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New EASD assistant superintendent named
By GARY P. KLINGER
Ephrata Review
Published: May 15, 2008 10:44 AM EST
EPHRATA - The Ephrata School Board voted unanimously to approve Dr. Robin Felty, Ed.D
as the assistant superintendent to fill the vacancy created by the
retirement of Dr. Ken Porter. Dr. Porter will retire in June after serving
the Ephrata School District for nearly six years. Dr. Felty is currently an
educational consultant with the Pennsylvania Training and Technical
Assistance Network, where she has several statewide responsibilities of
program implementation with secondary education. She previously worked as a
supervisor of secondary special education for Central Dauphin School
District, a special education consultant for Manheim Township School
District and an elementary learning support teacher for Warwick School
District. Having earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Eastern Mennonite
University in Virginia, Dr. Felty went on to earn a Doctorate in Education
from Immaculata University in Malvern. "Dr. Felty has a strong commitment
to continuing to build our secondary education program. She brings many
years of experience with her as a teacher, supervisor and administrator,"
said Superintendent Gerald Rosati. Dr. Felty will begin work with the
district in about 30 days. *** The curriculum committee approved the book
"A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini for use in the ninth grade
tandem English course. The book would also be used as a supplement to the
regular text and be used in world cultures as well. Board Member Timothy
Stayer voiced some concern about the content of the book, listing many
themes he found in reading the piece. Some of those included sexual
elements which, he said were not necessary pornographic, but left little
doubt what is going on. According to Stayer, while the book was written and
should be read against the backdrop of the book's culturally-specific
setting in the Middle East, some of the themes included violence and themes
that many in western societies can be seen as anti-women that include the
beating of women and what would amount to as rape on their equivalent of a
western society's honeymoon night. Porter said the book would be the topic
of considerable classroom discussion about what is presented in it.
Additionally, he noted that parents of freshmen Tandem English students
would be sent a letter detailing the book's contents and allowing students
the option to not participate, without academic penalty. Stayer admitted
that what is presented in the book is perhaps not all that unlike what is
seen in the movie theaters, the nightly news and daily life, but questioned
whether Ephrata students need to be reading about such themes. "It is about
our cultural differences and that's what a world cultures [class] is all
about it," said Porter. "Besides, we should have discussion of women's
rights and cultural differences. This book offers a tremendous learning
experience. It also illustrates what happens when a stronger power takes
over from a much lesser power; it's about humanity and the trials and
tribulations of the human condition. It is very well-written with a very
poetic style, like that found in the Kite Runner." Board Member Neil
Reichard said he had not had the opportunity to read the book personally,
but said it gave him reason to think about his own freshman year in 1975
when the books "Of Mice and Men" and "Pygmalion" were introduced. "I
remember talking with my parents about both books, which were highly
controversial at the time. I must say reading those books only enhanced my
educational experience," said Reichard. Stayer said he was initially
inclined to vote no, but was satisfied with Porter's explanation and voted
yes. Kay Kurtz voted no with the balance of the board voting yes. *** The
school board voted to approve a change in sports physicals. Under the new
program, instead of requiring two physicals for those in school sports
programs, only one would be required. This physical would cost students $5
and would take place over the course of several days during summer break.
Re-certification will be required for participation in spring sports. ***
Four high school students were given commendations by the school board,
honoring them for outstanding achievements. Jordan High and Zackary Filbert
both received commendations for participation in the Regional Scholastic
Art Exhibition and for being awarded a Gold Key award. Both young men
qualified for judging and participating in the National Scholastic Art
Exhibition. High was awarded a National Gold Award for his work; Filbert
received a National Silver award. Levi Smucker received board commendation
for his participation in the PMEA Region 4-5 Orchestra Festival where he
qualified to participate in the Pennsylvania All-State Orchestra. Lauren
Fox received board commendation for participating in the Region V Band
Festival and qualifying to participate in the Pennsylvania All-State Band.
*** Gangi Cucciuffo, Highland Elementary principal presented each member of
the school board with packets of a special bird seed blend created for the
Highland Habitat. He also demonstrated the school's "Money Talks" program,
a program that was started by his predecessor, Kim Schlemmer. The program
encourages students to find bigger words as students build a better
vocabulary and develop writing skills. Penny words are the easiest words,
then progress in difficulty with nickel, dime, quarter and half dollar
words. In the process, students learn to substitute smaller words with
larger words. Two fifth grade students then read examples of their writing
to the board. Callie Dydo read a piece entitled, "My Adventure to the
Habitat." Lauren Morales read a piece entitled "Highland's Wonderful
Habitat."
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