Czech Republic! Occasionally someone brings the logs to me to read, and we get some funny comments. A couple from Kansas said, “Glad we found it! Hurray for the GPS.” A visitor from California wrote, “Here for USC vs. Ohio State. Decided to visit this unassuming and obscure state high point, but it is rather nice in its own way.” And a clown who didn’t identify his origins wrote, “Wow! Aspen King! Get me down!” OK, so we’re not Mt. McKinley—but I am proud of the beauty of our campus and the fine manner in which our highest point is maintained!
I hope you all enjoy your weekend and stay healthy!
I want to share with you two examples of public acknowledgement of the fine work you’re all doing with our students. Monday I attended a lunch of local leaders and heard a presentation from our State Representative Dave Burke as he gave us an update on the current “state of the state” from his perspective. In addition to budget shortfalls at the state level, he expressed a real concern for workforce development. He motioned to me and asked the group, “Why aren’t we sending more people to Ohio Hi-Point to get the training that will get them ready for the jobs that are available?”
Wednesday morning the Logan County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors met to set our course for the coming year. As we worked through our strategic planning, we focused on the areas of member services, communication, data-driven decisions—but the conversation kept coming back to workforce development and the importance of a well-trained workforce to attract and retain businesses. Ohio Hi-Point, and in particular our partnerships with higher education, was mentioned repeatedly as an underutilized asset that is positioned to provide the skills training needed for our community. I always sit a little bit taller when our school is recognized in groups like these—and I do it on behalf of all of you who make great opportunities happen for our students! Know that your hard work is recognized and acknowledged in our community.
Wednesday at lunchtime I was able to briefly join our OHP Student Bloggers at lunch at Bob Evans (a well-deserved reward for them!) It was fun to sit with them and hear their perspectives on technology today and how kids prefer to communicate. (I’ve included photos of the group at the right--you'll have to forgive me, I don't know how to rotate them!) If you haven’t taken time to read our student blogs on our website, you’re missing a treat! They’re doing a terrific job of journaling their experiences as OHP students.
Thursday morning I ran into the right person (Earl LeVan, Adult Education Diversified Industrial Trainer) at the right time in the front lobby. He shared with me that DIT’s from around the state were on our campus for a meeting and invited me to join them for lunch in the Inn. He didn’t have to twist my arm! I really enjoyed hearing about the training they do with adult students in a variety of areas, including manufacturing maintenance, HVAC, and power line maintenance. I don’t remember the exact figures, but Duke Energy reports that about 75 percent of their line maintenance employees will be retiring within the next few years—which points to huge training needs in this area! We also heard an interesting story from one of the visitors about how he, as a young bachelors-trained engineer, was given a complex project to work on early in his career that became a 30-day valuable learning experience. It made me think of the problem-based learning we challenge our students with regularly. I think it’s the best way to learn, because students use critical thinking and apply knowledge to real-world problems as opposed to textbook simulations. And it’s more fun!
Thursday afternoon as I was walking into the Main Building for a meeting, two students were on the benches out front after school working intently on their laptops. I told them “Good for you—working on homework while you wait for your ride! That is what you’re doing isn’t it?” One of them looked up sheepishly and said, “Uh . . . yeah.” (Not very convincingly.) The other one said without missing a beat, “I’m not!” I told him at least he’s honest. Those kids sure are tuned into the technology; and even though it would be foolish to think they’re always engaged in their studies, at least they’re engaged!
This afternoon, Doug Cox from Bruner Corporation, Robert Walker, and I had the honor of receiving a rebate check for just over $34,000 from Dayton Power and Light as a result of our energy-saving projects on campus. A nice chunk of change to offset some of the costs! And the savings we’re realizing from these energy updates will continue for many years to come—a great investment in the future, I think!
I don’t know how many of you realize, but we have many visitors from all over the country to Campbell Hill (Ohio’s highest point) every month. We provide a log at the landmark for them to sign and make any comments they’d like. This past month we’ve had visitors from Massachusetts, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Washington, New York, Minnesota, California, and even the Czech Republic! Occasionally someone brings the logs to me to read, and we get some funny comments. A couple from Kansas said, “Glad we found it! Hurray for the GPS.” A visitor from California wrote, “Here for USC vs. Ohio State. Decided to visit this unassuming and obscure state high point, but it is rather nice in its own way.” And a clown who didn’t identify his origins wrote, “Wow! Aspen King! Get me down!” OK, so we’re not Mt. McKinley—but I am proud of the beauty of our campus and the fine manner in which our highest point is maintained!
I hope you all enjoy your weekend and stay healthy!
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